The Marlow Donkey (the railway line)

I took this picture in one of our latest trips to Marlow. Before the Marlow Donkey was a pub near the train station, which was bigger than the one they have now, it was the affectionate nickname given to the branch line. I love all things trains and their history, big or small, so I wanted to share it here. If you increase the image, you might be able to read about the line's history.

Marlow Donkey

I sometimes blog about the little town of Marlow, which we visit from time to time, because it's not very far. There is one pub in particular I like there, called the Marlow Donkey. It is the first pub we went to in our very first visit and I fell in love with it right away. Not that it is that special, but it has a few things going for it. It is a station pub for once, in fact it is named after the old name of the train line leading to Marlow (or the train itself, I'm not sure). And that is enough in itself: a local pub named after a train line and with a steam train on its ensign, that is simply so very cool. A lot of train station pubs can be run down and rather dodgy, but this one is actually very nice and family friendly. So yes, it is our go-to pub when we visit Marlow.

Saint-Patrick à Marlow...

Je ne veux pas avoir l'air de me plaindre, mais la Saint-Patrick ici est inexistante. Ou presque. Je n'ai pas entendu une note de musique irlandaise dans un lieu public. Je m'ennuie de Liverpool et de sa diaspora irlandaise.

J,ai pu boire une Guinness au Marlow Donkey, ma femme a bu un Irish Coffee qui était quelconque. Je vais boire une Guinness avec mon repas, du haddock et des frites avec des petits pois. Pas très typiquement irlandais, mais ma femme serait en colère si je mangeais du Irish stew.

Fish Friday

We went to the Marlow Donkey earlier on, and it is Fish Friday today. I checked the fish menu and it seems absolutely delicious (most of meals in the Donkey are). A week ago in Reading there was a special offer in Wetherspoon on the fish and chips. I am wodnering if the Catholics had a stronger influence than I thought over this country. I remember that there was fish on the menu in the cafeteria of the hall fo residences where I briefly stayed in 2006 in Liverpool. Not as nice as the ones available in the Donkey, of course. I was tempted to ask the barmaid (whose mum was writing the menu, she told us) if they were Catholics, but my wife thought it would be too nosy.

Visitors?

My sister in law and her boyfriend might be coming to visit us today. We might go for a drink in the many pubs of Marlow (hey, there is something good about this town: it has a few very nice pubs, with real ales). Probably the Marlow Donkey or the George and the Dragon, but most likely the Donkey, as it is our favorite. Nice drinks (nice beers especially), a bit of a posh décor, really nice and varied music (sometimes French) and a menu both delicious and filling. It was the very first pub I have been in Marlow.