The Foresters Arms, Madeley

investigates a pub that's undergone a successful revamp.

I don't normally review a pub on a single main course. I usually have a starter or pudding as well. But it's time to rip up the rulebook and make an exception

A plate of food is put before you. Dive in. What do you think of it? Just give an honest answer.

Having received a tip-off from a reader recommending the newly refurbished Foresters Arms in Madeley, I didn't immediately realise just how hot off the press this quiet piece of information was.

First of all I found it impossible to track down a telephone number in order to book a table. It wasn't listed in the phone book, a neighbouring pub contact was still none the wiser and even those mustachioed boys at 118 118 couldn't help. So it was simply a case of turning up.

All I knew from our spy was that it was newly reopened, was family-run, had real ale and home-cooked food - which it had only been doing for a couple of months – and was growing in popularity. They praised the varied menu, adding that its "Sunday lunch is the best in Madeley and very reasonable at £6".

Simon and I set off around 7pm on a Friday night. It wasn't hard to find, since it's just off the main roundabout near the High Street and we were able to park on the road.

Driving up to it I thought it looked nice and newly spruced up. Walking through the front door, we entered the bar area, complete with tables and chairs, pool table and a central bar, which serves that area and the lounge behind.

We were warmly welcomed by the staff behind the bar and, on asking about eating, were gestured through to the lounge to pick a table.

We ordered a pint of Carling (£2.90) and a large glass of red wine (£3) and settled down. The place looked newly refurbished with shades of Farrow & Ball. There was a multi-fuel stove at the end of the lounge and we spied a large smoking area outside for those who still can't give up the habit.

There was a handful of drinkers in the lounge and bar and the place had a nice atmosphere.

I quickly noticed that there was just a single specials board with main courses and no sign of anything else in the way of menus.

Ok, so it would just be a main course. That was fine. I could cope with that. I hadn't had any lunch that day and so by now I was starving. I was so hungry in fact that when Simon quickly stepped in to order the 10oz steak (£10.95) I joined him.

The smiling barman soon brought us over some cutlery and condiments. We enjoyed chatting away until our dishes arrived.

What was put before us was a very appetising dish. Both our steaks were big, fat and juicy. There were also plenty of golden chips, scrummy looking mushrooms and small grilled tomatoes. It was a simple dish, but it worked.

We had asked for our steaks to be medium and as I cut in to the meat a pleasant red drizzle of juice escaped, adding to the flavour. My meat was hot, tasty and tender. My chips were hot, moreish and satisfying and the mushrooms and tomatoes full of flavour. I ate my meal with gusto, as did Simon.

I felt that if you just fancied a main course you could fare a lot worse than this.

After we'd paid our bill we got chatting with the barman, and I introduced myself. The man behind the bar was Richard Harrison, the manager. He's the former head chef of The Swan at Ironbridge and The Malthouse and also formerly of The Countess's Arms. He had cooked our steaks for us.

Richard explained that the pub had been bought by Mark Charman of Darwin Inns last December. The group also own The Star in Market Drayton, The Sutherland Arms in Muxton, The Bulls Head in Wrockwardine Wood and The Alexander in Oakengates, which is currently being refurbished.

Richard said they had begun by offering three courses but had found little call for starters and puddings and so had been recently just doing mains, although puddings were available on request. They were planning to shortly launch the pub with a leaflet drop.

After a cheery goodbye we were on our way home, with Simon and I discussing how good it was to see that people were still taking on pubs to do up and relaunch during these difficult times.

Good luck to The Foresters Arms. Oh, and by the way, if you fancy good food at good value prices definitely drop in there sometime.

ADDRESS

The Foresters Arms, 41 High Street, Madeley, Telford TF7 5AS

Tel: 07790 730440

SPECIALS BOARD

10oz Sirloin Steak, mushrooms, tomatoes and chips (£10.95); Cajun Chicken breast with salad and chips (£6); Steak and ale pie, mashed potatoes and peas (£6); Rump steak, mushrooms, tomatoes and chips (£8.95); Sweet & Sour pork with Basmati rice (£5.50); Sausage, mash and onion gravy (£5.50); Forester Burger, salad and chips (£5.50); Selection of fresh rolls made to order (£3.95)