A true taste of tradition
The Malcolm Arms
Address: Frith Bank, Anton’s Gowt, Boston PE22 7BE
Telephone: 07956 705334
Website: www.themalcolmarms.co.uk
Open: Monday – Sunday 11.30am – 11.30pm, Food served daily 12pm – 8pm
Prices: Lite Bites menu – served between 12–3pm – from £6.75
À la carte menu:
Starters from £5.95
Mains from £11.95
Desserts from £6.95
Featured in:
August 2026
The Malcolm Arms in Anton’s Gowt has reopened its doors offering a new menu of pub favourites, cosy interior and a warm welcome.
Set in a scenic riverside location on Frith Bank, close to a picturesque gateway lock leading to the River Witham, The Malcolm Arms, which closed in early 2025, has been welcomed back with open arms by locals and visitors alike.
Since reopening earlier this year following an extensive programme of renovation and refurbishment, its new owners Anita and Richard Cunningham have breathed new life into this traditional community pub.
Together with a new crew of dedicated chefs – Lloyd Harrison and Sian Ellis, plus manager Sue Charrington, this much-loved hostelry is raising its game in the hospitality stakes with newly decorated and refreshed interiors and a revitalised menu featuring the best of home-made favourites.
We visited midweek at lunchtime and sat in the bar’s cosy dining room with comfortable banquette seating. The à la carte menu offers plenty of choices to accommodate even the hungriest diner, including burgers and steaks from the grill, but we decided to opt for two of its most popular dishes, Beer Battered Haddock and Chips (£14.99) and Malcs Club Sandwich (£11.95).
It’s worth noting that everything on the menu is cooked from scratch in the kitchen – with no shortcuts, no ready meals — just authentic, hearty pub classics made with quality ingredients and genuine care.
Both our chosen dishes, generous in size and substance, were outstanding with flaky fresh fish in crispy batter accompanied by “mushy” peas with the hand-cut fries a triumph, while the beautifully presented triple decker club sandwich was packed with flavour and stacked with juicy quality ingredients. Substantial portions at honest prices.
Strictly in the line of duty, we followed with desserts (£6.95), choosing a couple of timeless favourites – apple crumble and custard, and sticky toffee pudding served with vanilla ice cream – the perfect way to round off an indulgent lunchtime experience.
Heritage and history
As this is no “fast food” establishment and with all orders freshly prepared, we enjoyed a pleasantly relaxing wait between courses with a refreshing drink and a chance to find out more about the background and heritage of this historic building.
The Malcolm Arms holds deep roots in local rural history and is tied to the agrarian development of the region and the influential land-owning Malcolm family, which dates back to the 18th century, while the surrounding Frith Bank estate was owned by John Malcolm Esq. of Pollalloch, Lochgilphead.
The new owners have also created a fascinating “memory wall” featuring old photographs of the local area, waterways, landmarks, and memories from years gone by. Anita Cunningham is encouraging more exhibits to be donated, including historic images connected to the pub and surrounding community: “We absolutely love the character and history these bring into the pub, and this is only the beginning. We hope that more old photographs, pub memories, and local history pieces will be added over time.
“If anyone has any old photos of the pub, the village, the waterways, or local memories they’d be happy for us to display, we’d love to see them.”
Today, this dog-friendly pub which offers a great selection of cask ales on tap alongside your favourite lagers, wines and spirits, remains a central hub for the Fenside community. It also serves as a popular stop-off for walkers, cyclists and sightseers exploring Boston’s famous St Botolph’s Church (The Stump) nearby, or visitors staying at Withamside Country Park, a peaceful caravan park development which sits next door.
With its popular Sunday carvery (served from 12–4pm), child-friendly beer garden and a host of regular events including a quiz night every Thursday, The Malcolm Arms is the kind of traditional pub that’s getting harder to find, which makes it all the more worth seeking out.
As Anita says: “Come and see what a proper Lincolnshire local feels like!”
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