Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
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By MichaelP
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910582
It seems that like the Pilot's Hub a week or so ago you can not get food in the Flight Deck Cafe unless you previously booked a table.
For drinks you're given a number to place on one of the many free tables, and then you wait and wait and wait for your drinks.
Can't get the staff these days...
Bring back the Poles!

Waiting so long we may have to leave without our coffee.
By GAFlyer4Fun
#1910660
I thought the Compton Abbas arrangements were part of the covid precautions. Is it now permanent? The segregation explains why the webcams can give an impression it is not as busy.
(or perhaps some flying visitors are camera shy and might need the webcams pointing a bit more skywards!)

Be interesting to see if it has any effect on new people taking their first GA flight there. Wish them well either way.

There are some pilots that did their first flight as a consequence of casually socialising with an enthusiastic pilot at an airfield somewhere (even if the first flight was not with that pilot).
When I started out I found it daunting to go into a busy Flight Ops at my local airfields to take the plunge with a trial flight in a little 2 seater (well they are all little compared to an airliner).
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By PeteSpencer
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910673
I was at Turweston yesterday They have the same staffing shortage problems that most of the hospitality trade has .
Reduced menu , massive wait, folks who hadn’t booked a table were being turned away from 12.30.

I timed it to arrive early, managed to get a table but still waited 50 mins for my burger………. :(
By Lefty
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910678
Turweston used to be a favourite destination for both myself, my students and the Waltham Friday and Saturday Flyout clubs - but no more.

Since about January, the restaurant has had staff shortage problems, which they have exacerbated by ridiculously inefficient working practices.

I feel really sorry for the airfield and the ATC staff, who are losing a load of revenue and a really great reputation, all because the abysmal situation in the cafe is frightening away masses of visitors.
By Stampe
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910681
Excellent news I had stopped flying into Compton Abbas as the cafe had become so congested with a certain type of clientele making a day of it.I shall give it a try shortly about 75 minutes each way for me! Regards Stampe
Fly Safe Considerate Compliant.
By JodelDavo
#1910685
Went to Compton Abbas yesterday, pilots and pax eat in the main clubhouse, public visitors are in their own corral with the ‘snack shack’

I’ve stopped planning on eating food at Turweston, as can never get a seat. Sitting outside in icy cold wind last year was the last straw.
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By Iceman
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910686
The Dunkeswell café was very busy yesterday. Talking to the proprietor, he said that their staffing problem was due to the students being back at university.

Iceman 8)
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By MichaelP
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910694
PaulS and I could only have ‘basket meals’ when we went to Dunkeswell in the Bulldog.

I still think the Poles did a very good job at the Bushe Café, and perhaps the loss of these sorts of people is a part of the problem.

Aerodrome cafés are a very important part of the integration or our activities into the local community.
When they are good, you get a lot of non aviation visitors, a downside for us on a staffed Pilot’s Hub weekend, but a positive for the aerodrome’s acceptance in the community.

Visited L’ Escale at Le Buckets in March, quiet good too, though their idea of Thai was strange.

I think the cake thing is great here in England, and easily competes well with the pies at places like Chilliwack and Qualicum Beach.
Is there a competition to see who can offer the biggest piece of Victoria Sponge?
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By Paul_Sengupta
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1910697
JodelDavo wrote:
> I’ve stopped planning on eating food at Turweston, as can never get a
> seat. Sitting outside in icy cold wind last year was the last straw.

Lefty wrote:
> I feel really sorry for the airfield and the ATC staff, who are losing a
> load of revenue and a really great reputation, all because the abysmal
> situation in the cafe is frightening away masses of visitors.

"Nobody goes there any more, it's too crowded." :D

MichaelP wrote:
> PaulS and I could only have ‘basket meals’ when we went to Dunkeswell in
> the Bulldog.

That was at 2:55pm as "the kitchen was closing."

Cafes now seem to be there for their own benefit rather than the benefit of airfield users. Airfield cafes should be open all day, maybe at least to 7pm in the summer, with some food available. What do rental pilots do if they can't rent an aeroplane at lunch time?

> I still think the Poles did a very good job at the Bushe Café, and perhaps
> the loss of these sorts of people is a part of the problem.

Don't mention the B word!

> Aerodrome cafés are a very important part of the integration or our
> activities into the local community.

Yes, indeed, and this is what annoys me so much with cafes which stop serving food at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, maybe even 5pm. There's no "hub" any more at most airfields, nowhere for people to sit and chat after a day's flying. White Waltham is an exception with a bar which is open late, and sandwiches which are available in the fridge for late eaters. This is partly what annoyed me about North Weald. The bar there was a great place to hang out at the end of a day's flying, where aviators could gather and have a pint (or a Coke if flying home) and sit and chat in a relaxed atmosphere. That's now been lost.

> Is there a competition to see who can offer the biggest piece of Victoria
> Sponge?

Please post results here.
Last edited by Paul_Sengupta on Mon May 09, 2022 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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By Rob P
#1910699
MichaelP wrote:
> I still think the Poles did a very good job at the Bushe Café, and perhaps
> the loss of these sorts of people is a part of the problem.

Well we are getting plenty of Ukrainians to replace them.

Rob P