Malt Shovel Inn, Harrogate

A really odd experience for the unprepared. Finding a pub open in these parts at midweek lunch time is much harder than you would expect. The two Good Beer Guide pubs in Ripon are closes until evening. Driving back to Harrogate, we followed the brown inn signs to Burton Leonard - where two further pubs were closed at lunch. On the point of giving up, we followed more signs to Brearton. From the outside, you would wonder if it was possible to get a pint of mild and a pickled egg... but on entry - and the stickers in the window gave things away - its a full on gastropub. With cloth napkins and everything. We were well looked after - and the sandwich came with a surprise tea cup of mushroom soup. Theakstons Best in excellent condition.

A noted friendly and a bit eccentric gastropub in a small out of the way village but close enough to Knaresborough, Harrogate and Ripon to attract diners from each. Although very much food led casual drinkers are made just as welcome by the friendly owners and staff as high spending diners, drinkers may balk at the restaurant pricing of the beer however (about £1 above average pub prices), the service though is second to none. An open plan room but divided up by vestigial walls and a huge fire place, with log burning stove, into intimate and cosy spaces each with a slightly different atmosphere in part due to having, open, plastered or panelled walls. At the rear is a conservatory like room specifically for dining, the food side of the pub is called Bliekers after the jolly, Swiss born owner. Décor is, as they say, eclectic with a mixture of furniture styles, photos, pictures and a piano, giving a lived in and comfortable feel. Proper candles in proper candle sticks adorn each table and only some are set out for dining, some tables have comfortable armchairs. So what about that pricey beer? There are two handpumps with Taylors Landlord and Black Sheep Bitter, reliable well known local names, in excellent condition. Obviously a well chosen wine list is available to compliment the food. The pub has jazz with Sunday lunch or vice versa, and occasional opera nights. It doesn't open Mondays or Tuesdays, the rest of the time it's mainly mealtimes only.

Official site of the Malt Shovel, includes menu and wine list - www.themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk

Official site of the Malt Shovel, includes menu and wine list - www.themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk