please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I don't think you'll find Floyd ran it "until recently" blue_scrumpy - he died in 2009!!
And had been long gone, bankrupted, from here before then.
|
Whilst I wasn't planning to visit the Maltsters Arms originally, I decided to head here after hearing that one of the pubs I was planning to visit in Totnes later in the evening had closed. The Maltsters was apparently run by Keith Floyd until fairly recently. So it appears fairly popular with diners. It enjoys a lovely riverside location. But the interior felt a bit too modern for my liking. Salcombe Sea Horse is the regular ale. But they also had 3 guests, which were Sharps Doom Bar, New Lion Pandit IPA & South Hams Devon Pride.
|
Lovely pub let down by poorly kept ale.
|
We were on our way to the Pig's Nose in East Prawle when our T4 snapped her fan-belt. Kingsbridge Garage towed us in for repair and loaned us a courtesy Mondeo - which was great for blending in with the locals ! On the basis of 3 pubs in the immediate area on the OS map we headed in the Tuckenhay direction and were delighted to find this pub open all day, and selling food all day.
Very pleasant young barman, superb pint of Otter Bitter, and Soup Provencal, on the banks of the Dart Estuary - bliss !
Highly recommended.
|
Ignore the old reviews, this pub is back in its prime. Great beers, great food, visited twice in 1 week and left full (and slightly tipsy) on both occaisions. Only downside is the price - certainly not cheap, perhaps more like London prices, but they I guess you pay a premium for the location, overlooking Bow Creek.
Beers were Tribute (common in these parts) and TopSail (plus another that I really can't remember!)
|
Super part of Devon and the pub is in a great spot, the pub it's self is very nice inside and the real ale and real cider in good condition, however, i think they may well cater for the those that have a few extra �50 notes in their wallets! i have been to central London recently, in and around the covent garden area and have drunk real ale for less than what i paid for the pint i had in here, we would've stayed for lunch if we hadn't have been put off by the extreme prices for drink, i paid �4.90 for a half of lemonade and a pint of Champion Ale, i am guessing that it was around the �3.50 mark for the pint which is very excessive in my book. It is a great shame, because i do think it is a great pub but one that i wouldn't return to again unless i had more money or they dropped their prices.
|
Was there for their July beer festival; 12 guest ales and the three I tried were spot on. Very relaxing just to sit looking at the river. I think this would be a good winter pub too, I can imagine it being well cosy on a cold night.
|
First encountered the Malsters in the early 90s when it was Keith Floyd's place. Since he went bust, it seems to have had its ups and downs - but on returning recently, we had a generally good experience.
Quayside a lovely spot in the sun, the outdoor barmaid was pleasant and efficient and the Dartmoor well kept.
Son was also able to wangle a sausage off them for crabbing bait, for a notional sum to the RNLI.
We went to the nearby Waterman's afterwards, and that was awful - like bloody Butlins in comparison.
|
One of the most idyllic settings for a pub you could find, and rather more sympathetically developed in recent years than The Watermans just up the road. If you can find it, you'll love it. Local ales (the selection changes regularly) and usually a local cider are available. The menu is often rather adventurous, perhaps even occasionally eccentric, but very rewarding, though a little pricey. If you venture down to the quay you may find barbecues, live music and a sort-of-beach-bar, but if they're not on then just soak up the tranquillity.
Regarding previous comments, as an fairly regular visitor to The Maltsters, often with a child or two, over some fifteen years I can't say I've ever found the pub or its staff anything but extremely friendly and courteous.
|
What a dissapointment, this pub has had such a fall from grace. My husband and I went for a meal there and from the minute we walked in we were shocked by the rudeness and appearence of the staff. We were ignored for a good ten minutes at the bar before a harrassed barmaid served us our drinks very sloppily. We were then presented with a truly bizzare menu with no base or direction and a wine list that seemed to favour quantity over quality. Our meal was slow to arrive and came burnt and our side dishes were forgotton, by the time they arrived we had practicly finished what we could manage to eat of what was frankly poorly made food and thoroghly overpriced. We intended to complain but when we saw the response the table next to us got when they did, we decided just to get out as soon as possible. This was because a rather butch looking lady in a kaftan was so rude to them she basicly threw them out, it was the most disguistind display of pub hospitality i've ever seen. Absolutely dreadful.
anonymous - 31 Jul 2007 19:36 |
We visited this pub twice over one weekend. On both days the food was very good if a little pricey. The beer was well up to CAMRA standards. On the Friday there was excellent Blues music as well - so all in all a good place to eat, drink and be merry.
PS noting the other comments about small children there were small children in the restaurant and there seemed to be no problems.
anonymous - 22 Feb 2006 18:58 |
We dined and drunk in the Maltsters Arms whilst Keith Floyd was in residence and since. The food has never been better than with the current owners and is fresh, so expect a wait - there is no fast or frozen food here. The owners are most welcoming and their long experience in the trade shows through. They do not tolerate nuisance customers, screaming brats etc, thereby ensuring that it is a pleasant and restful place to eat. The main tables overlook the river Dart, but as there is a bar in the room children cannot legally be allowed on these tables. There is a cosy childrens area with a real log fire in the winter. Narrow lanes lead to this pub, but it's well worth the effort. Excelent range of ales and wines.
|
I found the maltsters Arms while touring in this idyllic part of the world and took my wife and two-year-old for lunch today. There was a distinct frostiness in the air as we entered. We were told we could not sit in the main restaurant area of the bar because we had a youngster with us (despite the presence of children's menus) and were directed to another room which had a bit of a draught. There was just one other couple in the main restaurant area and they had a dog with them. My wife commented that it was an odd policy to allow dogs in a restaurant but not children. An older women we assumed to be the landlady then snatched our food order from my hands and ordered us, complete with hungry two-year-old, to leave. I peered around but Basil Fawlty was nowhere to be seen and neither was there a Candid Camera crew. What a shame. It's a handsome pub in a lovely spot. But I notice from other postings there's an uncomfortable level of intolerance here.
|
We made a booking for a group celebration here 6 months in advance and were promised a riverside view. On the evening because we had children with us we were stuck in a small, dark back room between the toilets and the smoky bar! White wine was served warm, parking was in a field half a mile down the road. When we asked for a different table we were told that because we weren�t happy the landlady would like us to leave! A great disappointment, and the worst hospitality that we�ve ever encountered!
|
fantastic place to sit by the river with a glass of ale the BQ is good at night in the summer
|
Thought this would be a fantastic place for a birthday celebration, so duly booked a table for 12, what a disappoinment, an hour's wait for food, vegetables and salad that came late or never arrived and a 6 year old that had to wait 20 minutes for his meal after everyone else. A polite complaint was refuted by the excuse that the pub was busy and that this standard of service was normal, we refused to pay for food that did not arrive. We were barred! What a pity.
|
Keith Floyd did used to own this pub.Brilliant pub with lots of local ales.Very friendly atmosphere especially around christmas.The bar staff are very friendly.Beware if you play for a cricket team because the maltsters is home to the MCC the team that every Aussie has nightmares about.Best Pub In Devon.
Sam Bowden - 15 Nov 2004 10:43 |
fab location - good job no longer owned by above as was grossly overrated and expensive no wonder it didnt last
dolly - 24 Jul 2004 10:46 |
From the front looks like a small traditional pub on a country lane. But go round the back and you find it's really quite big with 3 floors. The bottom floor opens out onto some picturesque quayside seating and the car park.
Food is served lunchtimes and evenings and a good (rotating) selection of well-kept real ales is available.
Apparently Keith Floyd used to own this pub.
Graham - 29 Sep 2003 09:20 |
