This is only a short post, but it’s definitely worth its own section. If you fly or if you don’t the Old Passage is a must visit for anyone. Situated on the meander of the Severn Estuary, West of the Slimbridge Wetlands and Wildfowl Sanctuary, and directly opposite the village of Newnham it is a secret escape from reality.
I first heard about this place when I was training at Rise Helicopters as Ab Initio. The same 2 guys would arrive each weekend, and take out the Jet Ranger for the morning, in between my Lesson Briefs I used to ask where they were off to and invariably they were always ‘Off for breakfast by the river’. I thought no more of it, until one day they couldn’t get the Jetranger started and the Chief Pilot had to fly down to help them, and it was to Arlingham he went.
Fast forward over 12 months, and I have been back 3 times at very least. It could not be any more helicopter friendly if it tried. In Somerset and Gloucestershire it is not uncommon to have a prevailing South Westerly wind up the estuary, which allows the approach in and out of Arlingham to be pretty simple it is also good experience for departing Gloucester from the North and arriving back via the South.
It is primarily a fish restaurant as its speciality, which as you can imagine with the attention to detail they put in to creating their menu and their dishes the food is spectacular. Tea, fresh coffee and juice is provided in abundance and the contemporary artwork which is smartly hung around the dining room hall changes frequently. Giving a a fresh feel each visit.
My personal food favourite is the Pilots Special (and why wouldn’t it be?), Its a thick slice of Brioche Toast, with scrambled eggs mixed with crab, wrapped in a smoke salmon parcel, topped with caviar. It really is mind blowing, and especially for breakfast.
Helicopter Pilots are renowned for being brooding introverts, in stark contrast to the exuberant extroverts of the fixed wing world. However, the egos still remain the same and Pilots love nothing more than their egos stroked. So it is really quite something when you are given (what seems like) a little more special treatment when you arrive by air. Having to Sign In and Out of the arrivals book, and the thorough understanding of the staff when your breakfast table is covered in the Tech Log for the first 10 minutes of breakfast. However, I always found from my visits to the Old Passage though that the hospitality and attentiveness are always unfaltering and this is most likely just their daily practice!
There is plenty of room for multiple helicopters , the approach run in and out is long enough to backtrack or fly straight out, and booking in really is very simple. You really must go!
Hourbuilding Adventures 