WWII Aviation Pubs (2004 thread)

The White Heather at Kirkbride in West Cumbria was originally built as the officer’s mess when Kirkbride Airfield was RAF Kirkbride.

I thought I would resurrect this thread in the hope that someone can come up with a good recommendation for a pub with aviation connections somewhere in the Tempsford / Grafton Underwood / Kimbolton / Podington / Polebrook circuit. Doing that tour on Friday, so any advise gratefully received.

Gene Carson was a tail gunner at Podington in ww2 and use to drink in a pub in nearby Rushden. His book ‘Wingding’ (see amazon) is a good read. I can dig out the book and find the pub if you want.

I was in contact with him in recent years in the course of my Podington research – he’s a nice bloke.

more:http://www.webspawner.com/users/atsixoclock/

MOGGY, The nearest airstrip to the JACKDAW is “Clipgate Farm” at Barham at the top of the hill overlooking Denton, you can find the details in pooleys and you can make out the aircraft on google earth.

There is a very nice pub called Jug & Bottle at Waltham (Grimsby) in Lincolnshire. The pub is on the place where there used to be a hangar.

There is still some runway concrete and buildings (control tower, bomber training, hangars, other) left of the old airfield.

I thought I would resurrect this thread in the hope that someone can come up with a good recommendation for a pub with aviation connections somewhere in the Tempsford / Grafton Underwood / Kimbolton / Podington / Polebrook circuit. Doing that tour on Friday, so any advise gratefully received.

Aviation pubs

Most airfields were within easy reach of three or four pubs, the bigger ones were usually frequented by air crew, especially if they had a juke box or a piano, in the cities, Lincoln, York, Nottingham, Norwich, etc air crews would soon find a haunt which suited them, the word would soon spread and some of these hostelries became quite famous, ground crew never had much time off, and mostly used the small local pub or the the NaafI. They had no transport and very little cash to spend anyway. Nearly all the pubs in bomber county used to sport some memorabilia even if it was only a painting.

Interesting to see the New Zealand Spitfire TB863 on your pub’s website Tony. Looks like a cool pub with an interesting museum, well done.

The Spitfire Arms

Not sure if you’re interested in “new” WW2 inspired pubs but that’s what I designed and built four years ago here in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Still have family in London (Islington area mainly) where my nan was born and raised until she married my Canadian grandfather during the war. She was a WAAF and her photo is proudly displayed in the pub along with many RCAF, RAF and Commonwealth artifacts inside a large glass case.

Cheers,
Troy Kirkby, Publican
http://www.spitfirearms.com

Thanks for the link Dezz. Shades of the Nazi factory under the Harz mountains…

Dhfan is that the factory at Pill,the one where they made the secret aeroplane too big to fit through the doors(unusual for German engineering i may say 😀 )
Back to thread,ive visited the FENTON FLYER on many occasions just a short stagger from the Church fenton runway end,great on them summer nights when the JPs were there….

Thanks for the link Dezz. Shades of the Nazi factory under the Harz mountains…

To Gooney Bird
The “Startled Saint” is now a house, and only the post that had the sign on top of it is still there, minus the sign of course. This was a pub that Gibson drank in when he was stationed at West Malling. Mind you the greedy developers of the airfield have built a nice new pub called “The Spitfire” 😡 just behind where the J type hanger used to be, I have no idea what its like as I refuse to go in there.

Dezz

Thanks for the update Dezz.

I am very sad to hear that it is no longer a pub, especially such famous one.

I have always had a soft spot for West Malling and in the US Navy days I use to cycle up the road alongside the pub and sit on a wall next to an electricity sub-station and watch the flying.

To dhfan
Here you go, have a look at this.

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/r/rochester/

it’s a rather old write up, the main entrance is now blocked by a earth bank. As the main site is now under a load of very expensive flats.

To Gooney Bird
The “Startled Saint” is now a house, and only the post that had the sign on top of it is still there, minus the sign of course. This was a pub that Gibson drank in when he was stationed at West Malling. Mind you the greedy developers of the airfield have built a nice new pub called “The Spitfire” 😡 just behind where the J type hanger used to be, I have no idea what its like as I refuse to go in there.

Dezz

I had lunch in the Kings Arms at Biggin Hill last sunday – apparently the landlord of this particular pub was killed while watching an air raid from the pub door. There’s a picture of the place complete with shot up cars in Biggin on the Bump by Bob Ogley. The old Jail is a nice place – plenty of pictures on the walls – thay have regular talks there by old pilots and other notables. A list of these dates is available from St Georges Chapel at the airfield.

Anyone know if any of the pubs in Podington have a tangible connection with the nearby Station 109 (now Santa Pod) 92nd BG?

There is a pub next to the old airfield at West Malling called “The Startled Saint” which depicts St Leonard being buzzed by Spitfires!

A few years ago we had a holiday on the Norfolk Broads and moored up at what was then a strange pub called the Ferry Inn at Horning.
We learnt that it was popular with WW2 aircrew from Coltishall and that a ‘stray’ German bomb had hit it killing several pilots and ground crew.
I just googled Horning, to find that the pub has been ‘renovated’, however there is a mention of it being one of Douglas Baders haunts on their webpage, so maybe they have been sympathetic in their treatment of the place.
Over to those from the further reaches of East Anglia.
Oh, there is also a pub near here at Howlett End near Debden, can’t remember it’s name and have’nt been in for a while, but it was supposed to contain signatures etc from RAF and US pilots from Debden, I think I vaguely remember seeing them.

………the blocked off underground works is still there.
Dezz

Tell us more. (Well me, anyway).

The White Hart in Brasted did indeed have a refurb and there are numerous aircraft and personnel pics scattered around the premises ,the replica of the board is still there to, the original may well be at Hendon as tailspin mentioned.

There is a pub in Trumpington outside Camridge called something like the Spitfire or Spitfire arms[arms????wings surely],not sure if it has any WW2 connections as i don’t think i’ve been in it.

Drove past it yesterday,it ‘s actually called “The Tally Ho”,sorry

Ahh haa, I have been waiting for this thread to crop up again, I have found another one here in Medway “The Canopus” in Borstal, Rochester. Not too far from….you guessed it… the site of the old Shorts seaplane works, ****** all left of that!, but one of the old slip way’s, and the blocked off underground works is still there.
Dezz

In Fowlmere there is the pub called “The Checkers” where members of the 339thFG hung out and called homed during the war. I know many 339th men who spent some fun times during the war in the that pub and I guess the pub is still there.

Don’t you spell funny. 🙂

Yes it is still there – http://www.localsecrets.com/showreview.cfm?id=7922

Sounds a bit too upmarket for me, foodwise at least.