Malt Shovel Tavern in Northampton

The best pub in Northampton. Huge range of beers, lovely atmosphere and full of charm. Check out the collection of Belgian beers as well. Go careful with the Westemalle Triple!

I have been going to the Malt shovel for sometime drinks before football or just a few drinks with family/friends even did my mothers wake there had no problems did a fantastic job but for sometime I have been finding the staff are getting rude the bar can be unmanned because the barstaff want a smoke, recently there has been a horrible smell from the drains stinking the pub out my own father complained about and gets basically barred for complaining.

An interesting establishment. You want to like it as the photos show lots of character but may be we visited on the wrong day. Very quite on a Saturday evening. So much that no bar staff when we arrived for 5 minutes. What a pair, one very quite and just doing the job the other, possibly drunk. As per other reviews, a selection of beers on offer. I would say no food. Some pasties in a warming cabinet. May be busy when every one leaves the Calsburg brewery opposite during the week.

This is a must go to place when we visit Northampton although it is a bit of a walk. Always go to sample the beers as there is a choice of many which change on a daily basis. So from day to day you have a different selection and all at a reasonable price and always served correctly. Perhaps the rooms are a little dark but there is a small garden and who goes here for looking at the decor. There is a small garden at the rear if you like the outside but no real view. I did not eat but my wife did have a pickled egg in a bag of crisps. If you like your beer this is the place to visit.

I have been drinking in the Malt Shovel since 1996 and used to be my favourite pub in Northampton. However, it has gradually gone downhill in recent years, despite the new owners retaining the character and the great selection of real ales. First of all Phipps excellent ales, which are brewed in the town were removed. The IPA used to be s regular. Also the Oakham "Bishops Farewell" went at around the same time. Now all we got is Oakham JHB and occasionally Citra. The real ales are still good value for money starting at £3.90 a pint and they are usually in good condition. The famous hot pasties have gone. Months ago I was told the heated cabinet was broken. The pub also used to do hot food, like special curry nights and Sunday lunches, but they have all disappeared. The pub used to be famous for quality Belgium beers, including on draught Kwak, but also a good range of Belgium bottles beers. There used to be beer menus on the tables with the prices. These were removed, and think I found out why and to my cost! They now charge £7 for a Westmalle Triple. Belgium bottles beers used to be about £5/5.50 and they even used to have a take out deal at £3.50 a bottle. Even worse than the high prices is that they are selling out of date Belgium beers, which taste awful. This is probably why they now pour the bottles and don't give them to customers to pour, otherwise you would see whether or not they are past the best before date. Mind you at £7 a bottle it is no wonder they are not turning the stock over, plus there has been Covid lockdowns and the pub had an extended closure due to the pandemic. A few weeks ago I was served an awful looking bottle of Belgium beer and I took it back and received a frosty look. I asked to see the bottle and it was 5 months out of date. The replacement of a different brand/type I could tell was also past its best, but I was afraid to take it back and ask to see the bottle to confirm this. Also, years ago I had another Belgium bottled beer which was out of date. Sadly customers like myself are been driven away. I am not a big customer of the pub, but I noticed that one who is has stopped drinking in her. A few weeks ago I asked the manager where he was and was told by the that he was busy. Last week I saw him in another pub. I said to him "I thought you hadn't been in the Malt Shovel recently, because you were busy". He replied, "yes, busy drinking in here". He had also been upset by the management. This ex regular customer used to spend £70 on Sunday alone. The first Sunday evening I saw the he was missing there was only me and one other customer in the pub! Between myself and that aforementioned customer, the pub has lost about £100 on a Sundays, and who knows the loss on other days/nights. I will miss the place very much, but I don't like being ripped off, especially with bad out of date beer, which even the brewery confirmed to me exactly my beer would have tasted and looked drunk after the best before date. They certainly were not happy to learn that their beer was being served in poor condition, which affects their reputation.

This is my fourth visit to the pub, and they never disappoint. Superb range of real ales, kept in tip top conditions, nice barmaids, and a beer menu to be spoiled for. The pub interiors are really cosy, with a fireplace and lots of vintage beer stuff everywhere, it really creates a warm atmosphere. Low ceiling, wooden beams, it's a pity they don't do food, except Cornish pasties, which are good. A really nice environment, where you can try several good real ales.

