I’ve just returned from visiting RAFM Hendon, and was generally impressed by the the new Milestones of flight building and the Grahame-White Factory.
Although in my opinion one aspect lets the whole Hendon experience down, the restaurant.
Hendon is meant to be one of the top aviation museums in the world, yet it provides such poor dining facilities. The whole feel of the facilities looks like a penny pinching exercise, if it gets any more self service all visitors will have to provide their own plates!
A first rate museum is being let down by a second rate catering facilities.
PS. A few more light bulbs would not go a miss in the Bomber Command Hall.
By: Auster Fan - 9th January 2004 at 15:50
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Septic
[B]
Originally posted by Ant Harrington
“Got me thinking – does anyone know of any other pubs with aviation history?”The Wattenden Arms, OLd Lodge Lane, Kenley. A stones throw from the airfield.
The Kenley Hotel, Godstone Rd Kenley, both frequented by Kenley air crew.
The Jackdaw at Denton near Canterbury, used by Susanah York and Christopher Plummer.
The Ferry Inn at Horning in Norfolk was frequently used by aircrew at Coltishall during the war. I believe that Bob Stanford Tuck had a very near miss there in about 1941, when he left shortly before it suffered a direct hit. Obviously, there is also the The Douglas Bader at Martlesham Heath (assuming it is still there)
By: JDK - 9th January 2004 at 15:37
I hope to be proven wrong, but the chiefs at Hendon don’t care about feedback. (I except the guys on the ground, at the archive, andin conservation). I have no hope that a feedback form about the canteen or an email wil result in change. And we’ll get some PR ‘We are listening but not doing anything, thank you for your interest, now bog off…’ statement.
By: Bluebird Mike - 9th January 2004 at 15:18
Hendon still haven’t replied to my initial contact via their website about the poor restuarant; poor show, RAFM. 😡
By: JDK - 9th January 2004 at 14:56
Off to Hendon Sat, to see the Tempest (I thike a TT scheme thank you!) and some other a/c.
Where’s best to eat (after I’ve checked, filled in the feedback form, and left…) and is there anywhere in walking distance?
Cheers
James
By: Manonthefence - 9th January 2004 at 13:46
Flat 12×2
Thanks for that, just confirmend what I always though. In a summer job I used to deliver frozen food, and that was one of my customers.
Cool
By: Flat 12x2 - 9th January 2004 at 12:58
Not quite a pub, but I recall that Douglas Bader met his first wife at a pub/cafe called the Pantilles.
There’s a Pantiles on the A30 at Bagshot, Surrey that I was lead to believe was the one, cant remember who or were I got the info from though
Just done the google on it & the info says it was in the film & another snipit says its were he met his wife
By: Chipmunk Carol - 9th January 2004 at 12:17
The Red Lion has a very strict opening time of 7pm on Sundays.
There are several lovely aviation paintings in there though.
By: dhfan - 9th January 2004 at 11:51
Ashley, wasn’t it the RL at Hinxton that wouldn’t let us in?
By: Manonthefence - 9th January 2004 at 09:34
Not quite a pub, but I recall that Douglas Bader met his first wife at a pub/cafe called the Pantilles.
Anyone know where it is?
