Malt Shovel Inn - Studio 1
Forest of Dean
View on Google MapsPhoto: Lauren Hart
The Malt Shovel Inn dates back to the 12th century, and Studio 1 occupies the second floor of this characterful building. It's a compact, self-contained space with everything arranged in one open-plan room: a sleeping area with a double bed, a kitchen fitted with an electric hob and combi oven, a dining corner, and a living area with a Smart TV. The bathroom has a bath with a shower over it. You have the whole studio to yourself, with your own entrance and private parking for one car on site.
The essentials are covered—heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi are all included. There's a shared washing machine in the utility room if you need it, and a sitting area outside with garden furniture. Mitcheldean sits in the Forest of Dean, surrounded by walking and cycling routes through woodland. The village itself is small and quiet. Smoking is not permitted inside.
Sleeps & rooms
What's on offer
Check-in & check-out
Arrive after 16:00 Depart before 10:00
🚭 No smoking, please
What guests say
2nd visit and it will be the last I'm afraid. Room not clean shower constantly drip drip drip, TV not working, bedside lamps not working no toilet roll or toiletries, towels damp. Asked what time we wanted breakfast told them, asked if we could get evening meal to be told sorry no kitchen? We went out for meal and then went down for breakfast nwxt morning and literally nobody anywhere kitchen closed dining room empty. We left very dissatisfied and had breakfast elsewhere. Please do not book. It is awful.
4 years ago · via Google
This place could be a gold mine! Which they could charge double for! It's a beautiful place with so much history & quirkiness! But it was completely let down by the lack of attention to detail, everywhere. Unfortunately, we had no toilet roll, no soap for our hands, out-of-date milk, sugar but no tea or coffee, dirty mugs, cobwebs everywhere,, Our room had a tv but the lead didn't reach the socket, that's the rooms. The rest of the Inn, no wifi password, no toilet roll in the women's toilets in the bar area, random stuff everywhere I don't mean the signs or old taxidermy items, that's all part of the quirkiness (If you don't like old quirky and different this place isn't for you anyway!) it's the broken pool table upon first entering just left there, peoples personal items just left out, we weren't sure if we were walking into someones personal home at one point. Little things are helpful, like if we were told the kitchen was going to be closed for the evening when we asked at 6 pm the barman did apologise & advised us to try the CrossKeys Pub, about a 15min drive away. (It was an amazing meal there) but also a heads up in the morning that the breakfast will take 20/30mins. 1 gentleman seems to be doing everything, checking us in, manning bar till late then up first thing making breakfast. Which I will stress was lovely, though he mentioned he couldn't do us sausages as there was none available at the shop, we did have to laugh! These are all small things that are easily rectified, we did mention some of these politely especially toilet roll & extension cable for tv but had to wait for the landlord who was in & out then just busy so we gave up. (Luckily we always keep tissues in the car - no shop in the village) When we did see him we didn't get a chance to speak as he came in with his family into their accommodation within the Inn and we didn't see him come out before we returned to our room. Being a mystery shopper in the past & working within the travel industry I was frustrated because the potential with this place is just huge! Yes, we did only pay £60 for the evening in a twin room including breakfast which was a last-minute booking 7hrs before we arrived, however, you should always have a clean room as standard the saving grace was the history, breakfast & location. All the above things rectified we'd have easily paid £120 for a night!
4 years ago · via Google
This is one of the oldest Inns in England (0910 I think). Full of character and quirks. Had I one night stay and a meal which was excellent and great value for money. Our room was clean and tidy and the staff look after you well. Beers and Ales tasted good. The car park is a bit of a scrap yard with many rusting relics, but somehow just adds to the character to the place.
5 years ago · via Google
Probably the worst accommodation I've stayed at in thirty years; just inept. The drawer liners are news pages from 1966, probably the last time any maintenance or cleaning happened. The room was filthy, most of the electricals didn't work. The main wardrobe nearly fell on us when we opened it and the landlord admitted it did the same to him a few days before! Hot water in the sink was a dribble. Hot water in the shower ran cold very quickly. A fellow guest tripped on the landing steps as there was no lighting. Our room looked out over the landlords patio and a delightful accumulation of two weeks worth of dog poo. Don't open the window. Breakfast service was non existent. The coffee maker sat in a semi-dismantled heap in the corner.
7 years ago · via Google