Phipps IPA was very good. Staff were extremely pleasant. Prices good. Overall decor is attractive. Well worth the short walk from the centre.

Went here every year from about 1992 until 2008. Returned this year to find everything the same as I remembered. Good friendly staff and a wide choice of really good real ales. Tried a few beers on our several visits all of which I enjoyed. Unsure if they were serving any food as saw no menus or anyone eating. If you want a choice of good real ales this is the place to come.

I don't believe they deserve 1 star terrible pub with even worse are the rude staff, prices too high.

Good friendly pub and a very good atmosphere worth a look if your in town for the night good staff and a cozy place

Gone downhill fast after Mikes daughter left. Doesn’t feel clean now. Although Beer is still kept very well. Staff need training on welcome the customers not glare at them. One little madam I wouldn’t have anywhere near the place. I’m so sorry to say that I have been given the wrong change twice recently by the same Bar maid. Very apologetic when pointed out. We can all make mistakes. ???

Called here for a little gathering and night out. Very pleasant but very popular. We arrived early evening and it was very busy. This is a property real ale pub so a great choice of beer. Staff were friendly and welcoming too. A really nice place to go and soak up some good atmosphere. On the edge of town but does not attract a young drinking set. More mature age cohort.

Popped into this very quirky, traditional British pub with friends last night. All tables were occupied but while standing at the bar waiting to be served, a very friendly chap, a regular of the pub I think, came and invited us to sit down as he said they were leaving. When I sat down, I noticed a slight stale musty smell which I think came from the fabric covered bench I was sitting on. I’d say it was well used, a little stained and could probably do with steam cleaning or upgrading. However, the place seemed friendly. Staff were okay not overly friendly but they were busy to be fair. This public house offers a wide range of more unusual ales and spirits. My husband ordered me a gin special, which came with ginger ale. I don’t normally like ginger ale but thought I’d give it a go and i found it was surprisingly good. We didn’t eat anything on this occasion so I can’t comment on that. Our friends regularly use The Malt Shovel as they have bands and themed events, so we’d definitely pop in again, possibly with our labrador dog, to get a true feeling of what this place might be like as a regular drinking hole.

Great pub but spoilt by the odour of disinfectant from the toilets an extract fan in the faculties would help a lot. It’s very off putting in an otherwise great real ale venue

After visiting the Malt Shovel Saturday evening 29th June I enquired about booking a table for lunch the following day for 4 people. I was told by two of the staff working that there was no need to book provided we arrived early, before 1pm. Sunday lunchtime we arrived at 1pm only to be told that they were not doing any walk in's.that Day. What made things worse for us one of our party is diabetic and requires food at a regular time. I can only stress that it would be helpful if the staff were all told that you can only dine at the Malt Shovel if you have booked. I won't be hurrying back

Our two narrow boating friends and ourselves visited this pub hoping to enjoy a Sunday roast lunch yesterday at 1p.m. Our friend on the boat had visited the pub on Saturday evening after mooring up and was told that we didn't need to book for Sunday Lunch. So when walked in to be told by the bar staff that they weren't accepting anymore "walk-ins" and even when we explained that we were told there was no need to book, food service was refused. Interestingly the food was advertised outside on a sandwich board as available until 4.30pm. Very annoying as one of our party was a diabetic disabled lady who struggled to get there and needed to eat. We won't be going there again and cannot recommend The Malt Shovel to anyone, even if their beers are good.

Sadly, it’s the service as much as the real ale offering that has gradually deteriorated over the years since Mike retired. Ale is a matter of taste, some you like, some you don’t, still a wide selection most of the time. The staff, the majority are friendly, young and old, and having been coming for over 15 years it’s reasonable to think there would be some degree of familiarity. There is one little madam who works on the bar though who is as miserable and unwelcoming as they come - if it were my business I’d have her working the cellar and that is all. Every time we’re in with family she can just about grunt the price, shame the owners don’t see what the customers see. These days there are loads more real ale options with great, friendly service - I’d encourage you to find them.

