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The Historic Brocket Arms

The Brocket Arms is an excellent stop for food, an extensive wine list, or a pint of quality ale from the regular beer list. We called in at noon on a Wednesday lunchtime just as the pub was starting to fill with regulars and the occasional passing visitor. The Brocket Arms is situated within a short walk from Shaw’s Corner, home to the playwright George Bernard Shaw for forty four years until his death in 1950. The close proximity to this popular National Trust attraction draws in extra revenue to the pub and also to the accommodation side of the business.

At lunchtimes, food is of the traditional pub variety, Baguettes today included 'Beef and Stilton', 'Ham and Cheddar', and 'Brie with Sundried Tomato'. A small range of main meals is also provided and today these included 'Beef Madras', 'Chilli', and 'Braughing Sausages and Chips' Salads, including 'Smoked Fish' or 'Honey Roast Ham' and the average price of a main meal is around £7.50. Lunch, incidentally, is served between 12.30 and 2.30pm. Bar snacks are available between these times and also between 7.30 and 9.30 from Tuesday through to Saturday evenings.

We ordered a Beef Madras and sat back to enjoy a pint of Smuggler from the Marlow Brewery. The Brocket Arms is a good destination at all times of the year for real ale lovers and today, five ales were available which were Ruddles County, Greene King Abbot and IPA and two from the Marlow Brewery. Lager drinkers are not forgotten and can enjoy Fosters or Kronenbourg 1664 and three ciders are generally available.

The pub provides a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere in which to eat and drink. The unhurried theme also applies to the food preparation, so if you’re the sort of person who gets a little jumpy if your lunch doesn't arrive in five minutes flat, you should perhaps bring a blood pressure monitor. The Brocket Arms is a throwback to the days before the ‘now’ generation but, as with most things, it’s worth waiting for.
My madras arrived in abundance. Copious quantities spilled across the plate and ensured that I didn’t need to eat again for the rest of the day. The Chef had got everything right with regard to the heat and balance of flavours and the beef was perfectly tender.

In the evening, The Brocket Arms’ candlelit restaurant comes to the fore. A La Carte meals are served from 7.30 to 9.30 on Tuesday through to Saturday evenings. Sample starter dishes today included 'Homemade Onion Soup' and 'Lamb’s Liver Pate'. Main courses included 'Smoked Fish Platter', 'Tournedos Rossini' and 'Spanish Omelette'. A busy evening doubtless awaited.

The accompanying wine list looks very special indeed. The Brocket Arms has a constant menu of four red and four white house wines, all of which are available by the glass. There then follows a good cross section of wines, including four clarets. Other examples include a Barolo and a Chateauneuff du pape. What struck us was how reasonably priced the list was overall.

And so we left The Brocket Arms for now having spent a very enjoyable lunchtime in the company of landlord Toby and his friendly staff. Next time, we intend to visit the restaurant and enjoy more of the food and sample the wine list. In the meantime, we urge you to pay the Brocket Arms a visit very soon.

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