I agree with G-OE. OK, you can compare Panshanger to somewhere else local where you might get instructors all with white shirts and epaulettes, a shiny front desk and lots of PC's to get a weather briefing from, but for grass roots 'flying' and learning Panshanger is very good. All of the instructors I have come across have a passion for flying and really will teach you the best they can with passion. It is a place that is unlike others and some just wont get on there, that is true, but there is a passion for aviation there, it has well kept runways and club aircraft, and its very accommodating. Its rarely boring at Panshanger and there are lots of pre and post PPL's there who like a chat and will just talk aviation with you. I am also just a PPL, but in many years of being there I would also say that in the last few years it has been more and more accommodating to pilots and to public events.