By: Learning_Slowly - 9th January 2004 at 08:59
Ashley
It’s the same owners and cook at the Ickleton and the John Barleycorn, but I agree the food does vary. We are trying to find new pubs round here so we shall try your list 🙂 Tonight
By: Ashley - 9th January 2004 at 08:52
The comments re the John Barleycorn pub in Duxford are interesting…on the number of occasions I have eaten there, the food has been mediocre at best…either undercooked, overcooked, cold, tasteless, or seemingly out of a bag/microwave box…I tend to avoid all three pubs in Duxford, and depending on the company (e.g. family, non-aviation friends, aviation friends, work colleagues) head to either the Green Man at Thriplow (good smoked salmon baguettes, curried parsnip soup and chilli con carne…can’t comment on the beer as I don’t drink the stuff), the White Horse at Foxton (some excellent Chinese dishes made from fresh ingredients…sometimes have to wait a while for the Chinese stuff but it is cooked to order by the Chinese chef…plus they do a brie and bacon baguette to die for), the Red Lion at Ickleton (wonderful steak and red onion baguette, but shunted down the list of Ashley’s favourite pubs due to crappy service or lack of at last forum get-together), and the Red Lion at Whittlesford (famed for it’s provision of Moggy’s giant plate of roadkill and huge portions)…in terms of decor the RL at Hinxton does it for me – hardly a bare section of wall due to plethora of aircraft pictures and memorabilia 🙂
Ashley
By: topgun regect - 8th January 2004 at 22:43
There is ‘The Grange’ in Gosport near Portsmouth, apparently the first RAF Squadron was formed at what is now HMS Sultan up the road when the RFC and RNAS amalgamated – or so I have been told, maybe some one could shed more light on ths? The pub crest is a Spitfire and they have aviation pics inside which surprised me as the area is predominately naval.
There is also ‘The Church Fenton’ outside the old RAF base.
By: Septic - 8th January 2004 at 22:34
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ant Harrington
[B]”Got me thinking – does anyone know of any other pubs with aviation history?”
The Wattenden Arms, OLd Lodge Lane, Kenley. A stones throw from the airfield.
The Kenley Hotel, Godstone Rd Kenley, both frequented by Kenley air crew.
The Jackdaw at Denton near Canterbury, used by Susanah York and Christopher Plummer.
By: Ant.H - 8th January 2004 at 19:49
“Got me thinking – does anyone know of any other pubs with aviation history?”
The White Hart at Biggin Hill springs to mind,it used to be the favourite watering hole for just about every pilot who ever flew from there,and had a huge blackboard on one of the walls which was signed by all the regulars.The original board is now in the BofB Hall at Hendon although I seem to remember that the ‘Hart have an exact copy still on display.
By: Learning_Slowly - 8th January 2004 at 17:21
Think you will find the Ickleton Lion was the pub frequented by Mr Bader at that time although I agree the John Barleycorn’s is very good.
By: BobDunn - 8th January 2004 at 14:11
The last time I went to Duxford I explored Duxford Village and discovered the excellent “John Barleycorn” pub. Not only was the food out of this world (I had a huge steak and ale pie), I counted 5 ales on tap and the pub used to be a regular of Douglas Bader when he was stationed at Duxford!
Highly recommended! Got me thinking – does anyone know of any other pubs with aviation history?”
By: JDK - 7th January 2004 at 09:31
quote:
——————————————————————————–
On the Continent they’d chuck the food at the cook
——————————————————————————–
Cook? Microwave operative, I believe is the politically correct term…
That’s the point. On the continent, they don’t think operating a microwave (& badly) is ‘cooking’!
Cheers
James
By: Learning_Slowly - 7th January 2004 at 08:56
It’s only a Harvester, but fine for a bite of lunch. On the A1 between Hendon before you hit the M25 junction.
By: Dez - 6th January 2004 at 19:16
looks like Dez will be giving The Runway Restaurant another go!:D …
Im amazed that a thread about food has been up here for so long..:D
By: robbelc - 6th January 2004 at 18:14
Originally posted by Learning_Slowly
Nice pub down the road. I worked there 4 years ago and it has not got any better and it won’t for all the noise you make.Hendon is very different to Duxford, that is why I work at Duxford now. Fred and Harolds Naafi is the place to go if you want a nice food at good prices at a museum.
I was hoping there was, whats it called and which road is it on. Going there a week on saturday with the oldies.
Hendon is no diffrent to many public venues. They use contract caterers who are there to make money. You only get really good food when it is not contracted out and then they tend to care about the customers more.
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January 2, 2004 at 5:21 pm