Poor Salisbury. This lovely cathedral town will forever be associated with the Novichok attack in 2018, something that dented tourism for some considerable time, combined with the not-insignificant effects of COVID.

We first went to Salisbury during the pandemic and ate some very excellent socially distanced meals, one of which was on a freezing pavement outside Maul’s. So memorable was it (for the right reasons) we tried to come back a couple of years ago (it was closed that night), but finally managed to return a week ago, coinciding fortunately with the hottest day of the year so far.

But did the curse of Nigel Noshes strike? Should we never have gone back?

Spoiler alert: it was even better than last time.

Maul’s has a simple philosophy. Serve great wine, meat and cheese, at a reasonable price. Not ripping people off is at the very heart of the experience. Andy, the proprietor, is an absolute one-of-a-kind, passionate as hell about his wine and his establishment. He rotates his wine very regularly (so you won’t be tasting anything we did), and makes sure he gets well and truly smashed on each new consignment to ensure his customers will enjoy the wine. Not necessarily the recipe for a long life, but if you met Andy, you’d realise it is a recipe for a happy one!

I am a big fan of red wine, but every now and again, a nice glass of white goes down a treat. This is a picture of the Cote de Rhone, and I have to say it is one of the nicest glasses of wine I have had outside of (and in some cases inside) a Michelin starred restaurant. And it’s only £8 for a 175ml glass! I’d have got a crap Pinot Grigio almost anywhere else and probably for more money: The insidious rise of the 125ml glass has driven prices up, but not quality.

So good was it, I forsook a glass of second glass of red, and swapped back to the white (I’m not quite as keen on US wines as Andy is)

The cheese and meat boards are a “pick your own” (from a list, not literally) and are well explained. We paid £45 for a very generous plate with bread: https://maulswinebar.com/Cheese/ – extras are clearly priced.

The bread is baked locally, but was the only slight letdown. Something a little more interesting would be better. Last time we came, chutney was included, and it was wonderful. I hate chutney, but finished it all.

There was a wide variety of cheeses, some quite unusual, including one made in a pumpkin. Each was explained, including whether you should eat the rind or not. Not patronising, just very useful.

And someone had written all of the names on the slate!

The cheese is very well kept, which is very unusual.

Sadly, the place was almost empty. One other couple and a young person who stopped for one of Maul’s famous wine slushies (yes, wine in a slushy machine…)

This is an amazing place and if you are within 50 miles of Salisbury right now, call and book…

To bastardise the words of the late, great, Colourblind James, “I’m considering a move to Salisbury” (he was going to Memphis, which seems a little excessive even for good food and wine)

Conclusion

Overall Rating: 5/5

• Food: 5/5

• Drinks: 5/5

• Service: 5/5

• Ambiance: 4/5

• Value: 5/5

• Would we go back: 5/5

Maul’s: https://maulswinebar.com