Latest Restaurant Review (The Woodbridge Inn)
The Woodbridge Inn sits prominently on the banks of the River Severn, just a mile downstream from the famous Ironbridge. The pub was built around 1785 and was named for the wooden bridge that used to connect it to the village of Coalport on the opposite bank of the river.
Inside The Woodbridge is warm and welcoming, offering the perfect remedy for the colder weather at this time of year. The expansive yet charming building offers several cosy nooks and corners to hunker down in or for larger parties and festive gatherings there are plenty of larger spaces available.
There is an ample car park with space for 80 cars to the rear of the pub, from which it’s just a few steps down to the bright and welcoming entrance. You really can’t help but feel the charm and warmth of Woodbridge as soon as you walk in; with expanses of polished wooden floors, comfortable rustic furniture, roaring log fires and a well stocked bar, it certainly ticks all the boxes for me!
On this occasion my Mom, Lynn, was the lucky plus one. On arrival we were greeted and shown to a table by a large window overlooking the bridge and River Severn flowing below. We settled in, ordered some drinks from the bar and took a look at the menu.
The menu really has something for everyone; from light bites and sandwiches, right through to a decadent three-course feast. The overall theme is British classics, with the addition of several exotic dishes and a good selection of vegetarian and gluten free options for those with specific dietary requirements.
The wine list is extensive and features several ‘wine of the month’ recommendations, there is also an impressive range of tap ales, spirits, soft and hot drinks available.
For starter I ordered the Chinese five spiced chicken thigh (£6.50) and Mom opted for the Chicken Liver Parfait (£6.25). The boneless chicken thigh was perfectly cooked; the meat was moist and juicy with the unmistakable flavour of the five spice giving a appetizing oriental flavour. It was accompanied by a crunchy Asian slaw and sweet plum chutney that complemented the spicy chicken perfectly.
Mom’s chicken liver parfait was served with granary toast, a plum and ginger chutney and a watercress, radish and orange salad. The parfait was smooth and tasty, the sweet and zingy plum and ginger chutney worked really well with the savoury flavour of the pate and the fresh granary toast added texture and crunch.
Choosing the main course was no easy feat, as there were simply too many tempting options but in the end I plumped for the roasted red pepper, goats cheese and aubergine lasagne (£12.50). Mom went for the crispy sea bass, chickpea and chorizo salad from the light bites menu (£10.95).
The lasagne arrived served with a vibrant olive and sun blushed tomato salad and slice of warm garlic bread. This lasagne was utterly delicious, the layers of aubergine, goats cheese, roasted red pepper and pasta combined perfectly to create a satisfying and flavoursome dish, I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a veggie lasagne and would highly recommend it to anyone.
The sea bass salad comprised a crispy sea bass fillet sat on a bed of watercress, chickpea and chorizo salad, dressed with a saffron aioli. Being from the light bite menu the portion was ideal for my Mom, who fancied something lighter for her main course (she was clearly saving room for pudding). The salad and saffron dressing perfectly matched the delicate texture and flavour of the crispy sea bass.
For dessert I couldn’t resist the Bread and Butter Pudding (£5.95) and Mom ordered the Triple Chocolate Brownie (£6.25). Our desserts arrived beautifully presented and believe me they tasted every bit as good as they looked!
My bread and butter pudding had a wonderfully light and airy texture, not at all heavy or stodgy as can sometimes be the case with bread and butter pudding. It was dotted with plump, juicy sultanas throughout and drizzled with a delightful warm apricot sauce. The scoop of cool vanilla ice cream and fresh berries added an extra dimension of freshness to the dish. I thoroughly enjoyed this dessert and will definitely be saving room for it again next time I visit!
The Triple chocolate brownie is literally a chocoholics dream and is also one of several gluten free options on the menu. It consisted a generous slice of irresistibly rich, gooey brownie, served with lashings of smooth chocolate sauce, a dusting of crumbly chocolate and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Mom commented that this dessert was literally heaven in a dish, which says it all really!
We both had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at The Woodbridge Inn, in addition to the wonderful food we enjoyed, The Woodbridge has such a lovely welcoming atmosphere, that once settled in we hardly wanted to leave.
Reviewed by Charlie Scott & Lynn Roulston
