hi groovee
there are a couple of pubs in stafford itself that do a good price meal.
the picture house is a weatherspoon pub with a good varied menu and cheap drinks.
at the other end of the main shopping street there,s a yates. easy car parkling also.

Sorry the Yates' closed down some years ago now lol.

If you wanted to eat half way between Alton Towers and Stafford there's a Frankie & Bennys in Uttoxeter and also a Brewers Fayre pub just a little further along from that.

There's a couple of pubs in Weston and Sandon too which is a little nearer to Stafford, also a lovely country pub in Salt, just off the main Weston/Stafford Road which I can give you directions too if wanted. Of course there are a few pubs in Alton Village too, shortly outside the gates of alton Towers.