Mr and I pop in here at least once a month to check out the new Ales on tap, and are never disappointed for choice. One of the pubs for Ale drinkers to put on their lists to visit. A huge selection of Whiskeys too, if thats your bag! Many many bottles of Ale and Belgian beers too - truly something for everyone. Live music regularly, mostly of the Blues / easy listening variety. They will have Irish bands on too for their Patricks day, and occasionally other events. They do host special weekend or week long themed events, and they go all out when they furnish the pub with a pop up bar, so look out for those, as they are great with a group of friends. Very popular with the Saints fans, so when they play at home, the pub is always super busy, and can also be busy when theres a big Rugby event on the TV;s.

I must admit I’ve been coming here for a while and like the place but in my opinion it is spot on for lunch before going to the Saints. Proper, filling, tasty food. Good selection of traditional drinks, friendly staff and entertaining locals.

beer OK! locals at the bar rude, telling us what we should be drinking, whilst petting dog on the stool. ruined Sunday lunchtime,

This is a truly special pub with qualities you just won't find in a managed chain. Chocked full of old brewing memorabilia it's a warm and welcoming pub that's kept its character. The staff are welcoming, hard working and knowledgeable. They keep a good selection of beers and spirits and they are happy to guide you through a wide choice. The menu isn't extensive but the quality and presentation is very good. It's kept warm this time of year and you can't help but enjoy every moment you are thee. It's a real treat to visit.

Came across this whilst in Northampton and popped in here for a quick bev, the selection of different types of ales and largers was great, stayed and a had few Kwaks amongst others.

I came in after work and a walk. Great range of beers and refreshments to suit all. The welcoming staff are helpful and know what they're pulling. Great pub, atmosphere superb and has a great feel about the place.

Was a lovely pub however the atmosphere was horrific it was a pub for over 55+

had a great night in there with friends its a very friendly pub with good staff i will defo use this pub a lot more i think i have found my new local

Sorry Malt Shovel but you need to raise your game with the food - a chicken satay that was tougher than the cocktail stick it was served on, the best bits were the vegetables which were fresh and well cooked. At least they knocked the price of the satay off the bill. The beer was excellent as always.

Lovely pub for people who appreciate good beer .Probably has a slightly more mature customer than many of the other pubs in the Bridge Street area which gives it a more homely civilised feel.There also more lively nights when they have live music usually by very good blues orientated musicians.A proper old style traditional pub with great beer .

Came here for a few pints with my friends was nto disappointed lovely decor and was served quickly and professionally very happy with my visit would definately reccomend for those who want a good pint in a good pub!

I was in Northampton for a few days and I visited probably 12 pubs while there. The Malt Shovel was definitely the best. A fantastic atmosphere and a friendly local crowd made it a winner. A great range of beers on tap as well. The bar lady was happy to chat and efficient with her service.

A pesar de estar en la zona de northampton por más de 15 años este fue mi primera visita a la pala de Malta. Era bastante tarde cuando mis amigos y yo entramos en el pub, así que estaba bastante concurrido, pero nos las arreglamos para encontrar una mesa en el exterior. La primera impresión de la selección de bebidas era muy buena, tienen las belgas Leffe y cervezas de barril aquí kwak, el último de los cuales nunca han visto en la canilla antes. Y yo fuimos para una Vedett, que también era de barril. Los precios eran muy razonables. Ambiente acogedor y así sentimos realmente estaría encantado de volver.

We dropped in on a wet weekday afternoon. Very friendly welcome from the staff, great wines, they know their stuff. Wish ai lived locally as a great programme of events. Interesting place with cosy corners. Well kept beer.

No más de 5 minutos a pie bajando el Puente de la calle de la fábrica es un bar Albion en conjunto más modesto y tradicional pub situado en una zona completamente urbana y poco atractivos. Destaca saltan a la vista entre la industria y el comercio. feo luz Una vez dentro se lee: "acogedor y confortable" - bastante como entrar en la sala de estar una excéntrica relación ancianos. Me gustó de inmediato.

