The Maltsters

[NorfolkNog]

The Maltsters website appears to be down and I think Griff reported that it was closed on a Saturday. I wonder if this is a coincidence or if there is a problem? I know they run on reduced hours in winter but should be open at weekends? 

[Meantime]

According to Google maps the hours are 11am - 11pm Fri and Sat and 11am to 8pm Sun, but that all depends on when it was last updated. 

The Facebook page hasn't been updated since April 2022 so presumably they don't do social media! which could also explain the website being down.

I think The Granary is also on very similar reduced opening hours, does that mean that there is even less trade for The Maltsters and they've decided to close for the Winter?

[NorfolkNog]

Don't do Facebook but the website was active until very recently promoting their 'bottomless' roasts and did advertise winter hours. Reduced trade could indeed be a factor, the Dog has been closed over the winter for a few years now. At this rate I'm going to be having dry holidays!  

[garryn]

It was open the Saturday before.

[BroadAmbition]

There were five craft including us at the staithe Saturday 1600 - shut, no sign of life. No one to pay a mooring fee to either 

Just how we managed to moor up briefly without any staff to assist and a novice deck crew was ‘surprising’ 

Griff

[CambridgeCabby]

The mooring fees at Ranworth are suspended during the closed season , ie from the end of October , the signs are due to be changed.

The Maltsters last winter had their opening hours pinned to the door but on at least two occasions I was there they were closed within their stated opening hours .

[CambridgeCabby]

[NorfolkNog]

11 minutes ago, CambridgeCabby said:

The Maltsters last winter had their opening hours pinned to the door but on at least two occasions I was there they were closed within their stated opening hours

That may well explain it. If I turned up on a hire boat in winter with little daylight left and found a pub shut when it's supposed to be open I would be very ticked off. I believe the Ship is closed and it's a long walk to the Fur and Feather. I'm going to make a point of phoning up now rather than relying on the published hours. I know pubs are struggling and I support them as much as I can but they do themselves no favours by closing at random, equally by booting customers out early. If a pub operates irregular hours then customers will get fed up and not return. 

[CambridgeCabby]

The Ship South Walsham is currently subject to a fundraising by locals to reopen as a community owned pub fingers crossed it s successful .

 

[Mouldy]

1 hour ago, CambridgeCabby said:

The Ship South Walsham is currently subject to a fundraising by locals to reopen as a community owned pub fingers crossed it s successful .

 

Wonder if the current issues at Upton will scupper that idea.  There’s obviously insufficient trade to support the pubs that are there now without another one reopening.

[marshman]

Small niche pubs, even offering consistent high quality food, now struggle and the Ship will never make it now - been closed too long and little or rather nothing, to attract passing trade, sadly.

[Wussername]

14 minutes ago, marshman said:

Small niche pubs, even offering consistent high quality food, now struggle and the Ship will never make it now - been closed too long and little or rather nothing, to attract passing trade, sadly.

I agree MM. At one time several years ago now, they served really good food. However the dining area was small and could not sustain the numbers required. 

So many public houses have been lost during the past ten or fifteen years. 

Some survive. The Shoulder of Mutton in Strumpshaw, miles away from civilisation,  rivers, main roads,all there is to see is fields of sugar beet and yet the place is rammend several nights a week. It is a "sweet spot". Some days/afternoons the car park is full to overflowing. Cars line the road outside the pub. 

And yet so many pubs wither on the vine.

[Chelsea14Ian]

It can be done,but it takes thought,skill and building  a good reputation. Sadly there to many pubs with little  or none of the above.

[Meantime]

4 minutes ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

It can be done,but it takes thought,skill and building  a good reputation. Sadly there to many pubs with little  or none of the above.

The Colchester Inns group have all the above and failed in that location!

[YnysMon]

1 hour ago, Meantime said:

The Colchester Inns group have all the above and failed in that location!

The indoor dining space was pretty restricted though, as another poster has observed above. That must restrict trade.

[NorfolkNog]

2 hours ago, Wussername said:

Some survive. The Shoulder of Mutton in Strumpshaw, miles away from civilisation,  rivers, main roads,all there is to see is fields of sugar beet and yet the place is rammend several nights a week. It is a "sweet spot". Some days/afternoons the car park is full to overflowing. Cars line the road outside the pub. 

It's an excellent pub. Good selection of well kept, quality ales. Regular entry in the Good Beer Guide. I think they do food but its predominantly a wet led pub from what I can see. Well run, convivial and popular. Everything a good pub should be. I think if you go down the gastro route you are in a very crowded field and have to stand out to survive. 

But back to the Maltsters - I'd be very interested to know what's going on if anyone is passing by. 

[marshman]

I think The Ship was a "training" ground for the younger members of the family - who soon outgrew it and moved elsewhere. I think it was a good way to get started in the business but they were privileged to have the group backing them. I don't think they ever pretended it was meant to be part of the Group other than for that specific purpose.  Long since lost track of them - making a fortune if they learnt correctly! But it was a very good restaurant for perhaps a couple of years!

Not a great lover of their general offering but must try The Lodge at Salhouse before that catches the habits of its sister offerings!!!!

[Turnoar]

The Shoulder’ did a great vat of minted peas on a darts night. Seem to recall that the landlord was keen on the horses and also had a drawer to put the takings in, no fancy electronic till. Beer was always great, I’ll be in next time I’m that way again.

[Graham47]

1 hour ago, marshman said:

I think The Ship was a "training" ground for the younger members of the family - who soon outgrew it and moved elsewhere. I think it was a good way to get started in the business but they were privileged to have the group backing them. I don't think they ever pretended it was meant to be part of the Group other than for that specific purpose.  Long since lost track of them - making a fortune if they learnt correctly! But it was a very good restaurant for perhaps a couple of years!

Not a great lover of their general offering but must try The Lodge at Salhouse before that catches the habits of its sister offerings!!!!

We had Lunch / Dinner at Salhouse Lodge today at 16.30. There were already 12 people in the restaurant. This is the fifth time we have eaten there since it was taken over. As per the previous visits the food and the service was first class. The staff were busy setting up the restaurant for a very busy evening. 

[socrates]

On 28/11/2023 at 10:23, garryn said:

It was open the Saturday before.

We enjoyed a good few in there that Saturday. 

[socrates]

It also appears that the New Inn at Rockland has now closed. White Horse Upton hanging on by a thread and may well have to close. As Terry, the former landlord of the New Inn said, "It is a long hard winter for a pub on the Broads." As well as rising costs of utilities and the financial climate not being good for most people, there is a huge issue surrounding recruitment and retention of staff in the hospitality sector. 

[CambridgeCabby]

When I was late teens early twenties most evenings would find me in my local socialising , this same age group today prefer to game online either alone or with friends and maybe venture out at the weekend.

Most pubs now are more akin to being restaurants selling beer as opposed to pubs serving food , the traditional village pub once so loved are few and far between.

When was the last time you went in a Broadland pub where the locals were having a game of darts or cribbage , where an 18yr old was chatting to a 60yr old over a pint , the closest we have found is Catfield and the much missed New Inn at Rockland .

[OldBerkshireBoy]

1 hour ago, socrates said:

It also appears that the New Inn at Rockland has now closed. 

My understanding is that it will soon reopen.

[CambridgeCabby]

11 minutes ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

My understanding is that it will soon reopen.

[Broads01]

1 hour ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

My understanding is that it will soon reopen.

I do hope so or else mooring at Rockland will never be the same.