The Bridge Inn

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#22 of 241 Restaurants in Darlington££ - £££, Bar, European, Vegetarian friendly

+44 1325 350106+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

12:00 - 22:00

Mon

16:00 - 22:00

Tue

16:00 - 22:00

Wed

16:00 - 22:00

Thu

16:00 - 22:00

Fri

11:30 - 15:0017:30 - 23:00

Sat

11:30 - 15:0017:30 - 23:00

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.0

2,681 reviews

#22 of 241 Restaurants in Darlington

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Bar, European, British, Pub, Vegetarian friendly

“The main courses were impressive and my fillet steak literally was like butte...”

“... to die for, Yorkshire puddings fabulous & the sticky toffee pudding awesome.”

“... not using fresh produce, but hey, it's a pub not a Michelin restaurant.”

“... in sight must be the only pub restaurant we have been lately who hasn’t g...”

Location and contact

The Green Stapleton, North Yorkshire, Darlington DL2 2QQ England

+44 1325 350106

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Details

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CUISINES

Bar, European, British, Pub, Cantonese, Shanghai

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.0

2,681 reviews

Excellent

1,831

Very good

182

Average

179

Poor

185

Terrible

304

Steveyd76

Middlesbrough159 contributions

Great food - Let down by poor service

Jan 2020 • none

Went here with friends for a birthday night out, there was a table of 5 so nothing to big. Arrived at 7.30 and left at 11 having only had 4 drinks and three courses. The waiting staff let this place down. The menu is amazing and has everything you can think of (Gordon Ramsey would have a fit), but the time taken for the staff to take and serve drinks, and the time between courses is far too long. Had the staff of been a little more attentive we would of spent a lot more on drinks, as it was in 3.5 hours we only managed 4 drinks as it was taking so long for the drinks to get to the table, I could understand it if it was busy but it was quiet. The food itself was outstanding but the service dragged the overall score down. I think for the price of the food there are much better places with better service to goto such as the tomohawk where nothing is too much trouble and the staff don't let your glass go empty. I think we will go there next time.

Written 23 February 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy K

Bishop Auckland17 contributions

Food was good, but service was lacking

Feb 2020 • family

Food was good, but service was very poor and well below what was anticipated- we arrived at 7.15pm for a 7.30 booking and asked to go to the bar for drinks. At 7.40 we were approached to say that they were running 5 mins late and could we look at menus at the bar. We were finally shown to our seats at 8pm. The table that we were shown too had been empty since 7.15pm. Upon completion of our meal, we had to ask for the bill on four occasions and finally got up and approached the bar to request Bill, to which I was informed “we are still working on it”, after standing with coats on for a further 5 mins the bill arrived and we left at about 9.45pm - such a shame the the food wasn’t the most memorable part of what was the wife’s birthday meal, it maybe a while before we venture back!

Written 2 March 2020

Hungryman2020

Darlington2 contributions

Disappointed

Feb 2020 • family

We (wife, me, daughter and son) went to the Bridge as a treat, and because my wife and I enjoyed it at Xmas time. We were seated straight away, and ordered drinks, great, kids were really looking forward to it after reading the brilliantly exciting menu, so ordered. 90 minitues later, I had to ask where our food was, "it's being dished up now" 10 more minutes later they arrived, we were all a bit past it by then, but started our food. Cold chips on sons meal, no service to whether we wanted condiments, and my daughters pizza, was 50% raw, mine and wife's meal were OK, but after 100mins + you'd expect it to be perfect, no. Asked for bill and told staff of disappointment with food, to be fair to them, the staff were very apologetic and helpful, and told us we'd got the trainee chef, they kindly refunded the prize of the pizza. I realise that I'm in the minority here as reviews are mostly positive, but we won't be going back.

Written 28 February 2020

Jon & Nat

Catterick9 contributions

MARK and avoid this place!!!!!!!

Nov 2019 • none

The best part about our night was walking out the door. First of all we ordered some starters, however they took 40 mins to arrive. When it did come out it was the wrong thing as I waited 40 mins i ate it. We have been a couple of times and ordered the same as always, when it did come out with the starters still on the table it looked like I had been cooked in the tumble dryer, and tasted awful. On questioning the staff the response was something a 14 year old would say. The bill was chucked at us on the table, rude staff and the service was very poor.