Han vivido y/o trabajado en Northampton por más de 20 años y nunca nos aventuramos a la pala de Malta. Lo que fue un error.

Después cambiaron a Norfolk, decidí volver a Northampton y celebrar mi cumpleaños en mi favorito, el Malt Shovel Tavern.

Yo vivió en Northampton y tienen buenos recuerdos de la pala de Malta. Tenía una buena reputación entre los bebedores real ale en la ciudad.

Nos clasificado como local y lo hemos disfrutado aquí durante muchos años. El propietario redoubtable 'Mike' parece haber vendido y las cosas han cambiado! Vinimos aquí para una bebida mañana domingo me encantó mucho y el lugar parecía raro tranquilo. No hay periódicos en oferta o en el bar. roasties Nos sentamos en una de nuestras habituales agujeros casita pero después de media hora la camarera nos pidió que nos cambiaran, ya la mesa estaba aparentemente". Bastante cómo puede reservar un lugar en un pub es más allá de mí, no hay comida involucrados aquí sólo algunos de los viejitos que quieren los asientos guardados! Así nos trasladamos, pero nadie mandado otro vino a reclamar el asiento después de una hora! No conejitos felices en, arruinó nuestras tardes, quizás la hora de avanzar y encontrar un nuevo favorito? Qué pena.

It's one of my local haunts, selling a good range of real ales, with good lunchtime food, all homemade.Friendly and central with a nice atmosphere.

I always expect standard fodder from a pub chain but this was excellent, great bar, good beer & greta food.

Having visited the Malt Shovel several times for drinks myself,my partner & her son came down for the tapas night. We ordered food & drinks, the service was swift & pleasant. The waiting time brief,though the pub was not overly busy.The food itself was more or less as expected. The potato dish was unspectacular but filling, the lamb came out as a dish of stew. Whilst that was unexpected the dish was very good, the lamb itself was very well prepared. The other dishes we had included the chicken thighs which I found to be rather dry and a touch flavourless, though Scott enjoyed it. He also had the muscles which he thought were very good. My partner had the sardines which she considered so-so & the blue cheese&pepper parcels which were discribed as the highlight.In truth the whole meal was more or less as expected, not outstanding but a good diversion & excellent value for money. We will certainly return, the varity of dishes appeals & the pub can't be faulted for its service, atomosphere or value

Me and Mike the landlord arranged a whisky tasting session to go at the start of a stag do. Mike's passion for whisky really shone through and he gave an informative and entertaining presentation of a range of whiskies and at a very reasonable price. As an added bonus we all got absolutely bladdered.

What a cracking pub! While they do food, the main focus is on beer and ales with a constantly changing choice on handpump, many from local breweries and all well kept. There's a few Belgian beers on draught, many more by the bottle and a huge choice of spirits. Add in friendly efficient staff, an interesting collection of old brewery signs and paraphernalia and it's just a nice place to be.

With out a doubt this is the best Ale House in the town of Northampton. A great range of interesting European beers in draft and bottles is supported by 10 cask beers. Food is ok, but the beers are great. Blues night every Wednesday is well worth a night out

Strawberry beer and fizzy pop on a summer day. Warm Sausage rolls on the counter. Old chaps playing dominoes. Friendly chatter in the bar. Love it.

The Malt Shovel is a "watering hole" in Northampton. Although we have never tried the food there, the array of ales and whiskies are amazing. A must try, if you enjoy tasting beers, ales and other drinks.

We love this place, great range of real ale, multiple winner of CAMRA pub of the year and live music on a rainy Wednesday. Its always busy, so if you want a seat get in early, Bands are on around 8.45pm and the list is on the website. A must if you are first time visitor to Northampton

Such a great pub - warm welcome and a fantastic choice of beers. We visited New Year's Eve and it was buzzing

I'd guess we were the only tourists there, on both of our visits. In the evening, they weren't serving food. The lunch we had two days later was excellent. Both times, the ales were just superb. Bartender was friendly and helpful. Strongly recommend the place.

