The Malting House, Newport Pagnell

Recently re-opened, refurbished and even renamed after a spell of closure, this is now a very contemporary pub with an emphasis on food, although there is still a small bar area available for drinkers and there were a couple of locals enjoying a pint on a recent Tuesday evening visit. Unlike many pubs which have signs on the door denoting bar and lounge, this has a bar and restaurant, so clearly you’re not intended to just have a drink in the latter. There is also a small patio area at the rear of the pub as well as a beer garden with a few picnic benches. The bar is quite small as mentioned previously, but is a pleasant enough space with exposed stone walls on two sides, pale blue paintwork elsewhere and a small fireplace. Seating is limited with just a couple of tables, a few stools and some bench seating in the window. A few old beams above the bar counter hint as what it must have been like before it’s makeover. When I got there initially there were half a dozen guys sat round one of the few tables and it was uncomfortably noisy though and I was glad to get to the restaurant. Later on when they had gone, it was a totally different atmosphere and much more pleasant. There was a small tray of tasty sausage portions on the bar which was an unusual touch. To the rear of the bar is a small snug with about three tables and a very contemporary red and grey colour scheme, but the tables here were all laid up for food. The restaurant area also has a couple of old fire-places to compliment the modern styling, but other than that it’s pale grey paintwork, artistic black and white photos of the locality on the walls and various displays of wine bottles along the mantle piece and stacked in recesses in the wall. The menu is divided in to bar and restaurant options and it would seem that if you choose from one you have to sit in that area. It’s not possible for example, to eat a restaurant menu in the bar. The bar menu was very limited and consisted of just a few baguettes plus pub classics such as Ham Egg & Chips, Fish & Chips or a burger all for £8. The restaurant menu offered more options but was still fairly concise with about half a dozen choices per course. These were more in the £12 - £15 range, although the fillet steak was over £20. My Baked fillet of cod with macaroni cheese was a straightforward dish, but quite pleasant and enjoyable. If I were being critical it would have been nice if the fish had been filleted and the sauce could have done with being cheesier, but I was still quite happy with it. Staff were pleasant and helpful, although the waitress’s habit of finishing every single sentence with “You’re welcome” got slightly irritating after a while. Beers on tap were Brakespear Bitter, Jennings Cumberland, Sunbeam and Patriot American IPA. The cider was Thatcher’s Gold which was a bit of a result, and a very pleasant change from the ubiquitous Strongbow around these parts.

Malting House official site - www.themaltinghouse.com

Malting House official site - www.themaltinghouse.com