MARSASKALA LABOUR CLUB

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Normally folk who request things on this blog get short shrift.  Who do you think I am, Coldplay ?

But because Professor Pie Tin from Ireland, Ireland asked so nicely, here’s some nearly live blogging from the Marsaskala Labour Club. I’m in no fit state to blog, so this will probably be a rare typo-free post.

We’re staying in Marsaskala in the south-east of Malta, about 20 minutes from Valetta.

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Like nearly all the towns here, it’s a fishing village of about 10,000, 1,000 of whom run convenience stores and 100 run bars selling John Smiths Smooth.

Here’s a nice picture of St Thomas Bay.

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I’ve been looking for a locals bar, without much success, and the Labour Club looked my best bet. Who knows, it could be Malta’s Red Shed.

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Mrs RM wasn’t at all convinced by the hidden appeal of this place, which I clearly should have reserved for a Valentine’s Day treat.

I told Mrs RM this is what she paid her £25 Labour Party sub for, and if push came to shove I could manage the tune to “Seven Nation Army“, which must be enough to gain honorary membership.

We peered into what resembled a warehouse.

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Inside a small single room, a giant man in a pullover sat at the entrance writing in ledgers.

“It’s members only” hissed Mrs RM.

In fact, all that was needed was a smile.

“Hello. Come in”

“Do you want to see my CAMRA cards ?”

Within seconds we were seated at the bar by the Maltese/Irish barman, who assured us that a verse of the “Red Flag” was unnecessary.

In honour of our visit, he put on a mix tape that included Euro cover versions of;

  • Uptown Girl
  • Eye Level
  • Save Your Kisses For Me
  • Matchstalk Men & Matchstick Cats & Dogs (jolly version)

We let him choose our beer.  After all, he was from Dunstable.

Here is our feast of Craft.

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Proper beer

Some German beer named after a tennis player in cans that looks like it came from Aldi, Skol from Malta, a local Cisk.  The Heinken tap was “just for show“, and a bottle of Duvel tantalising placed on the top shelf was “a present from 2006“.

Our host snacked on a jar of cornichons and his homemade Irish coffee, which eventually Mrs RM succumbed to.

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Irish coffee with Sambuca – £1.25

The handful of  locals were polite but ignored us, our Gentle Giant regaled us with tales of his time in Luton boozers.  With the help of WiFi stolen from next door I was able to find the (keg) gems of his colourful past on WhatPub.

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Art shot

An hour later we’d got through 3 cans,1 bottle and a coffee with an excess of Sambuca in it, plus 3 cups of unfathomable crisps. He asked for £7; I gave him rather more.

It was the highlight of the holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

37 thoughts on “MARSASKALA LABOUR CLUB”

      3. It did but it was/is a normal hotel.

        Cowdenbeath are part of a wonderful football rivalry with Alloa, whose fans have a wonderful song (to the Addams Family theme):
        They’re diry and they’re smelly
        They come from near Lochgelly
        You’ll never see them on the telly
        The Cowden Family.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Professor PieTin won’t be fully satisfied until you’re transcribing and posting the Maltese banter seconds after you’ve overheard it. 😉
    I do love the fact that they’ve got “a Heineken tap just for show”– they’re so unpretentious they keep it humble even when they’re putting on airs!

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  5. “which I clearly should have reserved for a Valentine’s Day treat.”

    If only because the sign was red. 🙂

    “He asked for £7; I gave him rather more.”

    [nods] I was like that in Bratislava, Budapest and (even) Prague. Get off the beaten track and the prices are just icing on the to complement the great atmosphere. 🙂

    Cheers

    PS – “But because Professor Pie Tin from Ireland, Ireland ”

    Sadly I could not find Ireland, Ireland on Google Maps. 😉

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      1. Tsk, tsk.

        While there is a city called New York in the state of New York, I don’t recall a town called Ireland in the county (or country) of Ireland. 😏😁

        Cheers

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Er … and here’s me thinking the highlight of your week was meeting up with me in “The Pub” in Valetta the day before?
    The Partit Laburista, Nazionale and the Kazin Banda (band room) are always a cheap and friendly option in Malta, tourists are always welcomed. Quality can vary from basic to splendid, depending where you are.

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      1. Do Farsons still do their milk stout?

        Interesting company – the old brewery was built on the profits of running the Tripoli NAAFI in WWII, and their full name, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc reveals their links to sunny Reading. Apparently they still use a version of the Courage yeast.

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  11. I’m surprised Mudgie hasn’t been on about the boulevardier enjoying his fag in civilised company.
    Malta in winter looks every bit as grim as I imagined it to be.

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