A great pub with a huge range of beers, the only inconvenience being that you have to walk all around the bar to see all the beers available but it's worth the effort!We visited on a Wednesday evening and had a few different beers which were all excellent and many of the customers are happy to chat to you about their favourites. When we visited, it was largely full of older males so it may not appeal to everyone but I found it very pleasant and would be very happy to consider this my local or to visit it regularly when going into town.Highly recommended.

Not only a vast range of beers, but also many Malts and Gins. Well run and friendly old pub. Can get crowded in the summer. No parking but can be found nearby.

This is one of our local pubs and we go very often. Great selection of ales,spirits and food,great atmosphere and friendly staff.Good selection of entertainment throughout the month/year. Walking distance and great location.

1st time I have been in here and nothing like I expected. I expected a dingy local pub (no idea why) but it is far from it.

Stop and go per una pinta di birra dopo meeting alla Carslberg UK. Bellissimo pub old style, arredamento british, con tutti gli attrezzini antichi appesi per il locale. Molte targhe di birre e impressionante offerta di birre alla spina. Ne ho contate circa una ventina, dislocate per il bancone. Molte ales inglesi e qualche commerciale. Non ho avuto il piacere di assaggiare i loro cibi.

Locals pub. Very nice staff. Good selection of beer. Locals were very friendly. Will go again! We are from out of town (US) and the locals and staff welcomed us.

A traditional English pub - and something of an "oasis" in Northampton - that can be relied on to provide a good atmosphere and good beer.

Real ale pub with great atmosphere and the best range of beers in Northampton. Lots of events and offers to keep you coming back.

This pub is located in the centre of Northampton and is served by buses and Northampton Train Station is a short walk away. This large pub offers plenty of seating and has a garden. A good selection of cask ales was served by friendly staff in a relaxed environment. I was able to try a sample before I bought an ale. All of the ales that I drunk were in good order. Ales were on offer from local breweries along with regional and national breweries. I noticed that a Bank holiday beer festival was imminent when visited. Stayed in the pub longer than I intended but as a cask ale fan, it was well worth it.

There is a very good selection of Beers available and a nice atmosphere in the bars.we had a pleasant evening with friends after a Saints v Wasps rugby match. The good beer slipped down very nicely. The bar staff were very nice and friendly and service was quick and with a smile, just what you want.We will return for more beer sessions and probably some food next time.

This pub is meant to be a place that has good beer and good service. When we visited we found the service was bordering on "couldn`t care less", the beer was very mediocre in quality (lots of choice, but of the 4 beers I tasted I wouldn`t recommend any of them), and there were a group of middle aged people at the bar covered in tatoos who seemed to think that swearing was clever. About time the landlord cleaned his act up

This is a fantastic pub for real ale lovers. The only down is that the they close at 3 pm on early weekday afternoons. Food is pretty good as well.

I/we have been visiting this pub for a number of years now and it has to be one of the best around. There is always a good range of real ales available and I have never had a bad pint (or even a half) here. Service has always been spot on and efficient, and the food is, while basic, very tasty and good value (give the 'mad dog' a try).Within walking distance of the town centre, plenty of car parking available near by.This is a very welcoming and comfortable pub, well worth the visit.

I don't understand the comments, the pub is still the same and I have visited several times since my last review in July.Good quality beer, friendly service on a cold night in December, what more could you want.

Great selection of real ales to wash down a proper home style cooked sausage casserole. Bar staff are friendly and informative and the beers they have on tap and the many bottled Belgium beers they have available. If your taking a trip down the M1 or even the Grand union Canal then here is a stop worth taking.

Probably Northampton's best Real Ale pub. Excellent selection. Relaxed atmosphere, always a pleasure to visit.

having read the good beer guide, this pub is meant to sell good quality beer. Despite a number of real ales, the quality was poor, and the bar staff were unfriendly and inefficient. i spent ages when i ordered beers, and they seemed to have little concept of who had been queuing the longest. When I said one of the beers was flat (it WAS flat, and cloudy), the young barmaid shook her head and curtly said "what do you want instead then"There were 3 of us, we all had different beers, and all were poor in quality. I spoke to some others at the bar, and they too said the pub had gone downhill over the past few months and that they are going elsewhere (they left during our chat)

This used to be one of the best pubs for real ale in Northampton. However, despite having about 12 beers, the beer is now poorly kept, the staff tend to be rude, and this is now a pub that real ale supporters are starting to avoid. What a pity, because this pub has gone from "hero to zero"Avoid!!

