The Malt Shovel at Barston

Sitting comfortably in the countryside and safely outside Birmingham's motorway box, the award-winning Malt Shovel is an airy, well-designed free house with modern soft furnishings and interesting artefacts. Natural wood and pastel colours characterise the interiors of this stylishly converted early 20th-century mill building, and flowers decorate the unclothed tables in the tiled dining area. The bar is cosy and relaxed with winter log fires, there's an attractive garden for alfresco summer dining, and the restaurant is located in the adjacent converted barn. Head chef Max Murphy is proud of the pub's two AA Rosettes, and meals are freshly prepared and stylishly presented. The extensive choice of modern British dishes makes the best of fresh seasonal ingredients, and the daily fish specials board is popular with lovers of seafood. A quick canter through the imaginative menu finds starters like breaded brie with pear and apricot chutney; charred red pepper tartlet with Serrano ham, mozzarella and pine nuts; and seared peppered tuna with celeriac, horseradish and enoki mushrooms. Main course dishes are just as appetising: try baked cod on beetroot and potato gratin with English asparagus and Lincolnshire smoked bacon; venison with green beans, creamed mash and quince jus; or gnocchi with Shiraz roasted tomatoes, basil, olives and rocket. The dessert menu doesn't disappoint, with flavours as varied as raspberry and hibiscus flower cheesecake with pannacotta ice cream; pear, rum and raisin brioche and butter pudding with vanilla bean custard; and dark chocolate meringue pie with pecan honeycomb. Finally, a board of English and European cheeses with grapes, celery, apple and sultana chutney and crispbread will fill any remaining corners. Booking for meals may be required.