An MBE Jam with Norman Jay

We like to say that we’re “Purveyors of fine cocktails, delicious food, great beers, wines and fabulous times” and when we say something, we mean it. The cocktails, food, beer and wines are there for all to see but “fabulous times” is very subjective.

We know we can’t please everyone but what we can do is put on the best possible night based on our perceptions on what “fabulous times” are. So far it’s worked and we’re proud to say that we’ve put on some of the best parties Marlow and beyond have seen, from our 1st Birthday Party with Jazzie B, to Trick or Treat, our Halloween Fancy Dress Party and of course not forgetting our two sell out New Year’s Eve Parties, Bar-Bados and Cafe del Marlow. Now we’ve got one more to add to the list, drums please…

An Easter Weekend Special with NORMAN JAY MBE BOOM!!!!

The Godfather of Good Times will be coming to Marlow to play a very intimate set at our bar on Saturday 30th March. He’ll be bringing the sound that has led him to being an internationally acclaimed DJ playing at parties all over the world including of course his annual slot at Notting Hill Carnival, playing to thousands with his Good Times Sound System. How exciting!

Behind the glamorous facade of running a bar, there is a lot of hard work however, there are some very significant moments when it all becomes worthwhile, when work doesn’t seem like work. Seeing Norman Jay MBE play here at Clayton’s Marlow will most definitely be one of those occasions. It’s the moments we see people having “fabulous times” or “Good Times” in this case.

See you on the 30th?

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT THE BAR!

Last night a DJ saved my life

Really? Probably not.  (Well maybe if they were a moonlighting Fireman and the bar you were in was on fire.) However… a DJ can definitely make or break your night. I may be particularly hard to please but I’ve actually dragged my friends out of a bar before when the DJ played Rock DJ by Robbie Williams.

Music in general gives a place identity, personality and most importantly, atmosphere. The wrong music for the venue can completely alter your perceptions of a place and your experience there.

One experience in particular springs to mind when I went to what was supposedly a ‘high-end’ Thai restaurant In Manchester. As I walked in, they were playing the Titanic theme tune ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion. My immediate thought was if their taste in music is this bad, what’s the food going to taste like?

We definitely appreciate the importance of music within a bar. There are plenty of venues that can give you a round up of the top 40 both in Marlow but also in any local town and beyond, but here at Clayton’s Marlow, we’re trying to be a little different, playing a mix of funk, soul, disco, jazz, grooves as well as other bits and pieces. Music you’d struggle to find anywhere nearby. We spend a lot of time putting the playlists together for the bar and we are fortunate to know some fantastic DJs that play here on a regular basis in our Secret Bookshelf. In fact, we would like you to get to know them too so over the next few months we’re going to be profiling all of our DJs, giving you an insight into who they are, what influences them and most importantly, what music they’re likely to play when you next visit. 

But if you can’t wait until then, we recently recorded one of DJ Jim Sharp’s sets here and had a few CDs made up so if you’d like to be reminded how good he is or are just curious, just ask us for one next time you’re at the bar.

Dates for the diary

Sunday 3rd June – Clayton’s Undercover Party

Saturday 9th June – DJ Jim Sharp

It’s a gorgeous day in Marlow, the sun is shining, and people are enjoying our beautiful garden. It may only be March but it’s already starting to feel like summer

Come down and have a cool glass of wine, something to eat, and relax. That’s what sunny Friday afternoons are for.

As 5.46pm marks the official beginning to the weekend in Clayton’s Marlow, it’s the perfect time to come in for a cocktail, before partying on to the early hours with DJ Tony Smith playing in our secret bookshelf, spinning sounds to remind you why you look forward to the weekend…

See you at the bar later?