It was pouring with rain, cold and pretty dreary as we trudged around Northampton town centre looking for somewhere nice and cosy to sit and enjoy some good beers. One of us remembered the Malt Shovel from a prior visit so 5 minutes later we were sitting in front of a warm fire with real ale in hand and a dish of chips ordered. The staff were great, advising on the best beers as were the locals. We had their signature baguettes later with various fillers that lived up to their names without sitting heavy in a stomach primed for more real ale. A great afternoon and evening, no loud music, no obtrusive TV screens, no mass of fruit machine pinging away - just good beer, good food and a great atmosphere.

13 real ales, free Blues band on a Wednesday, quizzes twice a month on a Thursday, Tapas some nights, cheese boards other nights, some rugby on the telly now and again (but nothing else !) no jukebox or fruit machines, just a great pub. Convenient for Aladdin's curry house too.No I'm not connected with this place nor receive any discount either !

Wonderful selection of different beers. I went for the Belgian beers - of which there were about 20 bottled and a few on draught also. Prices were very reasonable. Staff were very friendly

Always a great Pub to go and have real ales with friends.Very friendly staff and a real Pub.Just located bottom of Bridge Street opposite Calsberg .

Real ale pub numerous real ales to taste and buy .Friendly bar staff and nice locals .lunch menu on table seating outside On Wednesdays have live music .look up website for special events

Recommended bya coach driver to this excellent town centre pub, l which is a genuine ale house with a wide selection of real ale. Really pleased I visited and they do have bands on alternate Wednesdays.Not sure I agree that they don't do food at night. You will find there are special nights and as the landlady was in she popped upstairs and made me a very filling jacket potato, true not a full menu and I got the impression they only wanted to do snacks rather than main meals, but what I had was really good.There were out door tables in the back yard, worth a visit, a traditional pub quite excellent.

Always loads of ales to try as well as real cider and some fruit beers. Lunchtime food is excellent quality and value and the pub is always buzzing: never more so than when Northampton Saints are playing at home!!

Fortunately I could crawl back to the Plough Hotel in which I stayed. I enjoyed some of the Local Ales. Actually I am not such an Ale drinker, but I enjoyed the ones I had. Too bad they did not serve any pub food for Dinner then it would be even better.

Pop in for a drink locals very friendly told us the ghost story interesting Great selection of beers I had strawberry it was delicious it does food we will get it the next time it is just 10 mins walk to town centre walking

I used to use this pub quite a lot as it was on the way to town from where I was living but I've since moved. I always enjoy my visit to the Malt Shovel . The staff are great and it's always nice to see the manager / owner around circulating with his customers.The pub is a very well kept & clean place it's a nice all year round pub and I love the weekly selection of Real ales & guest ales on offer always nice for some good beer and a warm friendly atmosphere.Well done all around Top marks very nice and always a pleasure to visit for a few beers.

Great cask ale pub, beers kept in perfect condition, really friendly and helpful staff, would recommend a visit.

been in here many times, great place with fantastic beers on tap. The locals are friendly, and the atmosphere is great. Friendly staff - you cant get much better!

Very nice pub a short walk from the town centre which is a big advantage as the clientele are not the usual town centre drunks. Great selection of ales nice outside seating out the back of the pub. Friendly staff and a nice atmosphere.

