Malt Shovel, The - presented by Edinburgh Pub Guide

11-15 Cockburn St
OLD TOWN, Edinburgh
EH1

Picture of the pub: Malt Shovel, The,Edinburgh

Number of Reviews: 20

Average Rating: 2.9

Average Ambience: 2.5

Average Value 2.9

Average Food & Drink 2.7

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Review By: Alison

Title: Nothing majorly wrong with it

Review Date: 2007-10-10 14:22:29

Overall Rating: 0

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 0

Food & Drink Rating: 0

Just lots of little things, not enough bar staff, food is mediocre at best, no atmosphere, they don't even show the rugby anymore which was always great fun.

Review By: Sandra Aitchison.

Title: Great Pub

Review Date: 2007-06-18 20:55:09

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 5

The Malt Shovel has always been one of my favourite edinburgh bars, so i was surprised to see so many negative comments! Was there recently and found the staff to be as welcoming as ever, had a delicious meal with my husband, and enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere. Would reccomend it to anyone.

Review By: Anonimouse

Title: What happened to the food

Review Date: 2007-05-06 20:28:02

Overall Rating: 0

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 1

Food & Drink Rating: 0

This pub used to do really decent pub grub, it was quite expensive but worth it, I went in the other day and ordered a beef pie with mash and was presented with a tiny pie, nasty mash and a few peas, the beef in the pie was really tough. This pub used to be really friendly, not anymore :(

Review By: Fiona Carr

Title: MALT SHOVEL

Review Date: 2007-04-07 14:30:12

Overall Rating: 1

Ambience Rating: 1

Value Rating: 2

Food & Drink Rating: 3

I used to go on about how great the Malt shovel was and even previously gave it a great review on this site. I was surprised to see some bad reviews. I popped in the other day after having not been in for a while and have to say it is not the same as before. The staff prefer to stand and chat at the bar rather than serve and it. I stood at the bar for a good five mins waiting whilst one of the bar staff stood at the end of the bar having a good old natter with her mates and the other member of staff serving saw this and never even thought to say anything!!! From now on I will frequent the Scotsman bar when in Edinburgh where the staff are quick and friendly and efficient.

Review By: Dave

Title: Nice pub off the Mile

Review Date: 2007-04-03 14:08:40

Overall Rating: 4

Ambience Rating: 3

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 4

My wife and I found this to be quite a nice little pub. We thought the food was just OK, but the staff was friendly and they had two cask ales on tap that were delicious.

Review By: Norrie

Title: Bad mannered staff

Review Date: 2007-03-30 23:28:09

Overall Rating: 0

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 0

Food & Drink Rating: 0

Terrible Muzac, badly tiled, smelly gents toilets (don't know about the ladies), food is terrible, it used to be good, the decor is awful, there also seems to be a core crowd of regulars complaining about beer prices, I had to pay �2.95 for a revolting Guiness, then I tried 80", also horrible, this pub has gone downhill in the last few months, give it a miss, go to the Hebrides instead

Review By: Fiona Carr

Title: malt shovel

Review Date: 2007-03-22 16:34:22

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 4

This is my fav pub in Edinburgh. My hubby and I love sitting at the window seat watching the world go past, especially when the festival is on.Bar staff are always very nice and food good as well. When my sister comes home on holiday from Edinburgh we have to take her to the malt shovel or she,s not happy .

Review By: Rena Patterson

Title: Horrible

Review Date: 2007-03-21 15:47:19

Overall Rating: 0

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 0

Food & Drink Rating: 0

Apparently this pub has just been refurbished, no running hot water in the toilets, tiles over tiles, no soap dispensers, no toilet roll holders, no mirrors. The food used to be pretty good, now it's obviously mass produced pub fare, they used to play quite good music, now it seems to be muzak piped in, the drinks are ridiculously overpriced and the atmosphere is terrible. Give it a miss, my friends and I certainly won't be going back.

Review By: weesue

Title: no atmoshepre

Review Date: 2007-01-14 10:18:33

Overall Rating: 0

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 0

Food & Drink Rating: 0

This used to be one of the busiest pubs around with good food. Now I would not recomend it to tourists as I would not go there myself. The staff are very unfriendly it is cold have the time and the prices are extorionate and they cannot get there dates right for the band that plays once a month (very good band). They have lost at least 12 of us and our friends by the attitude of the manager. I can see this pub getting tourist only business soon as they do not know any better.

Review By: Laura Simpson

Title: Lost it's soul

Review Date: 2007-01-13 01:28:52

Overall Rating: 2

Ambience Rating: 0

Value Rating: 3

Food & Drink Rating: 1

This used to be a great pub, nowadays all the staff seem to be interested in is chatting or eating, often there is no one behind the bar, and the food is slow to come and not always cooked properly, (give it a miss)

Review By: edinburgh lass

Title: Where did all the music go??????

Review Date: 2007-01-04 19:11:35

Overall Rating: 3

Ambience Rating: 1

Value Rating: 3

Food & Drink Rating: Not Rated Yet

Used to be a great atmosphere with reasonably priced drink for edinburgh and a cracking folk session every week. without the music there is a deffinate feeling of something missing.

Review By: Skippy

Title: Gone downhill

Review Date: 2006-12-05 18:34:35

Overall Rating: 2

Ambience Rating: 2

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 1

I used to love this pub until about 2 years ago, staff sit on their backsides and seem more interested in chatting than serving, food used to be good, but has been getting progressively worse.

Review By: Dr Dred

Title: Not for us students

Review Date: 2006-10-31 20:59:39

Overall Rating: 2

Ambience Rating: 3

Value Rating: 0

Food & Drink Rating: 3

Whilst it is obviously an old mans puvs a few of the guys decided to hit the bars in the area for our new local. Cant put my finger on it but it was not a friendly bar, over priced and had a greater priority servin the tourists and not students

Review By: Peter Buckley

Title: savage spot

Review Date: 2006-10-30 19:29:28

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 5

the place is so welcoming with a friendly atmosphere, a great barstaff that make u feel right at home, food is second to none and the drinks are equaly as splendid, go there and see for yourself

Review By: Charlie

Title: best pub in edinburgh

Review Date: 2006-09-26 21:22:06

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 5

Never felt more welcomed or appreciated in any other pub............ food was fabulous and the service outstanding.........will be back!

Review By: D.H

Title: Whisky Galore

Review Date: 2006-08-27 23:54:50

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 4

Massive selection of Whisky, decent priced bar for Edinburgh.

Review By: firecat

Title: Malt shovel

Review Date: 2006-06-05 17:47:11

Overall Rating: 4

Ambience Rating: 3

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 4

comfy and friendly

Review By: monkey

Title: X-clent pub

Review Date: 2006-04-18 13:45:23

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 5

Food & Drink Rating: 5

Great place, friendly staff

Review By: JESUS

Title: Nice place..

Review Date: 2006-03-11 16:24:34

Overall Rating: 5

Ambience Rating: 5

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 4

bit pricey but the nice bar staff and good atmosphere makes up for that

Review By: EdinburghMonkey

Title: Whisky galore!

Review Date: 2004-01-14 18:23:18

Overall Rating: 4

Ambience Rating: 3

Value Rating: 4

Food & Drink Rating: 4

Great pub specialising in single malts. Easy-going atmosphere - a traditional favourite for many locals.

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