Panshanger is a nice airfield, and is extremely well maintained. It has about 8 Cherokee and Archer aircraft in the training fleet, and a Piper Cub. All aircraft are well maintained and presentable. I qualified there a number of years ago and feel my training was of a high quality. I still fly there as a PPL.
There is a good camaraderie, and all the instructors bend over backwards to be helpful. Private Owners and other qualified pilots are always milling around and you rarely find someone who wont help a student out in some way. It is a lively kind of place, thats true, and I think some of the quotes on here are a bit dated, but it certianly isnt stuffy. Panshanger has been rejuvenated a bit in the last few years, so it is definitely worth a try. I'd go back down there, see if someone will show you around, and see what you think about the atmosphere there.