The Malt Shovel, Nuneaton

This is much more like a restaurant than a pub, although I suppose it's not much different to those modern Greene King or Marstons pubs that are found on retail parks, except that this is an old building and ostensibly a traditional pub. At least, there are hooks on the front of the bar, but I'm not sure how traditional they are. The place is seemingly efficiently run with many young people carrying food to tables and greeting new arrivals or taking phone calls about bookings, and the beer I had was in reasonable condition. There are four hand pumps with a real cider as well as three beers: Pedigree, Old Speckled Hen and Doom Bar. To be honest I couldn't wait to drink up and get out, as this is really not my sort of pub. But it was very busy at the time of my visit at around 6pm, so clearly I'm in a bit of a minority.

Had our first visit to this pub today to try the pensioners special lunch, 3 courses for £4.95 and was impressed by the pub, the food and the beer. There is a car park, and a small bar area when you go through the front door past an outside smoking area with seating. The bar had 3 real ales on from Marstons, Banks Bitter, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Marstons Pedigree. We chose the Hobgoblin which was fine. We went to the restaurant area and this was a larger room with 2 separate areas. There is a full menu but the pensioners special had good choices too. A grand pub for anyone living locally.