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Detail Pages
The Malt Shovel, Horsham
Horsham
RH12 2PG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Malt Shovel
A classic ale house,it's a free house and GBG regular and is the place to sup real ale at volume.The building exterior itself is somewhat austere,and by busy roads but once inside the boozer atmosphere pervades,it's all very traditional and quite blokey.
The bare boarded floor is matched by traditional seating and an inglenook space to one side of the L shaped interior,with a section beyond the bar.
It was busy at 5pm on a Friday but service was swift and efficient and dimple jugs are used for the real ale.The choice on my trip was Surrey Hills Ranmore and Shere Drop (NBSS 4),Pilgrim Progress,Long Arm Arapho,Andwell King John and Downlands Devils Dyke Porter (NBSS 4).A decent selection of largely Locales.
A must visit when in town,I will be back to both this pub and their sister operation the Anchor Tap. The good people of Horsham are very lucky indeed,8.5
On 12th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Malt Shovel
Located on the busy through-road that circles the northern side of Horsham’s town centre, this is a decent sized pub that looks like it might once have been an important roadside hostelry. The current Covid restrictions meant that I was asked to sit outside on one of the many picnic benches that have been laid out in part of the car park, despite an almost total lack of punters inside. This restricted my efforts to explore the pub to a single trip to and from the gents, which revealed a pleasant, traditional looking interior with dark wood panelling, a nice servery to one side and plenty of comfortable-looking seating spread across a number of loosely demarcated areas. The room follows an approximate L-shape, with most of the tables and chairs or benches in the area to the side of the servery. The bar has a dark wood counter and traditional bar back with an impressive collection of bottles along a high shelf above. It’s a shame we weren’t allowed to sit inside, but the sun was out and the garden wasn’t the worse place to find yourself. The car park seating area only occupies half of the original parking space, so drivers can still find somewhere to pull up, whilst the seating extends through what I assume was the original patio garden area to the front and side of the pub.
The barmaid who greeted me on arrival was very friendly and took all my contact details before sitting me at an appropriate table in the car park. She listed the full ale range which comprised Downlands Tripod and Best, Gun Extra Pale and Surrey Hills Shere Drop. I opted for a pint of the Tripod, which was the only beer I’d not tried previously, and thought it was in good shape and very drinkable after a long walk through the outskirts of the town to get here.
This place struck me as a nice, welcoming pub with a traditional interior and well-kept beer that isn’t showing its best side due to the policy of seating customers outside – a policy I hope they have revised now that more autumnal weather has arrived. I think I would’ve been very happy drinking my pint in the smart, comfortable looking bar area, but I will just have to let the fact that I was unable to do so act as motivation to return here some other day.
On 6th October 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Malt Shovel
The Malt Shovel is well known in the area for hosting live music at the weekend and on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month open mic sessions are also held. During my recent Saturday afternoon visit Six Nations rugby was the preferred entertainment as a handful of people watched the television in a right hand flagstone floored seating area. Bare boards run through the adjacent L shaped bar that was populated with some older inhabitants of Horsham. The bar supports a limited keg range and I counted eight hand pumps. One of these was off leaving Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Robinsons’ Trooper, Surrey Hills Brewery’s Ranmore, Langham’s Best Bitter, Fullers’ HSB, Pilgrim Brewery’s Progress, and an offering from Havant Brewery.
There was a strong smell of bacon in the Olive Branch pub that I visited before here so I was a little concerned when I started smelling bacon again. Thankfully my fears of an impending stroke were allayed when I saw that the friendly barmaid was eating bacon and cheese fries. These fries and other tasty sounding dishes are available from the ‘Soul Street kitchen’ which operates between the hours of midday and 19:00 in the week and midday and 17:00 at the weekend. All of the mains are priced under a tenner.
Out the back are a few picnic tables and there is also a car park for diners and designated drivers. I liked it in here and would return if in the area.
On 24th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5250 recommendations about 5218 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gary Miller left this review about The Malt Shovel
Having been going to the malty for the last 2 months with my new lovely girlfriend its been very welcoming beer good and dog friendly . why not try it for yourself ? you just might fall in love with it ...
On 12th April 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Malt Shovel
Sadly underwhelming town centre ale-house. While the Maltie has improved over the last couple of years, it's still some way off the standards set 8-10 years ago, and remains in need of refurbishment.
4 ales were available when I popped in (the 5th turned out not be on). The beer range is varied and of good quality; there's cider, too. Your pint of ale appears from somewhere out back. A limited range of food, including pizza, is available.
Those in search of a quiet night out should note that bands play on Friday & Saturday evenings. Owing to the layout of the place (and where the band is situated), it's difficult to make yourself heard, whether ordering or chatting.
On 7th October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Malt Shovel
The Malt Shovel is on a busy road in the middle of Horsham.
Having read about this pub we were lead to believe this was the best pub in Horsham but once inside we were a bit dissapointed as there were only three real ales on the bar we had a drink of Adnams bitter and this was a decent drink the other beers were Taylor Landlord and Flowers IPA.
The pub was comfortable enough and it was very quiet on our visit.
Pub visited 26/10/2002
On 26th October 2002
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]