The Malt Shovel
Quick info
About The Malt Shovel
On Wembdon Rd in Bridgwater, The Malt Shovel is a pub and restaurant with a beer garden built around an outdoor TV for watching live sports such as F1, football, or tennis. The menu runs to 106 dishes, with Sunday roasts of hand-carved beef and turkey, a kids' version of the beef roast, and hot roast beef and turkey rolls also on offer. Booths inside come with their own TVs, and a two-course senior menu is available alongside the main list. Orders can also be placed through the Greene King app, and staff bring food and drink to the table. The step-free entrance suits visitors with mobility needs, and free Wi-Fi runs throughout for anyone working or browsing over a drink. Reservations are recommended given the daily opening pattern. Dogs are welcome throughout, including in the beer garden, where outdoor seating extends the dining space beyond the main room.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Menu & Prices
106 dishes · mains $1–11- Sunday Roast - Hand-Carved Beef$8.49
- Sunday Roast - Hand-Carved Turkey$8.49
- Sunday Roast - Mushroom & Ale Pie$8.49
- Hot Roast Beef Roll$6.29
- Hot Roast Turkey Roll$6.29
- Kids Sunday Lunch - Hand-Carved Beef$3.99
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention roast dinner, beer garden with tvs, lotus cheesecake and greene king app ordering.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention roast dinner, beer garden with tvs, lotus cheesecake and greene king app ordering.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the roast dinners, with several calling it among the best they've had, alongside praise for the lotus cheesecake and well-cooked kebabs served in the beer garden with its outdoor TVs. Service draws consistent warmth too, with staff and one bartender in particular repeatedly singled out as friendly and attentive, and the mixed crowd of locals, families, and dog owners gives the place a welcoming feel. That said, a recurring theme under newer management is inconsistent food, with one diner describing a birthday roast as burnt and reheated after a long wait, and another reporting a general decline in food and beer quality since the change. Staffing also draws complaint, with one reviewer noting only two bar staff on a busy sports day leading to long queues and an abandoned app order. A separate reviewer describes being asked to leave after raising concerns about a dog being fed at a table near a child with allergies. Regulars still return often for a pint and a catch up in the beer garden.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the roast dinners, with several calling it among the best they've had, alongside praise for the lotus cheesecake and well-cooked kebabs served in the beer garden with its outdoor TVs. Service draws consistent warmth too, with staff and one bartender in particular repeatedly singled out as friendly and attentive, and the mixed crowd of locals, families, and dog owners gives the place a welcoming feel. That said, a recurring theme under newer management is inconsistent food, with one diner describing a birthday roast as burnt and reheated after a long wait, and another reporting a general decline in food and beer quality since the change. Staffing also draws complaint, with one reviewer noting only two bar staff on a busy sports day leading to long queues and an abandoned app order. A separate reviewer describes being asked to leave after raising concerns about a dog being fed at a table near a child with allergies. Regulars still return often for a pint and a catch up in the beer garden.
Featured reviews
- The Beast
“Went here to watch football on the last day of the season. It was a bank holiday weekend and hot sunny weather, so very likely to be very busy, but there were only two bar staff on. It very soon got so busy there was a bar queue that went around the room and out to the car park. I ordered a drink via the App which said there was a 5 minute wait for drinks, 30 minutes later it didn’t look likely, so I left. The bar staff were great, really working hard, but were also serving food orders. I was told that the pub management would like to have more bar staff but Greene King restrict them to two.”
- Morag Anderson
“As always the staff were great, friendly and helpful. Food arrived quickly, even though they were very busy. Atmosphere is always welcoming.”
- Chris Knight
“For a Saturday lunchtime, it was quiet. Lovely pub sadly let down by plastic flowers in tub and hanging baskets. Better none than plastic. Food was good sized portions and good prices but ,as it's a chain, set menu made to a price. …”
- Jackson Simmons
“One of the best places I’ve visited recently. Everything was handled professionally, and the atmosphere felt comfortable.”
- Sharon Chamberlain
“Staff are friendly and extremely helpful, they go out of there way to help. Food is enjoyable”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Has bar games
- Has great beer selection
- Has great wine list
- Has karaoke
- Has live performances
- Good for watching sport
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Good for kids
- Serves food at bar
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves beer
- Offerings· 6
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Has dancing
- Serves food
- Serves spirits
- Serves wine
- Parking· 3
- Free parking lot
- Paid parking lot
- Plenty of parking
- Dining options· 1
- Has seating
- Highlights· 6
- Has bar games
- Has great beer selection
- Has great wine list
- Has karaoke
- Has live performances
- Good for watching sport
- Popular for· 1
- Good for solo dining
- Atmosphere· 1
- Cosy
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 4
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Transgender safe space
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Bars near The Malt Shovel
- Quantock4.22,1560.3 miWheelchair accessible
sunday carvery, homemade yorkshire pudding, app table ordering
- Admirals Landing4.31,0860.4 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
cottage pie, sunday carvery, cheesecake
- White Willow4.33,0691.9 miWheelchair accessible
christmas day roast, puddings, pub food
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Malt ShovelReservations · Good for kids | 4.4743 | — | £10–20 | roast dinner, beer garden with tvs, lotus cheesecake |
| QuantockWheelchair accessible | 4.22,156 | 0.3 mi | — | sunday carvery, homemade yorkshire pudding, app table ordering |
| Admirals LandingReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.31,086 | 0.4 mi | £10–20 | cottage pie, sunday carvery, cheesecake |
| White WillowWheelchair accessible | 4.33,069 | 1.9 mi | — | christmas day roast, puddings, pub food |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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