The Malt Shovel, Hovingham
Situated in the beautiful Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire, lies Hovingham, famous for Hovingham Hall, home of the Worsley family and in particular Katharine Worsley, the Duchess of Kent who grew up there before marrying Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. The Worsley Family home, Hovingham Hall, was built around 1760 by Thomas Worsley and is about the only stately home in England where the entrance is through the riding school. Opposite the entrance to Hovingham Hall is the Malt Shovel Inn, a two hundred year old stone-built pub which offers a warm, friendly atmosphere with tables outside the front of the pub as well as the back with a pool room which has been converted from an out building.
The Malt Shovel is open every day and serves food Monday to Saturday from 11.30 am to 2.00 pm and then 5.30 pm until 9.00 pm in the evening. On a Sunday the serving times at the Malt Shovel Inn are 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm to 8.00 pm. There is a selection of sandwiches and specials every day as well as the set menu consisting of dishes like steak pie, scampi, pork fillet and linguine pasta all available for under ten pounds.
We were cycling through on a Bank Holiday Monday and sat outside in the Beer Garden because it was such a lovely day. I had a very enjoyable open prawn sandwich served with salad and chips and topped with a curried mayonnaise and washed down with a well-earned pint of Black Sheep bitter. All in all, the food and service was very good and the pub was very clean with a nice atmosphere - it was all very enjoyable.