Review
The Bridge at Mount Batten, Plymouth

Waffles, bacon and maple syrup, or GCSE chemistry revision? It was a tough choice for my teenage son, but the waffles won out in the end. He decided to accompany me and his sister to enjoy breakfast at The Bridge in Mount Batten, near Plymouth. We spent a really nice hour or so, chatting over our home-cooked-style breakfasts, while looking out at the boats from our waterside table.

This is our old stomping ground. We used to live in Plymouth before moving along the coast to Torquay a few years ago. The kids always enjoy coming back here and Mount Batten was one of our top day trips. We’d park on the Barbican, get the Mount Batten Ferry and spend ages on the beach, rockpooling and enjoying a picnic before heading home. Back then, we didn’t go to restaurants or cafés much, on account of the three-in-five rule. Three times in five, eating out with young kids is great. Then there are the other two occasions when you just want to curl up and hide under the table with all the dropped food.

Thankfully, my two behaved impeccably this time. The Bridge is in a lovely setting, right on the marina and beside the South West Coast Path. This bit of Plymouth’s waterfront is fascinating with all the huge tankers, Princess Yachts and tiny dinghies out on the water. There is a lot to look at while you wait for your brekkie. I gave Jake permission to use his phone at the table, so he could chart the passing vessels on some app that identifies what boats are, where they’re from and where they’re going.

Then the waffles, bacon and maple syrup arrived. It was Jake’s first taste of this American-style favourite and he was impressed. “It’s nice”, he said (I did press him for further adjectives). “It’s really nice.” Alice went for the full English and I went for the veggie equivalent. I’m not veggie but I fancied the wilted spinach. It was a great addition and made me think I’d chosen the healthy option.

Everything was cooked just how we like it – crispy-edged bacon, perfect runny free-range eggs and tasty tomatoes. The toast was made using “nice bread”. So often it isn’t, and I love nice bread toast.

I also had enough tea to last me for the whole breakfast, another high point. They serve a substantial pot here – none of those puny little metal jobs that try to scald you when the lid inevitably opens as you pour. I could tell my children were fascinated by this fact.

We left soon after and had a quick rockpool on Mount Batten beach for old times’ sake. Then it was back to the chemistry revision… I think!