Written 26 January 2020

Riordan

Manchester8 contributions

Unbelievably terrible

Aug 2020 • friends

Booked in for Sunday lunch, absolutely terrible service from waiters with appalling argumentative attitudes. Wanted to stay for dessert but when it took 1.5 hours for our first 2 courses to arrive we decided we did not have the time or patience to wait around. To make matters worse the pub was half full, however it seemed to be staffed by waiters who liked to make themselves look busy rather than actually do what they’re paid to do. I have worked in the hospitality industry myself so I can sympathise, however yesterday’s service was abysmal. We were told that as a table of 8 it is normal for a table to be waiting 1.5 hours for a main to be brought out, and that they were only started when the starter plates were returned to the kitchen, however we waited 40 minutes for our plates to be taken back so as you can imagine it was much longer than we anticipated. Would avoid unless you want to wait long times for average food and to be served by argumentative waiters who have an answer for everything rather than a simple apology. Will not be coming back.

Written 31 August 2020

st0ph

Macclesfield21 contributions

Front of house good, let down by kitchen

Aug 2020 • family

Pros The service was friendly and chatty, despite being a busy Saturday night. A couple of lapses but nothing too bad (forgotten cutlery, no dressing/sauces brought). Wine was excellent. Cons My partner's baked camembert starter came with one teeny bit of bread... how else do you eat a camembert? I spent £34 on the sirloin and lobster, for the sirloin to be nuked (asked for it rare, came out well done). A replacement was brought but even still it wasn't exactly rare, and was very mediocre. Salad had no dressing and was basically just leaves. TINY pot of sauce. See photo. So disappointed :( Salmon was lukewarm. Chips were probably good at some point, but had clearly sat under a heat lamp too long and had gone spongy. Chocolate Bombe desert (£10) was served without cutlery, and the delay rather lessened the effect. Oh and it was really dark. Not "atmospheric" dark, but "couldn't see my food" dark. Hence terrible photo. I used to LOVE the Bridge. I have some very fond memories. Really feels like it's gone downhill :( shame.

Written 31 August 2020

Alexandra C

1 contribution

Wetherspoons quality at almost 3 x the price

Sept 2020 • couples

We came to the Bridge on Sunday 13th September for my partners birthday. He has been several times over the years and always enjoyed it, hence choosing here last minute. If it weren't for the starters and cocktails, I wouldn't even be willing to give 1 star. We ordered mussels and halloumi for our starters. They took about half an hour to arrive and the bread for my partners mussels didn't arrive until he had almost finished eating, and was stale. Our main courses then took around 40 minutes to arrive, and arrived without vegetables. I made a point of waiting a while before starting to eat and trying to cath the attention of the wait staff but ended up having to start to eat to prevent my food being cold. When I did get their attention after aroind 15 minutes, the waitress seemed to question when I said we hadn't had our vegetables or gravy, despite it being obvious as the only dishes on the table were our 2 plates. When they eventually came, (10 ish minutes later) my partner had already finished his meal and I almost had. I had the vegetarian nut roast, which was disappointing to say the least. Bland and mushy and not what a nut roast should be. The vegetable gravy (when i eventually got more after askiny twice) was cloggy and difficult to pour. Some of the vegetables were overcooked to the point of looking like charcoal. I also had parsnips on my plate which I had been told (after having to specifically ask) weren't vegetarian. The lamb was overdone, the fat on the pork was not rendered properly, the yorkshire pudding was under done, roast potatoes were not crispy, parsnips were soggy....We told the waitress we weren't happy when she cleared our plates to be met with a lack lustre "oh why?" despite it being the waitress who's attention I had got regarding the vegetables so she ought to have known one of the reasons I wasn't happy. She did apologise but it was very insincere. We stayed for dessert, purely as I had overcalculated my insulon and needed more carbohydrates to prevent a hypo. We ordered churros and sticky toffee pudding. These took around 25 minutes to arrive, despite the restaurant by now being practically empty. The ice cream on both desserts was completely melted by the time it reached the table9, despite it being in a separate dish for the churros. I made staff aware that I was not happy when paying our bill, to again be met with a meek and pathetic "sorry" and them trying to say that they had a lot of dessert orders at once, when by this point there was only us and one other table left. Incredibly disappointed and annoyed at having paid £50 for 2 meals akin to the quality that I would expect to have come out of a wetherspoons microwave.

