Crab & Lobster Isle of Wight
 

Nobody mentions the Crab & Lobster a stone's throw away from Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, did the food quality decrease? This spring the £60 seafood pile for two to share was great. Locals say, though, that other less known establishments in the area have much fresher lobster than them - and who to believe?



/h88

It's just a case of looking I think heg. Only done Sandown so apart from the famous Carla's on the airfield I have to say that the seafront at Sandown didn't exactly fill me with gustatory delight. Had an acceptable but nothing special plate of sole and extras at what looked like a decent sea front restaurant but wouldn't go all that way again for the same.

I've heard about the C and L at Bembridge but it's an hour and fifty away from me, plenty of other places closer to try first.

Off to one of my favourites the Dribbling Dick at Great Massingham next Wednesday, weather permitting.

These days I'd even add Elstree to this list. The new(ish) restaurant/cafe there (called Ikaron) is actually pretty good.

I visited Compton Abbas for the first time. Restaurant looked good, but due to bumpy ride, decided to abstain from a full blown meal and just had some chip which were pretty good. Your food order can get fast tracked if you're a pilot. Well worth a visit.

Ronaldsway Has A New Restaurant
 

The old Manx Flyers building near the threshold of Rwy 26 has been refurbished and opened as a new cafe and restaurant - Cafe Bar Two-Six. Ideally located for GA traffic parking area and it's getting excellent reviews locally. I've tried it twice - lunch and dinner. Good value and good food on both occasions.

Pilot's Hub at Redhill is highly recommended, particularly for brunch.

Not for the fainthearted, Weybourne (North Norfolk) is a great place to visit. Aside from the tank museum next too the airstrip (you fly in over anti aircraft guns if you approach from the sea) there is a great pub in the village about half a mile walk. Make sure you know your plane's limitations and that your short field technique is on the game.

At the other extreme, visited Kemble last weekend, the onsite facilities served some good food.

Sywell
It's been a while since I visited Sywell, but we had a really good sit down meal when we did go.

Roserrow
Fantastic. As previously mentioned. A bit challenging in an Arrow though.

Alderney
Everywhere is within walking distance. Even the pub. That will be the Only pub/hotel.

Bembridge
Judging from my mate's grin and photos on Bookface.

Kemble?
I've not felt the need to fly there for lunch. It's just outside our circuit pattern. However, it should satisfy your requirement for runway length. There is a B747-400 that recently flew in.

Please keep this thread going. I have a deep interest in this subject :-)

+1 for Weybourne (watch out, the strip is sloping as well as short), Compton Abbas and Kemble. Also Goodwood - at the moment you have to go to the racetrack cafe in the old Tower but that's no hardship at all. They are building a new terminal/clubhouse on the airfield.

Is the White Horse Hotel at Carlisle still operating?
They had a runway, although it had seen better days. The Sunday roast was sufficient to require a new weight & balance calculation.

I think you might mean the White Heather Hotel? Which is actually at Kirkbride, but is still open Wednesday and Sunday lunchtimes.

Yeah, that's the one. Memory. Dim. Age.
I do remember a good lunch and a long take off run.