Aviation Pubs
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Aviation Pubs
An earlier thread I started about RAF Bovingdon has, with a moderator's encouragement, turned into this new thread about pubs - specifically, those with photos/memorabilia associated with local airfields, and especially the little known ones.
Thanks, Evileyes, for the invitation. I'll get the ball rolling with a few of the obvious ones such as a couple of 'named' hostelries:
The Douglas Bader (Martlesham) - photos, memorabilia etc. inside
The Flying Fortress (near Rougham airfield) - ditto
The Dambusters Inn (Scampton) - ditto
Off the beaten track, I've found quite a few photographic gems - for example, the huge photo mural in the Chequers pub (near Matching airfield) of a B26 dropping bombs - hardly PC, I'd have thought, among the contemporary decor in such a cosmopolitan establishment. But bless 'em for keeping it there and I hope it lasts.
Then there's the famous Eagle in Cambridge, with its signed ceilings. In Lavenham, don't miss the bar at The Swan with its panel of signatures. Elsewhere in southern East Anglia, there's the Western Arms in Silver End (memorial outside and much inside linked to Rivenhall's history).
Off the top of my head - last time I was at White Horse in Great Waldingfield, it boasted a fine collection of paintings depicting the US 486th Bomb Group at nearby Sudbury airfield. And another White Horse, at Ridgewell, has a collection of photos etc. about the 381st Bomb Group.
There are many other such watering holes in East Anglia, some of which I've visited without remembering their exact details (hic). Across the country there are hundreds of others; some with just a photo or two and others with named bars, tributes and whole collections of nostalgic stuff. So it's over to you all to let us know where they are!
Thanks, Evileyes, for the invitation. I'll get the ball rolling with a few of the obvious ones such as a couple of 'named' hostelries:
The Douglas Bader (Martlesham) - photos, memorabilia etc. inside
The Flying Fortress (near Rougham airfield) - ditto
The Dambusters Inn (Scampton) - ditto
Off the beaten track, I've found quite a few photographic gems - for example, the huge photo mural in the Chequers pub (near Matching airfield) of a B26 dropping bombs - hardly PC, I'd have thought, among the contemporary decor in such a cosmopolitan establishment. But bless 'em for keeping it there and I hope it lasts.
Then there's the famous Eagle in Cambridge, with its signed ceilings. In Lavenham, don't miss the bar at The Swan with its panel of signatures. Elsewhere in southern East Anglia, there's the Western Arms in Silver End (memorial outside and much inside linked to Rivenhall's history).
Off the top of my head - last time I was at White Horse in Great Waldingfield, it boasted a fine collection of paintings depicting the US 486th Bomb Group at nearby Sudbury airfield. And another White Horse, at Ridgewell, has a collection of photos etc. about the 381st Bomb Group.
There are many other such watering holes in East Anglia, some of which I've visited without remembering their exact details (hic). Across the country there are hundreds of others; some with just a photo or two and others with named bars, tributes and whole collections of nostalgic stuff. So it's over to you all to let us know where they are!
Last edited by XV490; 22nd Nov 2011 at 07:48. Reason: error amended
Pubs
A couple for your pubs/airfield thread. The Woodman at Nuthampstead has photographs of the USAAF B-17s and a fine memorial in the carpark. Although I haven't been for some time and it has changed hands, the Chequers at Fowlmere had photos of aircraft based at Duxford and Fowlmere. There are photographs of more recent Duxford based aircraft at the Duxford Lodge Hotel.
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I'm thousands of miles from home so don't have the book to hand ,but I'm sure somebody will remind me of that pub near Biggin Hill with all the B of B fighter pilots signatures.
I'm thousands of miles from home so don't have the book to hand ,but I'm sure somebody will remind me of that pub near Biggin Hill with all the B of B fighter pilots signatures
Sadly, the blackout screen with all those signatures is no longer there. I think that it might now be at the Shoreham museum?
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The famouse blackout screen is here
The Shoreham Aircraft Museum
The Shoreham Aircraft Museum
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Well, here's a query for a start... when I was knee-high to a wotsit in abaht 1970, en-route Penzance to Llwyngwril by road we passed a pub called the Happy Landings with a Westland Belvedere gracing the sign. It had to be a Belvedere cos it was twin rotor and RAF, and the Chinook was still a good dozen years off in RAF service...
Anyway it has remained fixed in me mind, so, anyone recall this pub and where it was?
I've always pictured it somewhere around Weston-super-Mare, but that may be the museum connection. Someone is going to say Yeovil - yes we did the trip up the A30 to London several times as well - and I recall stopping off at the new FAAM in 1971 probably so maybe I am confusing different trips.
Anyway it has remained fixed in me mind, so, anyone recall this pub and where it was?
I've always pictured it somewhere around Weston-super-Mare, but that may be the museum connection. Someone is going to say Yeovil - yes we did the trip up the A30 to London several times as well - and I recall stopping off at the new FAAM in 1971 probably so maybe I am confusing different trips.
