Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Old Malt Shovel, Newark
Newark
NG24 1HD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Old Malt Shovel
During a recent Thursday evening visit to the Old Malt Shovel I found a very unwelcoming pub with dismissive service and an intimidating local crowd at the bar. Thankfully it takes more than an impolite publican and a few gnarly pissheads to turn me away from a new pub. The interior can be described as a reverse S-shape with a dartboard around to the rear. The bar counter up the right supports standard keg and four hand pumps, one of which was in operation drawing GK Abbot Ale. I went for half a generic lager that wasn’t very pleasant, time to clean the lines!
On 24th July 2023
- rating: 1
[User has posted 5970 recommendations about 5936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Malt Shovel
I had been looking forward to visiting this pub because of its eccentric exterior, but the inside was more mundane and unfortunately the experience proved to be a bit of a let down. It was quite busy when I was here at lunchtime, with a mix of office workers and school holiday dads with their brats ordering cheap meals at the bar. I had to wait a long time to get served, and the beer menu was so unenticing that I nearly walked out. Adnams Broadside, Fullers London Pride and Milestone IPA were on offer. I went for the latter, uninfluenced by the fact that it was only £2 a pint - the reason being, apparently, that it had been too long on dispense and had started to turn. Either that or the brewer had poured a little too much grapefuit juice into the brew. Maybe I was just unlucky and should give this one another go next time I'm in Newark.
On 10th August 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Malt Shovel
Originally a beer house from the 1830's, this is the only pub in Newark to retain it's original name from that eara. Small front room, opening out into a much larger back room with loads of seating and an excellent skittle table. The beer was dissappointing in selection, having only Bombardier, Adnams and Batemans but beautifully kept. Great little boozer, well worth a visit.
On 19th February 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Malt Shovel
A tardis pub with the back drinking area offering an upright piano and table skittles and a large dining room.No food at lunchtimes however.Well kept selection of ales with two from Everards but the rest seem drawn from a distributors list rather than being sourced from local micros.A solid pub for ale consumption,I really liked the Tiger.
On 10th May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Malt Shovel
A traditional boozer with comfortable drinking area at the front and a surprisingly large restaurant at the back. The welcome was friendly and beer available included Beacon and Tiger from Everards, Adnams, Pedigree and Batemans XXXB. Tiger tends to be consistently good and the Malt Shovel's was no exception. A very quaffable pint.
On 8th May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]