This has the reputation of being one of the best and most friendly pubs in Northampton, and it well deserves it.A wide range of well-kept and served real ales and ciders on the pump as well as the usual selection. It is way TOO tempting to stand there all evening saying 'I think I'll try that one now...'!It is an atmospheric pub, memorabilia on the walls, laid out like a real pub should be AND - no fruit machines or jukebox! Brilliant.We've never eaten there so can't comment on that.Live music on a Wednesday evening makes a cracking night, it does get very busy then, but don't let that put you off. The clientele value the place and I've never seen any trouble or unpleasantness.Like I said - probably the best pub in Northampton Town Centre.

superb pub , no gimmicks just good old fashioned cask ales.. brilliant. you can have a chat , drink ales perhaps youve never had before

my favourite pub of all time...plenty of hand pump ales both local and guests, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff to go with them...how many landladies can explain the "nucliation" process in your glass?? .. no gaming machines or jukeboxes in sight mean you can sit by a REAL open fire and actually speak and be heard!! ..Not in a great location in a busy area, but once in and the door closes behind you you are at peace and always welcomed by smiling staff and other customers alike I could tell you the location...but I wont in case you nick my seat!!!

We didn't eat here but had a few drinks mid week. Wide selection of real ales and a few speciality Belgian fruit beers were a nice surprise. It has a traditional feel to it and a cosy welcoming atmosphere. One of the few pubs/bars in Northampton I would actually recommend along with the Wig and Pen. Live music too.

There are only a very few pubs I would visit in Northampton. This is one of the best. A real pub- the way pubs used to be but catering for the 21st Century. Great real ales with always plenty of choice and no obtrusive Muzak or gaming machines. Lovely old Northampton (and other) memorabilia. Big Rugby pub but not in your face. Matches shown at the rear so if you want a quiet drink you can have one (Wig & Pen - another great pub but please note). A minor gripe is locals sitting around the bar which makes it difficult to get served. A major gripe is the landlord (landlady a lovely lady). Mate you are hard work. If you really don't like people then stay in the background and let your lady do front of house at which she is superb.

Although we live a couple of miles away, I count this as my local! A genuine old-fashioned pub with great beer and atmosphere. No fruit machines here thank god (or kids running riot) just a massive selection of great beers and good pub food. Super service and very relaxing. We love it - and the music scene on a Wednesday is great too if you like blues. Not often you see the locals playing cribbage anywhere these days. A slice of Olde England done superbly well.

Probably the best real ale pub in NorthamptonFood good too.Helpful friendly staff, beers always kept to a very high standardgood music as well

Excellent atmosphere ,good food ,good ale ,helpful staff Even the Northampton supporters took their beating with grace!

Went on Saturday afternoon to watch Del Bromham & Stray. The pub was very busy but still provided excellent, very friendly, quick service at the bar. They have a HUGE range of real ales The band seemed to play for ages! One of the best pub gigs I've been to for quite a while. Great afternoon's entertainment - and drinking. It's a very friendly place and worth a visit for an entertaining afternoon. We plan to go more more regularly.

Came across this pub during a recent boating trip on the canals in the Midlands.Over 13 Real Ales to choose from - Landlady Ross was brilliant and made us very welcome. Highly recommended !

The Malt Shovel is close to the town centre but far enough away that it doesn't attract the 20 pints of lager brigade. It's essentially in two halves with the front half of the pub being the original area, cosy and welcoming with pub memorabilia on the walls. The back half is a modern addition and whilst perfectly ok doesn't have the character. The long bar boast fourteen (yes, fourteen) hand pumps with a wide rage of real ales including local Great Oakley brews. Also a couple of fruit beers and ciders on draft.Food offerings are simple - various baguettes, sandwiches, chips covered in chilli (absolutely delicious) or cheese or alone and a few ally specials like lasagne. All offered at very reasonable prices, served piping hot by cheerful and friendly staff.Very, very, highly ecommended. This is what a pub should be like.

if you hate wetherspoons an all other chain pubs come here its what pubs used to be like, i dont drink strange ales etc but there are a lot on tap plus your normals, decent ouside sitting/smoking area, dog bowls of water, for when dogs could actually come to pubs with you, sometimes loud bands which is not my thing, but generally nice old skool pub , nice people , nice beers, nice staff, no fights or idiots here, which given its very close porximity to idiot central bridge street is a nice change!

This pub is the best in Northampton by far visited for the first time last night and I love it can i have it please best regards to all the staff you do a great job thankyou from John the coach and horses wellimgborough your beers was five stars