The Malt Shovels, Altrincham

Large Sam smiths pub with a quite open plan layout inside, probably three or four rooms initially but now a sprawling bar and lounge. A scattering of old boys around the place having some lively banter but it certainly wasn’t busy for a Saturday afternoon. like most of their pubs it’s a very warm and relaxing place for a pint, with nice comfortable banquette seating. Old Brewery Bitter in fairly average condition for £3.50. This is one of those super futuristic Sams pubs where you can actually pay on card.

The Malt Shovels is a well-tended Sam Smiths pub with a large curved L-shaped bar to the right that faces some seating under the front windows. To the left of the entrance is a seating area that leads to the toilets. I decided to sit in here whilst I drank my cheap pint of Old Brewery Bitter. The other customers were harmless enough, but I got the “is the stranger using his phone?” glance off a couple of them as they passed on the way to the toilets. There are two more seating areas across the rear and banquette seating is found throughout the pub. The bar supports four hand pumps, obviously all badged with the aforementioned OBB. As usual the untrendy SS keg, such as Alpine lager, are also available. I found the service to be friendly, and there were around seven other customers which made this the busiest SS pub I’ve visited in a long time. It’s actually quite good and I would return.

A long established Sam Smith's house with several areas including a few little recesses. Mostly carpeted but with some bare boards, traditional seating with banquettes, chairs and small tables. A side room off the main bar contains a dartboard and the upstairs room which can be hired has a pool table. Various framed prints of town including the market and Stamford New Road from years ago. The fireplace doesn't look used, certainly the one in the main bar. Only OBB on handpump at the usual low price. The landlord was a bit grumpy especially as a couple of blokes were mocking the new Sam Smith's zero tolerence of swearing by enquiring whether certain words counted as swear words, all rather amusing. A nice traditional town pub, a better ale selection would get this place a decent mark indeed.

A pleasant enough pub with friendly customers on an afternoon.