The Malt Shovel at Barston is a space that feels warm, welcoming and relaxed, yet offers great dining. Inside, the bar has a roaring log fire and a cosy feel to it, with a terrace leading out onto the secluded garden. In this space, you can enjoy a warm drink or red wine on a cold winter's evening, or a refreshing cocktail on a hot summer day. Aside from the main restaurant, there is the Barn Restaurant, a converted barn that is characterful and inviting, often used for private events.
The menu at The Malt Shovel focuses on modern British cuisine, but you'll spot some nods to the Mediterranean. The kitchen is led by head chef Nick Westwood and his talented tea, who love to prepare dishes using the best, fresh produce that the seasons offer. Just like what is on offer from the land, the menu changes with the seasons, the specials menu change daily, and you'll always find a variety of fish dishes that the restaurant is renowned for.
The starters on the menu begin with a soup of the day, a burrata salad with chargrilled, honeyed peaches, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and tomato vinaigrette, along with chipotle pulled pork tacos that come with pickled red cabbage and peppers, palm-sugared pineapple, Mexicana cheese, chipotle mayonnaise and chilli salt. For your main meal, try the nation's favourite of beer battered fish and chips with crushed minted peas, lemon and pickled egg sriracha mayonnaise. The BBQ bourbon glazed pork ribs with fries and corn on the cob sound great too, and they come with a chargrilled, compressed watermelon. For something hearty, order the Mediterranean vegetable risotto with aubergines, cherry tomatoes, courgettes and peppers in a tomato and basil sauce with parmesan.