Lydd is a good airfield. Cheap to fly from and with friendly and good ATC. Only problem is it's in the middle of nowhere. Even though it's just a stone throw with a polio arm on the map, the useless A259 from Hastings to Rye takes 45min. And if you get stuck behind a tractor or lorry, you're had.
There is a small grass strip at Spilsted Farm, but I have not had any response from the owner about landing there. Maybe they're not so keen. I'll drive by one day.
There are loads of groups at Lydd, so if you want to join a group there won't be a problem. At the moment there are at least 3 shares in PA28's available, one in a TB200, Cheetah (I think) and one in a new-ish Saratoga.
IO540 - thanks for keeping the dream alive
Yeah, for serious commuting an IR and a capable plane would have to be a must. I can normally tailor so that I can be there a day ahead, but on the day if I don't turn up, it's a disaster. People depend on me being there. So that will have to happen in the future sometime, if ever (I'm hoping that by the time I get around to an IR, they've changed the rules and made it less a**l).