Written 15 September 2020

michaelsowden

Darlington183 contributions

Disappointing and not COVID secure

Oct 2020 • couples

We booked a table for 15:45 for Sunday dinner and when we arrived were ushered towards a waiting area, the tables at the waiting area were uncleaned with dirty glasses on them. We finally got seated at about 16:05 and our order was taken fairly quickly. We then waited around 30 minutes for our meal to arrive, which I hasten to add went to another table first. We asked for the plate that had been touched by another customer to be changed and after a look of disbelief from the waitress, this was done. Great we now have our food, I ordered a side of mushy peas which were cold, I asked for them to be heated up and again was met with disbelieving eyes as the waitress felt all round the bowl, probable to tell me I was wrong. Right mushy peas arrive and piping hot, great. The remainder of the meal was tepid at best and the mashed potatoes tasted sour, almost as if rancid butter had been added. I really felt the staff weren’t attentive at all and that hygiene was low on the agenda, never more important during COVID-19 in a high risk area. We told the waitress when paying the bill and was told the standard “oh I’m sorry I’ll let the chef know” we did receive a £10 voucher for next time, however I doubt we’ll go again. Such a shame as it looked like it should have been so good.

Written 25 October 2020

Beth

Durham7 contributions

Avoid avoid avoid. Terrible service and management.

Dec 2020 • family

Come out for a meal for the first time in absolutely ages, booked for 5:45pm, arrived on time to have to wait outside 20 minutes, then taken to a waiting area where we waited a further 30 minutes. Finally got seated at our table after chasing it twice and been told “2 minutes”. All my 3 year old wanted was potatoes, veg and gravy, so asked if they could do a childs sunday dinner, told no he would need an adults portion at £13, why places cant accomodate such a simple request for a child is beyond me. I ordered a steak very well done, after waiting almost an hour the food came, steak bright pink and bloody in the middle, the rest of the meal stone cold. All sent back and waited another 15 minutes for my meal to return, came back just as bad as the first time. Overall, a shambolic experience, management disgraceful and many other unhappy people waiting well over their booked time. £60 down and didn’t enjoy any of it and not even an apology from the manager or any goodwill gesture for the terrible experience. Never again.

Written 28 December 2020

TheWolsinghamDuck

2 contributions

Absolutely horrendous.

Jan 2020 • couples

Have been visiting the The Bridge Inn for years, easily 15+, when the now owners parents were in charge this place was an absolute dream, numerous chefs in each cuisine, superb menu and the service was second to none. Since Warren took over the place has gone from bad to worse to even worse. Food has gone downhill massively and upon our visit even the basics were a mile off. Parmo tasteless, how this can be achieved is a miracle! Sizzling platter not sizzling and only warm. Hours to be served, no further table service, other parties walking out and complaining left right and centre - to then be offered a 'voucher' to have to come back and experience it all again!! Delightful!! This review was previously here but i was cohersed into taking it down by the now owners, given the fact we had been such regulars and had struck up a good relationship with 1 half of. They went as far as texting the mobile number that was used for the booking to request me to do this, heard all the excuses and reasons why when in truth, the honesty of the situation is that Warren is just not up to it, his attitude and childlike temper is just not made to be in this position, blaming everyone but himself. What made me put this back up, the fact my wife dared comment on their facebook page, this wasnt rude or out of line but has since found herself now blocked from being able to comment on their posts. Attempting to run you establishment like a gangster, silencing those who dare comment is not a good look, it is also not how a once amazingly thought of establishment should be dragged through the mud. I wont give it the usual 'avoid at all costs', what i will say is this, from a family who used to visit this place 2 or 3 times a week back in the day, to it now not even being on the choice list says it all. To destroy your parents legacy in half the time they spent building it is some achievement. Hats off.

Written 26 January 2020

LynYorkshire

22 contributions

Better than ever

Jul 2020 • none

Visited last night with the hubby for our first meal out since lockdown and was certainly not disappointed. From stepping in the door to leaving everything was 1st class. Plenty of hand sanitizer and following the 1 meter rule if not more. There was only 2 waitresses but they were like tornadoes, making sure everyone was served quickly and efficiently. We were seated away from the bar until our table was ready and was pleased that even the bar service was table service. The main menu has been shortened but I think this is a very good idea, it’s not always the biggest the best. Still plenty of choice and not to much to think what on earth shall I choose. We both opted for the early bird special, one course £10, two course £13 and three course £16. We honestly thought the portion sizes would be smaller being a special. How wrong we were. They were plentiful. And delicious. As always fresh and hot. It’s not often my hubby struggles but he did last night. The staff were really friendly and explained how they are dealing with this situation and in my opinion they have got it just right. They are still doing Sunday lunches but not carverys at the moment. Fingers crossed it won’t be long. Obviously we will be trying them. All in all well worth the 40 mins to get there. Good luck to you all for now and in the future. See you again soon.

Written 13 July 2020

stacey l

2 contributions

Rude member of staff and over a hour wait for food.

