The Malt Shovel, Ashby, Scunthorpe

The Malt Shovel is split into two sides with the left being a private members club and the right being designated as a restaurant, although there is a bar counter in the left rear corner that also serves the club next door. Standard keg was available and a chalkboard on the wall to the side of the bar listed the available cask as Thornbridge’s Crackendale and Market Porter, Ossett Brewery’s White Rat, Brain’s Rev James, Acorn Brewery’s Doing it for Laura and Dark Star’s Hophead. There were also six real ciders listed, mostly from Lilley’s. On the rear wall to the right of the bar is a kitchen hatch, the food must be good with the curry coming in at £20. The seating is open plan and there is more seating in a small extension on the front of the restaurant. The décor is old rustic with the supporting columns and roof beams being clad in old timber. No television, but there was some niche 1970’s music playing in the background. For a place with one of the largest selections of real ale in the area I found it very boring. Maybe that is the point, to get the locals to pay a membership fee. To be honest it did sound a lot more lively in the private members area. The White Rat was good, but as a non-local and non-member I don’t plan on returning.