June 18, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Hi!
I am going to Waddington airshow with freinds next month and we would love to have a drink in any famous and hopefully little changed pubs that the aircrew used to frequent.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
Paul
By: AutoStick - 31st January 2013 at 19:46
As Sgt. Ground crew at RAF Kelstern ,Lincs 44/45 , my dad said he occasionaly got off base for a drink . He went to pubs in Louth & Market Rasen . Sorry I dont know pub names & have very little information .
By: jack windsor - 31st January 2013 at 14:15
AKA The Snake Pit,
Jim
hi,
I was reading a book awhile back(can,t remember what-a age thingy)where it stated “it was safer to go to Berlin…”
regards
jack…
By: brakedwell - 31st January 2013 at 13:13
Saracens Head
The Saracen’s Head (298 High Street) was a very popular watering hole for the students on Vampire courses at Swinderby in the 1950’s. On Saturday nights we used to build up dutch courage at the “nut” before heading for the Co-op Ballroom around the corner. I have attached these GE shots of the pub. Ironically, Ann Summers has taken over our place in the bar! Waterstone’s might be worth a visit for old time’s sake.
By: TwinOtter23 - 31st January 2013 at 09:40
Interesting to read about Betty’s on here – especially in the light of an Object of the Week item on NAM’s news page – a wartime cartoon featuring Betty’s Oakroom in York! 😉
By: bravo533 - 31st January 2013 at 09:14
Yep! And I believe it still has the famous mirror which my great uncle, his crew, and many many other crews ‘signed’…
Its now a very posh cafe called Betty’s, one of several in Yorkshire. In the 70’s Ye Olde Starre Inne in Stonegate, York was the place for student pilots from across the Vale of York to gather for Saturday lunchtime sessions.:diablo:
There was a spirited inter-service rivalry, although our “Dark Blue” team from Leeming were sadly outnumbered by the Crabs from Linton and Fenton. Occasionally Vulcan guys would pitch up to add more “atmosphere and colour”:eek:
Great times
By: SADSACK - 30th January 2013 at 13:57
re;
computer is making me feel like kicking it, here goes…
By: SADSACK - 30th January 2013 at 13:48
re;
Not sure which group this is, but their exhibition is fantastic!
By: SADSACK - 30th January 2013 at 13:07
re;
The Wig and Mitre in Lincoln is an awful trendys pub now. And The Bell at Little Stepping, that’s my friends local, its lovely…
By: Arabella-Cox - 20th June 2010 at 08:32
The Blue Bell Inn at Tattershall Thorpe, a hidden gem in the shadows of the old RAF Woodhall Spa.
By: Paul Cushion - 19th June 2010 at 20:30
Thanks for all your replies. I’ll try and get to Betty’s Bar for sure!
Paul
By: topgun regect - 19th June 2010 at 20:12
Was it the Saracens Head mentioned in Guy Gibsons “Enemy Coast Ahead” ?
IIRC it is also mentioned a few times in Jack Curries ‘Lancaster Target’. Shame its no longer around.
I remember the Wig and Mitre well. A nice watering stop too on the climb up the aptly named Steep Hill going up to the Cathedral
There is also the Witch and the Wardrobe down by the riverside
Martin
By: hindenburg - 19th June 2010 at 19:27
Is it Really BLUE 2,I`ve got a picture of it in a really old book.I`m amazed it still survives !!!
By: slicer - 19th June 2010 at 15:24
My FlyPast guide to aeronautical pubs, (admittedly from 1994) only mentions The Bell in Halton Holegate, near the wartime RAF Spilsby, which has memorabilia of 44 Sqdn (first Lancaster squadron and 2 Bomber Command VC’s) and 207 Sqdn (Lancaster) personnel.
It’s 26 miles due East of Waddington on Google Earth.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy your researches though.
By: Blue_2 - 19th June 2010 at 14:56
Is `Bettys Bar` still standing in York ?.
Yep! And I believe it still has the famous mirror which my great uncle, his crew, and many many other crews ‘signed’…
By: David Layne - 19th June 2010 at 14:15
I was recently in correspondence with an individual that was seeking pictures of Bomber Command aircrew that were stationed in the vicinity of Lincoln.
The pictures were to be displayed in a bar in the “The Lincoln Hotel” which was in the process of being refurbished.
As my correspondence was almost a year ago I presume this has already been accomplished.
I’m sure an enquiry at the “The Lincoln Hotel” would answer any quesrtions.
By: Tony C - 19th June 2010 at 14:09
Isn’t there a Pub/Museum at Scampton?
I know that it was up for sale a few years ago but assume that its still there.
My parents used to live in Sturton By Stow (the village next to Scampton) and there used to be a couple of pubs litereally next door to each other.
I haven’t been there for over 10 years now, so I don’t know if they are still in business and am unsure if they have any association with Scampton aircrews (although both used to have aviation models and pictures dotted around the place) but the beer and hospitality was good.
By: hindenburg - 19th June 2010 at 12:48
..and `The George Hotel` in Grantham………….sorry know they`re not Lincoln but always been interested in these old haunts ever since visiting this old `crew signed `pub in Lavenham.
By: hindenburg - 19th June 2010 at 12:45
Is `Bettys Bar` still standing in York ?.
By: hindenburg - 19th June 2010 at 12:43
where was the `Pike and Eel` mentioned in some old 627 sqn diaries I have?.
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th June 2010 at 11:47
Ah, Saracen’s Head – That’s the one I was thinking of.
Thanks
Moggy
AKA The Snake Pit,
Jim