Nov 2020 • couples

Me and my partner visited on the 1/11/20 for a sunday roast.. we arrived at 1 o'clock where seated and asked for our drinks order which then came 20 minutes after ordering in which i had to ask for them to chase it up.. i then had to ask if we could order our food. So we ordered food and waited another hour for this to arrive . One waited brought food out and went to place it on to the table next to use which wasn't there order then went to place it on ours but again wasn't the right table it was like guess who's food this is.. our food then came out and to be fair wasn't the greatest. I orders beef and ham the beef was chewy the mash potato was like a pile of slime. My partners pork was definitely not pork. I then asked for the bill. So the waiter came over asked if everything was okay we then told her that it was not .. to her then to reply rudely and storm into the kitchen to test the pork to then come back out and raise her voice. Don't ask someone if everything was okay if they say no take a huff and be rude and have a awful attitude . I then asked to pay the bill another waiter then came over who was lovely asked if everything was okay i explained that it was not but we had spoken to someone with a awful attitude we didn't even have to describe the woman . The waiter knew straight away who we where talking about so to me that says a lot. Used to be the best carvery around . Wouldn't come back again .. staff are rude and don't know what they are doing and the wait for food was ridiculous.

Written 1 November 2020

natalieg1989

Darlington3 contributions

Valentines takeaway

Feb 2021 • couples

We were so looking forward to our Sunday Lunch Valentines takeaway, booked for delivery between 4pm and 5pm, we waited until 5.30 with no food arriving, called the restaurant to be told that it was definitely out for delivery, we waited another hour with still no knock at the door, phoned again and was told it had just gone out for delivery, I asked why I had been told an hour before it was out for delivery to be fobbed off, I asked whether I could expect it to arrive hot and was assured it would be, the food eventually arrived 3 hours late at 7pm. The delivery girl was lovely and couldn’t apologise enough, she said there had been a problem with the tickets being stuck together so our order had been missed, I would have been happy to have been told that two hours before, mistakes happen, but instead they chose to lie about it when I phoned. The food was cold (I genuinely think it would of been nice if it hadn’t been cold) we got the feast for 2 which included two deserts, I’ve never known a sticky toffee pudding come covered in forest fruits and bits of merengue and a spoonful of custard! I know that the bridge inn are notorious for not taking criticism very well, they are very dismissive of complaints, they maybe need to start taking complaints on board and using them constructively. Had the potential to be a lovely meal, instead it ruined our first valentines as a couple!

Written 14 February 2021

ParmoHench

Catterick6 contributions

Heart breakingly bad.

Sept 2020 • couples

My history with The Bridge Inn is a storied one - no matter how many years had passed it was always amazing every time. Now post renovation presumably under the auspices of new management I return for a Sunday Lunch. To start with, the renovation is neither modern enough to warrant it and lacks any of the character it had in the past. It now looks like any other gastro pub much to its detriment. The roast dinner is such a staple that if you can't get it right then can you be trusted to pull off anything else? Overdone lamb, pork with the fat barely even rendered. A lone Yorkshire pudding that was underdone. Roast potatoes oily and uncrisp alongside soggy parsnips. A miniscule stuffing ball that looked like it was straight out of a packet. The service was slow and incompetent, they'd sooner make excuses than genuine apologies for their faults and didn't offer comp our 2 drinks or the desserts as is standard apologetic practice in most places. The desserts were served with ice cream that had melted completely before it got to the table. The tables were all sticky. But I assumed this may be due to constant use of disinfectant. Our starters were the one reprieve from the otherwise disappointing 3 course meal. I shall return to sample their usual menu in the future but if you can't master a British classic can you really expect better from a more eclectic menu? And hopefully the staff will have received some much needed training in customer and table service. This was a truly heart-breaking experience from a restaurant my family have been fond of for decades.

Written 15 September 2020

Mavis

1 contribution

Not happy

Oct 2020 • family

Went for a birthday, we were booked in for 7.45 got left in the back door way until 8.10, no offer of drinks while we waited either. They took our food order whilst we waited 25 mins To be seated. Once sat down the food came before they even brought us a drink. The starters were lovely nothing to complain about, staff were pushy and tried to serve mains before we even cleared our starter plates. My main was duck and was like tough old leather. We asked for the dessert menu but were told we would have to order within 2 mins so we paid and left because if they had seated us at the correct time we wouldn’t have been pushed to hurry up. I personally Thought your staff weren’t very professional, thought one in particular was rude and won’t be rushing back. Shame because I have heard such good reviews!

Written 3 October 2020

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