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There is a fine booklet "Aeronautical Pubs & Inns of Britain" by Smith & Ellis that covers this topic. It's dated 1996 so it's assumed many pubs could be added. What a wonderful subject!
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The Bell, Cotton End
The newest associated aviation brew must surely be:-
(The brewery’s first commercial brew, )
The newest associated aviation brew must surely be:-
(The brewery’s first commercial brew, )
First Flight, is a 3.7 per cent hoppy bitter with“a smooth finish and a hint of caramel”.The name is partly a referenceto the nearby Cranfield Airport but was also chosen because Alan’s father-inlawis a qualified pilot.
The plant is currently brewing First Flight everyweek, but continuing experiments make it almost certain that a second bitter and a special Christmas porter will be available for the festive season.
The plant is currently brewing First Flight everyweek, but continuing experiments make it almost certain that a second bitter and a special Christmas porter will be available for the festive season.
For further information about White Park Brewery
or to order some beer, call 01234 721383 or mobile 07757 086306
, or visit the new website
at www.whiteparkbrewery.co.uk
or to order some beer, call 01234 721383 or mobile 07757 086306
, or visit the new website
at www.whiteparkbrewery.co.uk
However, there are several facsimilies of the signed screen and other artwork about its Biggin Hill WW2 connections, so still plenty to see. Strangely, it seems a long way from Biggin for the chaps to have gone there regularly during the war. It's a worthwhile place to stop, on the old A25, particularly in the summer when you can sit out in the large back garden. I use it as a personal "holding point" when driving family members to Gatwick, stopping for lunch if we haven't been delayed.
Streetmap.co.uk- search results for 360850,169952
I've never been inside it as we moved away from Somerset long before I was able to !
There's a bit of an -ahem- unfortunate review of it here
Happy Landings, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 9DL - pub details # beerintheevening.com
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The MARQUIS CORNWALLIS at Chedburgh, in Suffolk where I now live. Chedburgh was a Lancaster/Stirling/Halifax base during the war with Polish Squadrons. Indeed, there is a War Memorial to the Squadrons in the village, near to the pub. Photos of crews and aircraft line the walls. Just off the A143, halfway between Bury St. Edmunds and Haverhill.
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When I was at Middle Wallop a few weeks ago and having read 'Night Fighter' again recently, I decided to go and have a pint in the Feathers. This is mentioned in the book as being the 600 sqn mess in 1940. Unfortunately I was greeted by boarded up doors and windows. It was obvious that the place had closed fairly recently. Anyone know if this is a permanent closure?
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The Three Compasses at Aldenham (<h2>The Three Compasses</h2>) claims to have been the Black Swan in the film 633 Squadron.
Which makes me wonder - where is the fictitious Jackdaw pub that appeared in The Battle of Britain?
Which makes me wonder - where is the fictitious Jackdaw pub that appeared in The Battle of Britain?
Jackdaw Inn, Denton, Kent:: OS grid TR2147 :: Geograph British Isles - photograph every grid square!
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The Happy Landings in Bristol is actually at the junction of the A37 Wells Road and Hengrove Lane. It is not a public house I would readily visit.
The pub sign currently shows what appears to be a maritime patrol Bristol Beaufort.
The pub sign currently shows what appears to be a maritime patrol Bristol Beaufort.
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Cheers WHBM and edskarf - well identified! Might give it a miss then next time I'm in Bristol! I guess we must have driven up the A30/A303 to Yeovil then up the A37. I presume the M5 didn't exist as far down as Exeter then.
Have been to the Jackdaw at Denton a few years ago, remember the menu was good. Not so impressed with the White hart at Brasted despite the memorabilia, too Pubco for my liking.
Other pubs:
Have been to the Jackdaw at Denton a few years ago, remember the menu was good. Not so impressed with the White hart at Brasted despite the memorabilia, too Pubco for my liking.
Other pubs:
- One on the A40 near Little Rissington which has a lot of photos celebrating local association with the Red Arrows;
- The Jail Inn near Biggin has quite a few photos but I haven't been there for a while and can't remember what they are of!
- Also one in northern Eastbourne (the Star?) which had a lot of RAF photos on display but there are no local airfields that I can think of - perhaps the Landlord was ex RAF? Visited it about 10 years ago, must have been a Harveys pub.
Last edited by treadigraph; 17th Dec 2008 at 22:10. Reason: Rubbish English!
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St George And The Dragon at Clyst St George near Exeter airport.Used to have the signatures of aircrew based at Exeter during WW2,dont know if they are still there (The signatures not the aircrew).
A pub in Dubai
"Biggles" in the Millenium Airport Hotel, Dubai. Though of course it's not a stand-alone pub, it's the closest one can come to that in The Gulf.
Lots of memorabilia, photos, medals, and model RAF aircraft --including a 1/3 scale Sopwith Camel suspended from the ceiling. The highlight for some is the airman (fullsize), also suspended from the ceiling, hung up in his chute.
Lots of memorabilia, photos, medals, and model RAF aircraft --including a 1/3 scale Sopwith Camel suspended from the ceiling. The highlight for some is the airman (fullsize), also suspended from the ceiling, hung up in his chute.