Meet the Publican - The Malt Shovel, Barkby
 

Dick & Andy behind the bar
 

Meet the Publican takes us to that rare event, a pub being closed for two weeks refurbishment and reopening with more handpumps than it had before and a greater selection of real ales and cider than it had before.

This is exactly what happened at The Malt Shovel in Barkby recently. Landlord Dick Cross told me that the pub needed a change and he decided to do just that last February 1^st. The change has been quite radical, the large U-shaped bar has been reduced to a fraction of its former size and an open fire has returned to the pub, a new carpet has been laid and the toilets have been in Dick’s words “brought into the 21^st century.” Dick believes that an open fire compliments a real pub, also that the carpet, a good menu and cleanliness will bring more women and families into the pub to compliment the real ale drinkers. Part of the refurbishment that is not on show to the public is the cellar, where a new two tier racking system has been installed to allow the pub to stock more casks than before (around 20) and allows the pub to always have 6 cask bitters, a cask mild and a draught cider available. The beers on sale when I was there were the regulars, Banks’ Original and bitter, Marston’s Bitter and Pedigree, Greene King Abbot, Taylor’s Landlord and the guest, Slater’s Premium, with Old Rosie being the cider. 

Dick, who runs the pub along with his wife Alison, sons Andy and Sam, and nephew Rob, describes the pub as a family run business. Dick and Andy run the beer side; Sam and Rob are the chefs whilst Alison fills in where necessary. Dick and Alison also lend a hand cooking when it is needed. Dick started as a licensee at the Queens Arms in Leire, as a tenant for Marstons, He describes the Queens Arms as a typical village pub and it was here that his ideas of how he would like to run a pub started. After two years in Leire he decided on a change and headed towards Norfolk to seek his new pub, but upon entering the Malt Shovel he knew it was the place for him. Having arrived at the Malt Shovel, he inherited a drinking house, primarily selling Marston’s beers, with no sports team and little village involvement. Dick's love of real ales then drove him to expand the beer range available. His first guest beer was Speckled Hen, followed by Abbot Ale. This was well received by drinkers and the policy has been kept. He felt that the food side needed a lift, so they quickly expanded the food available, introducing amongst other things, a steak night on Mondays, and he quickly attracted local sports teams in to the pub, some by way of sponsorship.

The pub has a petanque team, the local cricket team use the pub and there is a shooting and fishing group, which also frequent here.  Some shooting takes place on the nearby Pochin estate at Barkby Hall and some of the shooting and fishing bounty ends up on the menu. The policy of the expanding the beer range has involved selling beers from some of the microbreweries around the area and two of the favourites are Brewsters and Church End, Beers from both are regularly seen here. The Malt Shovel has hosted a cider and cheese evenings, which are well received by regulars, and this has prompted permanent draught cider to be available, which is selling well.

When I asked Dick to describe his pub he replied, “A pub with a choice of fine real ales, good food, good hospitality and friendly atmosphere".

This page last updated: May 28, 2008

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