Eating At Duxford

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Member for

14 years

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I see from the Duxford Diary thread that the Workshop Restaurant had it's doors open at the weekend.
I assume this means it is now up and running ? I wonder if anyone has had the chance to sample it's
culinary delights ?

Looking at it menu and the prices therein, I doubt I shall be frequenting the establishment.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/public-document/The_Workshop_Restaurant_Menu_0.pdf
Joe's wasn't great, but we used to eat and drink there on every visit.

What is The Armoury Café like, now it has been up and running for a while ? I know originally those
who had been in there weren't particularly impressed.

Of course there is always the Cafe in the AAM. Ok for a quick snack. Maybe I'm getting grumpy in my retirement ?,
but I begrudge paying a fortune for a cup of tea and a sandwich.

Thankfully most of our visits are pre airshow Fridays, so there are mobile food concession options.

Original post

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

As an habitue of Joe's over many years and dozens of times on both normal opening days and show days, I was sad to hear of its demise and having read your link am quite relieved that my now enforced infrequency of visits will not need to tempt me to the Workshop's menu.

Member for

14 years

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I fear the people now running the former "Joe's", may have misread their target clientèle ?
For their sake, I hope I am wrong.

Member for

9 years 6 months

Posts: 1,613

Looks like a fairly clumsy menu in the TGI Fridays style. Pulled pork everything, apparently.

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11 years 5 months

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Feel sorry for the veggies - they don't get pulled tofu!!:D

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9 years 6 months

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Pulled carrots?

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17 years 5 months

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More like pulling the pud

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18 years 5 months

Posts: 761

£10.50 for a burger ? - I'd want the whole b****y cow for that money,

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19 years

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The Armoury are selling bottles of Coke-Cola for £2.50. Get mine from the local Spar for £1.

Had a look through the doors of the Workshop, it's grey inside to match the Armoury, and you are escorted to a table, no queuing.

At these prices the current catering contractor will soon be complaining they can't make a profit and a new one will be along and change it all again.

Brian

Brian

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

The previous incarnation wasn't too bad, they just needed some way of speeding up the service at busy periods.

Other than during school holidays or at weekends, I would guess a high percentage of Duxford visitors are retired
people. Those with possibly the highest disposable income, who avoid food with foreign sounding names, and
don't believe in paying West End prices.

Plum tomato, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil
Chorizo sausage, caramelised onion and rocket
Grilled Mediterranean vegetables, anchovies and fresh sorrel

Strewth !

Bring back the NAFFI wagon :)

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

"Other than during school holidays or at weekends, I would guess a high percentage of Duxford visitors are retired
people. Those with possibly the highest disposable income, who avoid food with foreign sounding names, and
don't believe in paying West End prices".

An interesting mixture of assumptions there, Alan. Yes I am retired but on a state pension, so limited disposable income but although in my mid-70s love food with "foreign sounding names"!!;) - whatever that means!! It's the ingredients and quality which matter, whatever it's called. However it's the prices which I think they might find difficult to sustain.

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9 years 6 months

Posts: 1,613

£10.50 for a burger ? - I'd want the whole b****y cow for that money,

That is fairly standard for a non-chain burger, in Edinburgh at least (Edinburgers?). Blame Jamie Oliver et al for bringing traditionally low budget fast food into the restaurant realm. In business terms it brings a lot of non-gourmand types into restaurants!

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10 years 7 months

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The Armoury are selling bottles of Coke-Cola for £2.50. Get mine from the local Spar for £1.

500ml? A local newsagent had them two for £1.50 last week, while Farm Foods had them at 49p.

At these prices the current catering contractor will soon be complaining they can't make a profit and a new one will be along and change it all again.

Unfortunately caterers in places like museums need to balance out whether charging way over the odds to a few customers is more financially viable than charging a lower price to more diners. Generally those visiting are essentially a captive market and those on a budget who have previous experience of such places will bring their own food; some places will allow visitors a pass to leave the site and then the local Ronnies (McD) or Tesco will benefit. How many visit Duxford on an average Saturday or Sunday, how many of those use the dining facilities now and how many might be induced to use them if the prices were lower?
And, again, unfortunately if a contractor is charging £2.50 for a bottle of fizz that can be purchased elsewhere, offsite, at a much cheaper price then the chances are that they are not interested in lowering their prices and are happy with the status quo - until the contract renewal comes around...

Member for

9 years 6 months

Posts: 34

For a weekday snack, or even a proper meal (with a very limited menu) there is always the Officers Mess across the road. Prices are more than reasonable, and some of the atmosphere of the old Mess is still there to be soaked up. Quite a few of the Duxford staff eat there at midday. You would have to check whether you can get a pass out, of course. And mind the traffic!

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24 years 2 months

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Kansad City chicken burger with rocket

Kansad?

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

For a weekday snack, or even a proper meal (with a very limited menu) there is always the Officers Mess across the road. !

I believe there are one or two decent pubs within a couple of miles of Duxford, and once you have a ticket, you
can go in and out as often as you like. The biggest problem being, you are more likely to miss something.

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14 years

Posts: 4,996

We made our first trip of the year to Duxford on Friday. I said to my wife, don't bother with taking a packed lunch, as there will be plenty of
burger and other concessions operating. That was my first mistake. They are no longer allowed to open on the Friday before a show.
No doubt a contractual thing with the on site Food outlets ?

We looked in at the "Armoury" (the Mess as was)... There was a bit of a queue for a small choice of fairly expensive dishes. We queued for
a few minutes without moving, so decided to try "The Workshop" (formerly Joe's). Prices were equally expensive, so decided to give that
a miss too. As I think a lot of other people also did. In previous years, come lunchtime, there would be a long queue. My wife looked inside
and said it was less than half full. Desperate for something to eat, we went to the cafeteria in the AAM.
Two cardboard cups of tea, one pretty unappetizing egg and something bap, and a slice of cake= £12-45p. :(

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14 years 6 months

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Bring back the NAFFI wagon :)

I'm surprised no one has had a go at that. A NAAFI wagon at legends sounds fun.
Tea and a wad?

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19 years 5 months

Posts: 9,821

Is the McDonald's still nearby?

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

Is the McDonald's still nearby?

If you are really desperate:)

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 564

Having lived abroad for many years I m horrified at the prices mentioned!!If there was an equivalent place here like Duxford the locals would not go there!!I can get a good lunch here for 1.20 ,pounds !!!You have to like Thai food mind you and its not the sort you get in restaurants in the UK!!