I know I'm biased, but Leicester is pretty good. It has been a recognised club since 1909. I'm not sure how many of the current "old guard" were around at the time, but one of the original supporters was Mr Everard, of Everard's Brewery, which ticks the box relating to post flying / bad weather activities.
The fleet is mixed - 2 x C152, 2 x C152A, PA28-161, PA28-181, PA28R-201, T67M MkII.
There are, I'm guessing, over 60 privately owned aircraft there, with lots of very friendly syndicates. Over half are LAA permit types, so there's plenty of spanner work on weekends, and usually more than a couple of mugs from the bar in one hangar or other.
The ground school night is a social night where people who graduated a long time ago still gather to plan epic adventures, or to share stories. Newbies are adopted and encouraged, if they choose to take advantage of the social side. There's more flying in the bar than in the air sometimes, and that's great. The food is good too, in fact there's no reason to go home except for the fact that wives and girlfriends start to complain.
I wouldn't still be flying if it weren't for the support, friendship and cameraderie of club members. Sometimes the politics suck, and sometimes there's a little bs, but that's human. But it's still the place where I gravitate to, just because that's where my friends and surrogate family are.
I'm sure there are other clubs this good - I've heard great things about WW too, and that's fantastic. Long live the Real Clubs!
