Golf Hotel Whiskey

Golf Hotel Whiskey: for pilots and aviation enthusiasts

East Midlands (EGNX)

Airport information

Nearest town: Castle Donington (12m by car), Derby

Opening times: H24

Longest runway: 2893m, Asphalt

Fuel: 100LL, Jet A1

Phone: 01271 919 9000

Website: www.eastmidlandsairport.com, Wikipedia entry

AIP plates and airport diagram

Airport map

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Facilities

  • Handling: Signature Flight Support (01332 811179, http://www.signatureflight.com/locations/ema). Handling is mandatory.
  • Taxis: Checker Cars (01332 814 000)
  • Car Hire: Enterprise (01332 812 828), Europcar (01332 853 679), National (01332 853 551), Hertz (01332 853 552)

On the airport or within walking distance

  • East Midlands Aeropark musuem – see below
  • Two foreign exchange outlets, shops including Boots and Accessorize, Spar supermarket. Café Ritazza, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Millie’s Cookies, Soho Coffee Company, food hall, bar. Internet station. Quiet prayer room.

Pubs

  • The Falcon, Long Whatton, Loughborough, 01509 842 416. Pleasant country pub with accommodation.
  • Harrington Arms, Sawley, 0115 973 2614. Beer festival every August Bank Holiday.
  • The Jolly Sailor, Hemington, 01332 810 448.

Restaurants

  • Sherwood Restaurant, Thistle Hotel, Castle Donington, 01332 850 700. Has a conservatory area that caters for large groups.
  • Orchard Restaurant, The Yew Lodge Hotel, Kegworth, 01509 672 518.
  • Pavilion Restaurant, Hilton Hotel, Castle Donington, 01509 674 000. Spacious venue with resident pianist on Thursday and Saturday nights.

Hotels

  • The Hilton East Midlands Airport (01509 674000, http://www.signatureflight.com/locations/ema) is five minutes drive from the airport itself.
  • The Priest House on the River, Castle Donington (01332 810 649). Impressive hotel on a site mentioned in the Domesday Book. Four stars, restaurant and conference rooms.
  • Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel (01332, 862 409, www.parkfarmhouse.co.uk). Beautiful restored 17th century farmhouse, good views, bedrooms individually decorated.
  • Donington Manor Hotel (01332 810 253, www.doningtonmanorhotel.co.uk). Privately owned with excellent bistro.

Golf courses

  • Breedon Priory Golf Centre, Derby (01332 863081, www.breedongolf.co.uk).
  • Rushcliffe Golf Club, Loughborough (01509 852 959, www.rushcliffegolfclub.com).
  • Trent Lock Golf Centre, Nottinghamshire (0115 946 4398, www.trentlock.co.uk). The main course has two par 5, five par 3 and eleven par 4 holes, plus water features and three holes adjacent to the river Trent.

Activities

  • East Midlands Aeropark (www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org), is an aviation museum and viewing area located on the airport itself. Entry is a modest £2 per person. The collection includes a Canberra, Hunter, Buccaneer, Spitfire and a Vulcan.
  • Donington Grand Prix Collection, Castle Donington ( 01332 811 027, www.doningtoncollection.com). More Grand Prix cars under one roof than anywhere else in the world.
  • Breedon Priory Church (01332 864 845). Site of an Iron Age Fort and Saxon Priory. Contains unique 8th Century Saxon carvings.
  • Elvaston Castle Country Park, Derby (www.elvastoncastle.org.uk). Over 200 acres of woodlands, parkland and formal gardens.

Useful information

Duxford (EGSU)

Airport information

Nearest town: Duxford (5m by car), Cambridge

Opening times: Summer 1000 –1800, Winter 1000 – 1600

Longest runway: 1222m, Asphalt/Concrete

Fuel: 100LL, Jet A1

Phone: 01223 833376

Website: http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

AIP plates and airport diagram

Airport map

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Facilities

Taxis: Jim’s Cars (01223 691 164), Phil’s Taxi Services (01223 521 918), South Cambs Taxis Ltd (01223 834 858)

On the airport or within walking distance

Aircraft Museum – see below

Pubs

  • The John Barleycorn, Duxford, 01223 832699. Greene King Pub of the Year 2002. Real ales and accommodation.
  • Plough Inn, Duxford, 01223 833 170.
  • The Royal Oak, Barrington, 01223 870 791. 300-year-old pub, well worth the trip.

Restaurant

  • Tickell Arms, Whittlesford, 01223 833 128. Much-loved Cambridge landmark with reliable menu and eccentric décor.
  • Le Gros Franck, Cambridge, 01223 565 560. Excellent French bistro and café.

