RAF CLUB
Gentleman Aviator
reduced the rate to around £70 pppn
At present it is difficult to book the RAF Club for a duty stay through DHRS - moreover they don't quote a B&B rate and the single rooms are rather small. I'm a great supported of the RAF Club and try to use it as often as possible - but through DHRS I can stay in a good hotel in Kensington for slightly less.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Malmaison with military discount £70 per night B&B in a lovely 4* hotel. Doesn't even compare to the RAF Club. I agree that DHRS is definitely the way forward for them. I am not a member, and to be honest, from the tours I have had, I do not really see what it offers me.
With the continued reduction in the size of the RAF, and the general decline of mess life as such (many are like ghost ships these days), I wonder how the RAF club sees itself surviving in say 30 years time - or is it relying on squeezing as much money out of the few octogenarians who will still remain, like BEagle, as possible?
Out of interest, while discussing this thread with a (much younger) colleague at work the other day, he said that when he was going through IOT the students were "told" by the staff to sign the RAF Club application forms - that's one way of keeping the numbers up.....and least until they are sensible enough to leave of their own accord!
Anecdotal I know, but no less valid for that....
Out of interest, while discussing this thread with a (much younger) colleague at work the other day, he said that when he was going through IOT the students were "told" by the staff to sign the RAF Club application forms - that's one way of keeping the numbers up.....and least until they are sensible enough to leave of their own accord!
Anecdotal I know, but no less valid for that....
Last edited by Biggus; 23rd May 2012 at 08:51.
Further to Rosevidney's post, I was talking to a chap at the recent V-Force Reunion who told me he had finally binned his RAF Club membership and had gone over to the United Services Club, which he reckoned was around £40 pa as opposed to £130 plus. As far as I'm concerned the main problem with the RAF club is the cramped size of the majority of its bedrooms, and thats a problem they can't fix. The Premier Inn room I stayed in recently was a palace by comparison, at half the cost.
I'd miss the Cowdray Room though.
I'd miss the Cowdray Room though.
I binned my membership of thirty years after being told off for not wearing a jacket and tie at breakfast. RAF club - an outdated hangout for geriatric air ranks and their admirers! 
The Cowdray room afternoon tea was good though and very 1950's in a nostalgic sort of way 
The Cowdray room afternoon tea was good though and very 1950's in a nostalgic sort of way
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I was in the Club the other day and TBH it looked like the Sunshine Home for Aviators
Everyone under 45 was a member of staff
they will have to open up the membership or it will disappear in 15 years
Everyone under 45 was a member of staff
they will have to open up the membership or it will disappear in 15 years
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I go for the tea in the Cowray room not the bedrooms but I find the chairs very slippy, maybe so you slide off if you doze off.
The Running Horse is always consistent though. Cold, uncomfortable, and indifferent food. Sad that the other restaurant down there closed as the food there was always much better.
The Running Horse is always consistent though. Cold, uncomfortable, and indifferent food. Sad that the other restaurant down there closed as the food there was always much better.
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Al-bert, that must have been a while ago...there are still more relaxed minima on trial, for example here Log In | Facebook
Join Date: Jul 2007
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I agree with Groucho Marx "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members".
I exclude the 'Good Morning Chris Club' from that rule because I'm a member, no fees were involved and I don't have to attend an AGM
R
I exclude the 'Good Morning Chris Club' from that rule because I'm a member, no fees were involved and I don't have to attend an AGM
R
PN, that was the 'Buttery' and I certainly agree with you regarding the Ambling Nag.
I'm fine(-ish) with the rather small rooms for a night or two and breakfast is invariably superb, particularly now that the dress regs are more relaxed.
However, the new trial dress regs, whilst welcome, do seem a bit complex to me - 'smart trousers (including chinos) a collared shirt (with or without a tie) and appropriate footwear' is OK in the Cowdray Room until 1830 but then it's 'smart trousers (not jeans), a collared shirt with tie and appropriate footwear' (no jacket required at this time of year).
Does 'chinos' include 'jeans' - or does 'smart trousers' include 'chinos' after 1830....
So is the real difference a tie after 1830, or what?
People draw comparisons with the Premier Inn. However, one is a club and the other a good value hotel. So you cannot really make a true comparison.
But how to encourage more entitled folk to join is indeed a difficult question.
I'm fine(-ish) with the rather small rooms for a night or two and breakfast is invariably superb, particularly now that the dress regs are more relaxed.
However, the new trial dress regs, whilst welcome, do seem a bit complex to me - 'smart trousers (including chinos) a collared shirt (with or without a tie) and appropriate footwear' is OK in the Cowdray Room until 1830 but then it's 'smart trousers (not jeans), a collared shirt with tie and appropriate footwear' (no jacket required at this time of year).
Does 'chinos' include 'jeans' - or does 'smart trousers' include 'chinos' after 1830....
So is the real difference a tie after 1830, or what?
People draw comparisons with the Premier Inn. However, one is a club and the other a good value hotel. So you cannot really make a true comparison.
But how to encourage more entitled folk to join is indeed a difficult question.
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I'm fine(-ish) with the rather small rooms for a night or two
[Snip]
Does 'chinos' include 'jeans' - or does 'smart trousers' include 'chinos' after 1830....
[Snip]
Does 'chinos' include 'jeans' - or does 'smart trousers' include 'chinos' after 1830....
Just sayin'...
It may of course just be possible that JOs don't want to spend their weekends off with the ageing club membership in a dated bed and breakfast environment?
... any mess, anywhere in the UK....
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AN,
I think you may have missed my point. JOs don't want to spend their free time in these environments. The dress regulations are over complicated and too formal for those that wish to use the Club when taking a weekend jaunt into London. From what I understand as well, too many of the members are made up of retired senior rank's children who are non-serving. Surely this can't be in the ethos of the club? Turn it into an all ranks RAF club just like the splendid VSC. Better to keep it service than to introduce honking civvies to bolster the membership.
Out.
I think you may have missed my point. JOs don't want to spend their free time in these environments. The dress regulations are over complicated and too formal for those that wish to use the Club when taking a weekend jaunt into London. From what I understand as well, too many of the members are made up of retired senior rank's children who are non-serving. Surely this can't be in the ethos of the club? Turn it into an all ranks RAF club just like the splendid VSC. Better to keep it service than to introduce honking civvies to bolster the membership.
Out.
To be fair to the Club, they are very forward-looking - and trying to anticipate the membership challenges of the years ahead.
Yes the club does seem to be the habitue of elder members, but on Fridays and Sundays there is an influx/outflux of young blades and their fruity girlfriends. They probably don't use the Dining Room or the Cowdray Room (or my favourite - the Library) but these areas do well during the week because of the elder members.
By the way,
Does anyone else get long, rambling emails for a retired Fg Off about declining standards at the Club? Perhaps it's one our members here?
Yes the club does seem to be the habitue of elder members, but on Fridays and Sundays there is an influx/outflux of young blades and their fruity girlfriends. They probably don't use the Dining Room or the Cowdray Room (or my favourite - the Library) but these areas do well during the week because of the elder members.
By the way,
Does anyone else get long, rambling emails for a retired Fg Off about declining standards at the Club? Perhaps it's one our members here?
The dress regulations are over complicated and too formal for those that wish to use the Club when taking a weekend jaunt into London.
Smart trousers (including chinos) or smart jeans (without rips or tears) a collared shirt (with or without a tie), clean trainers, sneakers and polo–neck sweaters.
'Polo neck sweaters' - good grief, how very Simon Dee!
So, no T-shirts, sweatshirts or even polo shirts, it would seem.
Last edited by BEagle; 24th May 2012 at 07:20.