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Old 20th Jan 2007, 17:05
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Sandown

Just been to The Aviator which is under new management. No dogs allowed, no smoking, lousy service yet again and as a 3800 hour pilot I would not recommend it to anyone. What will they do next - ban pilots?

The Isle of Wight is a brilliant place to fly to with the family - visit the beach, take a stroll in the country but as regards The Aviator at Sandown, forget it.

Have you tried Bembridge lately - different story!
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Old 20th Jan 2007, 18:29
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When did the management take over? I was there with a bunch of mates in November and couldn't fault the service or the food. Both were excellent.

As for the smoking ban, I can't wait until that's universal and enforced, so that's actually a plus point for me.

Pitts2112
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Old 20th Jan 2007, 19:40
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no dogs and no smoking? thats not fair
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Old 20th Jan 2007, 21:55
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I flew there recently with 4 friends and we recieved excelent service and great food. I would reccomend Sandown to anybody. (Runway is still a little bumpy but hey what can you do)
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Old 20th Jan 2007, 23:46
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3800 Hour pilot......blimey, that DOES make you a food critic then!! Will you be on Gordon Ramsays Airfield Kitchen Nightmares next?!
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 09:48
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Bembridge

...has the added advantage of a hard runway at this time of seriously boggy airfields (still a bit dodgy parking, though)
You don't have to eat on the airfield. Take a stroll (healthy & appetite-inducing!) to the Crab & Lobster - one of the best destination pubs in walking distance of an airfield anywhere!
Cheers,
TOO
ps the Aviatior was great last June, but things do change - look at the ups & downs of AV8 at Kemble!
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 10:05
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Good news on the smoking ban.

Bembridge on the other hand does have the advantage of live jazz.....
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 12:33
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I think he meant 3800 (fags)/ hr but the typing was poor
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 12:58
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Originally Posted by Pitts2112
When did the management take over? I was there with a bunch of mates in November and couldn't fault the service or the food. Both were excellent.
As for the smoking ban, I can't wait until that's universal and enforced, so that's actually a plus point for me.
Pitts2112
I was with you 29th October at Sandown. A Sunday morning iirc with a great cooked breakfast. Plus free landing for old aircraft Nice development they got there, building is reminiscent of a sailing club. Definate improvement over the hut they had beforehand.

It's a 20/25 minute walk into Bembridge. Going out of the airfield up the hill is a bit risky with cars for there is little room to get off the road.
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 13:15
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Originally Posted by TheOddOne
...has the added advantage of a hard runway at this time of seriously boggy airfields (still a bit dodgy parking, though)
Isn't Sandown talking about having a hard runway built soon (along with other airfield improvements) due to the re-launch of scheduled flights from the airfield?

Fried Chicken
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 15:11
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No dogs allowed, no smoking
Sounds like two positive steps forward to me.
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 16:19
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lousy service yet again and as a 3800 hour pilot I would not recommend it to anyone
No doubt you told them when you signed in (as you have here) that you were a 3,800 hour pilot? Therefore, it is quite understandable why the service was lousy.

As a mere student in comparison I really enjoyed my last visit to the Aviator at Sandown. I thought the food was excellent (as always) and the staff were cheery and efficient. The experience was only slightly marred by having to spend the time with Pitts2112 and DubTrub but nothing in life is perfect.
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 16:32
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I expect dogs are not allowed because a Jack Russell was squashed by a landing piper arrow about a year ago!
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 16:50
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Likewise

I was at Sandown in June for the Wight Party and spent three days in and around the airfield.No probs with the food & drink in The Aviator then.

Cheers


Barshifter
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 16:53
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No dogs allowed, no smoking,
Gets my vote.

Sandown used to have a superb little cafe in a tin building behind the tower, and then it expanded and ended up like the Ritz.. Kemble also used to have a lovely little cafe on the 1st floor of the tower, great bacon sandwiches and then the yuppies moved in and we now have AV8 or whatever it's called, selling overpriced crap food.

Which is why i no longer go to either of them
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 17:05
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I was there last Sunday, excellant service, excellent food. FANTASTIC NO SMOKING. Just because others choose to inhale filth into their lungs passive 3rd parties should not have to suffer. The sooner smoking is banned everywhere the better.

Any reason why someone would want to take a dog into a restuarant?

Sandown gets a big thumbs up from me and is one of the few places my wife who sees flying only as transport will come out for lunch!!
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 19:25
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Maybe the reason my memory of Sandown was so good was because i had the pleasant company of Mono, BlueRobin, and DubTrub to add to the experience??

Every place can have an off day. I've been to Sandown 3 or 4 times in the last year and can only recommend it. They do live music on a Sunday as well. And I think they get a good mix of aviation folk and islanders/holiday makers in to watch the flying (and the aviation folk!)

Pitts2112
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 21:40
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Went there 6 time last year and I was impressed every time.
Sandown is one of my favourite airfields to visit.

Rans.
www.FlightForLife.co.uk
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 21:58
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They do live music on a Sunday as well.
Last time I was there the very personable young lady was singing "You'd be so nice to come home to", to me of course.
This was under the new management and it was doing a roaring trade. Free landings for pre-1950 a/c. I didn't eat but bar service was very prompt and I detected no difference from previous visits where the food has always been good. If I live long enough to get 3800 hours under my belt maybe I'll become a miserable old sod and get lousy service too.
as a 3800 hour pilot I would not recommend it to anyone.
Obviously in June 2005, you had less hours under your belt so it was alright to recommend it then, as you did here.


Mike
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Old 21st Jan 2007, 22:18
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Originally Posted by bose-x
Any reason why someone would want to take a dog into a restuarant?
Are we including Koreans in this ?
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