Hotels

  • Duxford Lodge (01223 836 444, www.duxfordlodgehotel.co.uk). Former hangout of Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby, award-winning restaurant Le Paradis.
  • Red Lion Hotel, Whittlesford (01223 832047, www.trlh.co.uk). Well-kept 13th century priory house.

Golf courses

  • Heydon Grange Golf and Country Club, Heydon (01763 208 988, www.heydongrange.co.uk). 27-hole course is a venue on the Europro tour.

Activities

  • Imperial War Museum Duxford is part of Europe’s leading aviation museum, also featuring historic collection of tanks and military vehicles and American Air Museum. All amenities of Imperial War Museum, including coffee shop, Runway Restaurant and Café Duxford.
  • Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge (01223 333 456, www.sedgwickmuseum.org). The University’s oldest museum, with over a million fossils in its collection.
  • Cambridge University Botanic Garden (01223 336 265, www.botanic.cam.ac.uk). Finest collection of trees in the east of England.

Useful information

Dunkeswell (EGTU)

Airport information

Nearest town: Honiton, Devon (14m by car)

Longest runway: 968m, Asphalt

Opening times: Winter 0830-1700, Summer 0830-1800

Fuel: 100LL, Jet A1

Phone: 01404 891271

Website: http://www.dsft.co.uk/

AIP plates and airport diagram

Airport map

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Facilities

  • Taxis: Alpha (01404 41622), Tip Top Taxis (01404 41341), Regency Cars (01404 549 831)

On the airport or within walking distance

Dunkeswell of course is a well-known fly-out destination a few miles from Honiton in Devon and offers a good 968m tarmac runway with ample parking, a well-stocked bar and restaurant for snacks.  Their inexpensive Sunday lunch is a very popular choice for nearby residents and holidaymakers. (Thanks to reader Mike Perkin for this review.)

Pubs

  • The Drewe Arms, Broadhempbury, Honiton, 01404 841267. Gastropub serving well-kept Otter beers, emphasis on exceptional seafood dishes. Mike Perkin adds “for those who like a good selection of fresh fish and shellfish, beautifully cooked, the connoisseurs’ choice in mid-Devon is The Drewes Arms, an olde worlde thatched pub in the small village of Broadhembury, renowned in the area as THE place to go to for fish.  Its restaurant is in two small rooms, seating about 20-30 people at most and offers very high levels of cuisine.  I’d strongly recommmend the seared scallop starter and Turbot for main  !!”
  • The Sidmouth Arms, Upottery, 01404 861252. Plenty of old world charm, good seafood menu, beer garden with aviary.

Restaurants

  • Well-regarded restaurant at the airfield featuring excellent Sunday carvery.
  • Restaurant at Coombe House, Gittisham, 01404 540 400. Renowned for the contents of its cellars, serving hard-to-beat modern British in the environs of a lovely country house.
  • Restaurant at the Belfry Country Hotel, Yarcombe, 01404 861 234. Menu of local produce.
  • Restaurant at Home Farm Hotel, Wilmington, 01404 831 278. Delightful 16th century farmhouse.

Hotels

  • Kings Arms Inn, Stockland (01404 881 361, www.kingsarms.net). The bar features local guest ales and live music.
  • Deer Park Country Hotel, Weston (01404 41266). A 17th century Georgian manor with views of the River Otter.

Activities

  • Dunkeswell Abbey, beautiful 13th century ruins near the airfield.
  • Allhallows Museum, Honiton (01404 44966, www.honitonmuseum.co.uk). The building dates back to 1327 and was previously a school. Features exhibit of local lace-making.

Useful information

Dundee (EGPN)

Airport information

Nearest town: Dundee, Scotland

Longest runway: 1400m, Asphalt

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0700-2100, Sat 0900-1700, Sun 0900-2100. Hours can be extended at weekends by prior arrangement.

Fuel: 110LL, Jet A1

Phone: 01382 662200

Website: Airport website

AIP plates and airport diagram

Airport map

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Facilities

  • Taxis: Dundee Taxi Cab Co (01382 203 020), Handy Taxis (0800 303 060), Tay Taxis (01382 450 450)
  • Car Hire: companies deliver and collect at the airport by prior arrangement. Avis (www.avis.co.uk, 0844 581 0147), Hertz (www.hertz.co.uk), Celtic Legend (www.celticlegend.co.uk/car/index.htm).
  • Refreshments, free parking, disabled facilities.

On the airport or within walking distance

  • Coming soon

Pubs

  • The Fisherman’s Tavern, Broughty Ferry, 01382 775 941. Award-winning traditional Scottish pub with excellent menu and extensive range of malt whiskies.
  • The Boars Rock, 168 Arbroath Road, 01382 453888.

