The food!!!
You want to be a gourmet critic or a pilot? I mean seriously, bring your own lunch, why waist money in the cafe! Seriously make me wonder what values you have for your training!
Anyway my view so far, the school is very fair and good. CPL cost me a little more then originally quoted, but that was mainly because I opted to use the Arrow instead of the Warrior for most of the training. As flying the Warrior is a waste of time, to have to do all again in the Arrow, and get used to complex aircraft + using the correct speeds in the Arrow makes more sense than flying the Warrior over the threshold at 80kts. Other reason it cost me a little more, was the time from last flight to skill test, I simply wanted a couple of extra hours myself the day before the skills test. Still overall all completed within 4 - 5 weeks. MEP minimums, and will be starting my IR shortly.
Personally I would budget slightly above what they quote, to be safe, but having done much training there, also for my PPL - they have delivered close to minimums.
Everybody I speak to there who do CPL/IR/MEP - have NOTHING negative to say about the place.
Regarding the cafe, the food is fair for what it is, and prices too. The reception, most of them are friendly when you get to know them + who cares, who spends more than 5 minutes in the reception?
You go there to make your bookings, tech log, keys and pay - that's it! And it is pretty busy sometimes, might be several people waiting to get their tech logs signed at the same time + people calling with all kind of questions, it does get pretty busy there sometimes, that's just the way it is!
Most people are there to fly, learn to fly, not spend their day in the reception to get a nice pat on their back, it is In and Out!
The miserable one is probably the one who is the boss in the reception, overall those are things I would not care about. Imagine you work for an airline, do you think all the people you will be in touch with in your company will always be smiling and kissing you on the neck? Please give me a break! Spoilt brats!
Overall personally I would give Stapelford great recommendation, they deliver what they promise, and within a reasonable frame of budget they offered in advance.
In the end, it is all up to the student, it is only that much an instructor can do!
I do not go there to chat with receptionist ladies, or to have a great dinner - I go there to fly and to learn to fly!
If you want smiling ladies go to the lap dance bar, and if you want good food - there are plenty of good restaurants in London!