Mid-week cafes/restaurants.
 

Does anyone have any recommendations for places to fly into that serve food (and are any good?) either on the airfield, or within 15 minutes walk, that are open mid-week?
I fly with a couple of people in their own aircraft, every Tuesday/Wednesday, and we're looking for some ideas.

Ideally within 1.5-2 hours flight time from the Leeds/Selby area, and the field/strip must be able to take a PA28-180D 3-up. Most of the decent places seem to be weekends only.

Any ideas? Thanks :)

Both LFAC Calais and EBKT Kortrijk have good restaurants open on weekdays - but perhaps too far off for you?

Can I recommend the restaurant at Barton - not far from you, plenty of PA-28s based there and a friendly welcome..

http://www.theairfieldlodge.co.uk/

How about Sywell?...Either eat in the 'Pilots Mess' or the 'Aviator Hotel' whichever takes your fancy.
Or a bit further try Kemble, or further still and you if you go before it closes on Sept 20th, Panshanger has an excellent cafe.

I can recommend two excellent (and affordable) food pubs within 5 minutes by taxi from Cranfield - either the Swan in Salford, or the Carrington Arms in Aynho. (Various okay but less spectacular eateries on the airfield - the most enjoyably quirky of the bunch probably being the Cafe Bookshop).

Generally speaking, eating on the grass outside at White Waltham is also a pleasurable experience. I'd say the food is Good rather than Excellent.

Denham has a rather good if quirky place on the airfield called Biggles : Biggles Restaurant, Denham

A favourite of mine, also at Denham, is "The Crew Room", basically just an airfield cafe run by a fellow who used to have a larger Italian restaurant. His freshly made pizzas are quite spectacular.

I've not been there for a while, and recall it as more "good" than "excellent" (possibly "okay"), but the place at Lydd serves all day as well. Restaurant & Bar - Lydd Airport (London Ashford Airport)

Red Lion is very nice for food, 10 minutes walk from Halfpenny Green.

Another I've not been to for a while, but the Crab and Lobster, 10ish minutes walk from Bembridge.

G

Dunkeswell has a pretty good restaurant with outside seating as well

My vote would be for the Dabbling Duck near Great Massingham.

Compton Abbas is probably the best I've been to.

Oh yes, and of-course the Glenforsa hotel.

G

Don't forget the restaurant at Old Sarum. Recently refurbished.

Fairoaks; the 'Hangar Cafe' open 0800 - 1600 local. Very popular in the mornings with the local police and ambulance services.
About 20 - 25 min walk down the road is The Otter', a Harvester restaurant.
Several top class restaurants in Chobham village, about 3 - 5 min by taxi eg Bluebeckers and Stovills.

Have you already tried Netherthorpe, EGNF?

Excellent food, thoroughly recommended. The short runway means you would need to check your landing and takeoff distances, but as it's very close to your area, you wouldn't need full tanks.

Mid-week cafes/restaurants.
 

Thank you all for replies so far. Panshanger definitely on the hit-list (as we have reciprocal) before it closes as I've only heard good things.

Was thinking Old Sarum (possibly Thruxton - but not had good reports about food there) as I used to fly around that part of the world as a student/tyro, so good to hear that's worth a visit.

Thanks again!

I would highly recommend Chocks Away at Nottingham (EGBN).

Chocks Away

You could try Sleap .. open 7 days a week

Mid-week cafes/restaurants.
 

Visited Panshanger today. Delightful place, and the punters liked it too, which is the main thing! Will be a shame if/when it closes. The rather attractive girlie who welcomed us in, and everyone else there were very helpful and accommodating. I hope they get some good numbers for the aerobatic day next month.

Probably try for Compton Abbas and that neck of the woods next week, wx permitting. :-)

Tollerton, Sywell, Netherthorpe all good. As is Rochester.

One of the best is the DC6 Diner at Coventry. Brilliant, but best to book and closed Mon/Tue

Of course the Flying Pig at Turweston is also great.

Gamston is the obvious close choice, but you probably knew that.

Second that... Gamston.

Easily the nicest and best airfield restaurant in the country. Waiting times can be long when they are busy apparently, but you should be fine mid week.