Restaurants

  • Taychreggan Hotel Restaurant, West Ferry, 01382 778 626. Award-winning garden and sun terrace, extensive wine list, emphasis on local produce.
  • Social, South Tay Street, 01382 202 070. Stylish destination with good menu and excellent cocktails.
  • The Italian, Commercial Street, 01382 206 444. Dundee Restaurant of the Year 2004-2005, booking essential.

Hotels

  • Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa, 1 West Victoria Dock Road (08456 083 456, www.apexhotels.co.uk). Stylish 4-star inner city hotel with top-class spa and conference facilities.
  • The Shaftesbury Hotel, 1 Hyndford Street (01382 669 216, www.shaftesburyhotel.co.uk). Town house hotel in quiet residential area.

Golf courses

  • St Andrews (01334 466 666, www.standrewsgolf.org). Internationally renowned as the home of golf.
  • Gleneagles (0800 389 3737, www.gleneagles.com). PGA Centenary Course created by Jack Nicklaus, venue for the 40th Ryder Cup matches in 2014, plus three other courses.
  • Carnoustie Golf Club (www.carnoustiegolfclub.com). One of the ten oldest courses in the world.

Activities

  • Glamis Castle (01307 840 393, www.glamis-castle.co.uk). Childhood home of the Queen Mother, birthplace of Princess Margaret and setting of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
  • Discovery Point and RRS Discovery (01382 201245, www.rrsdiscovery.com). Museum following the trip of Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton aboard the Royal Research Ship Discovery in 1901.
  • RSPB Loch of Kinnordy Nature Reserve (01738 630783, www.rspb.org.uk). Ducks, gulls, grebes and ospreys in a watery world of lochans, viewed from bird-watching hides.
  • The Famous Grouse Experience (01764 656565, www.thefamousgrouse.com). Guided tours, restaurant and retail outlet at world famous whiskey distillery in Crieff, outside Angus.

Useful information

Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant

Welcome to Padstein

PadstowThe view looks like it has come straight from a tourist brochure. Driving down the steep hill, the estuary shines in the sunlight and Padstow reveals itself as a working Cornish fishing village. Stepping out of the taxi onto the quay the salt smell of the sea, the cries of the gulls and the postcard-perfect vista form the backdrop for one of Britain’s best-known restaurants. Welcome to Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant.

Rick Stein came to Padstow 28 years ago, when he bought a rundown nightclub and turned it into waterside bistro. Initially the cooking used only the catch of the day from local fishermen but it soon began to benefit from Stein’s exotic travels for the BBC. He started to create new dishes that embodied cooking techniques and spices from around the world. Nowadays, he also casts a wider net for ingredients, using produce from many parts of the British Isles such as oysters from Colchester, wild smoked salmon from County Cork, and langoustine from Scotland.

As his fame has grown, thanks in part to the success of his restaurants and in part because of his TV appearances, so his Padstow empire has grown. Some locals joke that the place should now be called Padstein. There are three restaurants, a patisserie, a deli, accommodation in four separate buildings and even a fish and chip shop but the Seafood Restaurant is the flagship and the best.

Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant, interior shot

The white-painted dining room is light and airy. Like white bone china it provides the perfect backdrop for the varied colours, textures and flavours on Stein’s bold menu.

Is there another restaurant in Britain that would serve monkfish vindaloo? We doubt it. Luckily, it’s not fiery like a curry house vindaloo and the spot-on spicing makes it work. Stuart’s favourite. Likewise, the stir-fried mussels with black beans, garlic, ginger, coriander and spring onions expose a different inspiration but the same finesse. His signature dish is grilled scallops with hazelnut and coriander butter. Just the thing to reanimate a palate jaded by too much airport coffee and too many in-flight mints.

Alternatively, there’s a five-course tasting menu. This is an aquatic adventure currently involving grilled scallops, Loch Duart gravadlax, fish and shellfish soup, fillet of hake with sauce verte and Spanish butter beans, followed by passion fruit pavlova.

Seafood platterIn this temple of seafood, carnivorous blasphemers can choose a steak and there are usually veggie starters on the menu that can be supersized for a main course. The restaurant advises habitual vegetarians to phone ahead; presumably so that the chef can take a mogadon and prepare something suitable.

The wine list is small but well chosen to fit most tastes. A three-course meal for two people and a bottle of house wine will set you back about £100.

The Seafood Restaurant does exactly what it says on the tin. Good fish, well-cooked, with enough imagination and flavour to set it apart from your neighbourhood joint (and justify the price). All circumstance and no pomp, it’s worth the air miles.

Still wondering “Where can I get the best king crab near me?” Check out ilovecrabs.com.