A customer was left shocked after a bargain breakfast meal at JD Wetherspoons had a large shard of plastic in it.
Journalist Hannah Hiles' expectations weren't exactly high as she paid a visit to the Newcastle-under-Lyme branch, The Arnold Machin.
She had been sent to review it after finding it was the worst-rated branch by Google reviews in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.
And, seemingly as if true to form, the outlet of the popular pub chain appears to have made a howler as Hannah found the unsavoury ingredient as she bit into a mushroom, StokeOnTrentLive reports.
A Spoons spokesman has since apologised for not identifying the plastic upon visual inspection.
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Hannah ordered the fried egg, bacon, sausage, two hash browns and toast - and a refillable coffee for £1.20, Stoke on Trent Live reports.
In her review of the meal she said writes that that things "took a turn for the worse" when she bit into her mushroom.
She wrote: "As I bit into the mushroom, I felt something hard and sharp in my mouth - and brought out a piece of black plastic. Fortunately, it didn't cut or scratch me, but it was a bit of an unpleasant surprise.
"It was impossible to tell where it might have come from as there were no distinguishing marks."
Surpisingly, generous Hannah said the experience has not entirely put her off the outlet.
She says staff offered her a refund straight away, after the discovery of the plastic shard which was the size of £1 coin.
"While it wasn't ideal to discover plastic in my breakfast, I do have to praise the helpfulness and professionalism of the staff, who told me that they would look into where it might have come from," she added.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said the plastic appeared to have come from damage to a plastic tray the mushrooms were stored in.
Eddie said: "We sincerely apologise that a small piece of plastic was found in the meal.
"Having investigated the matter with the management team, it is understood that the plastic tray in which the mushrooms were delivered and stored may have sustained damage during transit and, as a result, a small piece of plastic appears to have broken off".
"In accordance with Wetherspoon’s internal operating procedures, the plastic will be sent to our quality assurance team for examination in order to verify that it originated from the delivery tray.
"Wetherspoon has procedures in place to check all deliveries for signs of damage or foreign bodies. Regrettably, on this occasion, the plastic was not identified upon a visual inspection.
"We are pleased to note that the customer was happy with the way in which the pub team dealt with the incident.
"The company wishes to echo the apology provided by the pub staff and looks forward to welcoming the customer back for a meal in one of our pubs in the near future."
The North Staffordshire branch has been rated the 'worst' in the region, gaining just 3.8 stars out of 1,515 google reviews.
