The Golden Ball Inn

The menu had plenty of well-considered choices, and everything we tried was delicious. Adding tapas tonight was a great idea, bringing something new to a place already known locally for its Sunday lunches.

The pub had a lovely, festive atmosphere, and the other guests seemed to be having a great time. That made the evening feel even more disappointing. My family and I had booked a table at this gorgeous old pub in Ironbridge, which used to be a family favourite. We came back with fond memories of some wonderful nights there, but left unhappy. We skipped starters and went straight to the main courses. Among the dishes served were watery mashed potatoes, cold, hard peas and lukewarm chips. The desserts were worse. My husband and I both love Christmas pudding, so we were excited to see it on the menu. Each portion cost £6.50 and was smaller than the single portions sold for £1 at our local supermarket. Calling them small hardly covers it. We felt ripped off, which was a rotten way to finish a family evening. The pub seemed badly understaffed, and the staff on shift barely smiled. Our waitress forgot several things we'd ordered. We asked for tomato sauce with the fish and chips, for example, and it only arrived when we were nearly finished. After the Golden Ball responded, I felt I needed to add something. Both I and another person in our party raised our concerns with the waitress. She said they knew about the problems and that plenty of other people had complained too. I was also deeply offended by the accusation that I'd brought spare matching dinner plates in my bag, hidden them up my sleeves, or gone to the loo to wash a plate so I could deceive them. I did none of that. They couldn't even set the table for the right number of guests, which made for a very awkward situation. I've always felt fondly about this pub, and even worked there for a short time. The Golden Ball's response showed a total lack of respect for paying customers. It was defensive and offensive. Such a shame.

The food was okay, though we had much better during our short break in Jackfield. We visited with my wife, the kids and our dog. It's a nice traditional pub with a good range of beers, and the barman was very friendly. The wait for food was nearly an hour, though, and one meal was missing from the order.

The pub has a really warm, cosy feel, and the staff couldn't do enough for us. The customer service was exceptional. My wife and I had the sharing board for Sunday lunch, and it was incredible: loads of food and excellent beef. They even made a small bowl of mash and vegetables for our baby, who enjoyed it just as much. Simply the best Sunday lunch I've had.