Catch Corner, Acton Gate, Stafford

A modern Greene King Fayre and Square outlet on a retail estate in hearing of the M6. First impressions do not generate optimism – you see the awful children’s play area before you turn onto the estate. Parking is shared with other businesses, but there is plenty of it. Gangs of far-from-yummy mummies lurk around the front and side doors smoking while their broods run riot inside either the Wacky Warehouse (even the name has something Orwellian about it) or the pub itself. The single large bar is relatively comfortable, provided you don’t mind the noise from the brats and the awful muzak, and was supposedly refurbished last year – I dread to think what it was like before. There are various gaming machines dotted around to entertain the adults. Food is the predictable factory-made slop from a contractor of the Brake Bros ilk, unappealing and formulaic. Two ales on, Abbot and GK IPA, badly kapt and served as a globule of foam which takes forever to settle, by which time the lethargic barmaid has moved on, albeit at a glacial pace, and won’t top up the glass. Not a cross I shall bear again.

The staff here are very pleasant and accomodating and thats about it. Having eaten here a few times now, yesterday being the last I can say thet the food here has been horrible on all but 1 occasion (that occasion being scampi and chips). On the first occasion I had steak and egg but they don't cook the eggs properly, I like a yolky egg but not the snotty whites on top and the steak here are very grissly, I don't like having to spit food into a napkin when I go out to eat, the second time I tried the fish but the fish here is very greasy, not ike it had been just fried but as if it had been sitting in oil waiting to be served for a long time then warmed up. Yesterday I had the american mixed grill, be wqarned that the spicey chicken skewers are very spicey, which is no problem but they make sure the spicey sauce goes all over your entire dinner, the chips, the ribs which already have barbecue sauce on them, on everything. Fed up of eating here and leaving half my meal. My recommendations, the staff should get jobs somewhere with better food as the staff are very nice. The chef should go back to college or wherever they came from. The customers, if you want to eat go to the seven stars on the a30 which has a new carvery, or the barley mow at milford which has good food, both of which have a wacky warehouse style facility. Don't bother, you'll be disappointed unless you oreder something reeally simple.

Part of the modern development that is Acton Gate (Holiday Inn etc), just off j13 of the M6 – in fact they were building all of this when I worked in Stafford, around 2000. The Punch Taverns pub/eatery is therefore an uninspiring modern undressed brick build from the outside, with a patio – it is a family place that also has an attached Wacky Warehouse, so if you are Tommy from Early Doors, beware! The interior is a large L-shape and is, of course, all foody based with 2 for £10 meals – I didn’t eat, so cant comment on the food. The décor is the usual plain, yet multi-coloured walls, with orange, green, red, yellow and some undressed brick featuring. There are two slightly different levels in the main foody bit, along with arty pictures and vases, Ember Inn style, dotted about – is this a good idea with kids running around and I do admit, as a traditionalist, I was half wanting a happy sprog to knock one off a shelf – I know, I am a meanie. The little half-bary sort of area, to the left of the entrance did have a few sporting pictures and old photos, as well as Sky TV, with the news on, but with comfy seats and high stools, the tables still had number on. The service was fine, the clientele family based, as per its target audience. The background music was charty, but at a decent level. Beer; all tap stuff, with the odd 9 handpulls, all with Pedigree on! I just had a soft drink here. It is what it is, a completely inoffensive family eatery and play area, it isn’t a beer house as such and it doesn’t have nice gardens and a view.

This modern family dining pub is signposted from Junction 13 of the M6 and is reminiscent of a slightly superior version of a Hungry Horse. Whilst not really the sort of place for a nights boozing, it is a far superior option for a motorway break than your average Service Station. The 2 for 1 meals are very good value if somewhat formulaic but the deserts look good. Bass & Marsdons Pedigree on hand pump (you won't get this at a Little Chef). Inoffensive piped music. Naturally it is full of families with kids during the day but there is a play area to keep the little monsters occupied. The décor is very plastic and contrived to look like a traditional pub but this is not why you would be here in the first place. For what it is it is functional and more than adequate and as a convenient motorway break, I would certainly use the place again if the need arose, especially as Mrs B would be driving.

Absolutely awful place, the beer is gassed up with no taste whatsoever, the food is quite honestly the worst i have ever had and we have eaten out weekly for over thirty years,i thought my curry was a soup.We used to visit here regularly but it is now nothing but a disgrace.AVOID.