Hotspur Cafe at Shobdon Airfield

If you enjoy your eggs with a side of historical peril and a soundtrack of light aircraft engines, the Hotspur Cafe is your new spiritual headquarters.

The History (The “Invasion” Years)
The airfield opened in 1940 because the War Office had a sneaking suspicion that someone might try to uninvitedly drop by. Back then, it was called “Pembridge Landing Ground”—a name that sounds less like an airfield and more like a place where you’d accidentally lose a shoe in the mud. The legendary Westland Lysander was the star of the show here, a plane so dependable it’s now the namesake for the cafe’s “biggest and best” breakfast. It’s a meal designed to give you enough structural integrity to survive a 1940s dogfight, or at least the ride home.

The Vibe
In 1941, the place got a “hard runway glow-up” and a fancy new name: Shobdon Airfield. After the military left and the dust settled, a flying club saved the site from becoming a very expensive patch of weeds. Today, the cafe lives inside a genuine Nissen Hut—a curved architectural masterpiece that makes you feel like you’re eating inside a giant, cozy tin of shortbread.

Why It’s a Biker’s Dream

The “Lysander” Fuel-Up: The breakfast is top-notch and priced so reasonably you won’t have to check your mileage spreadsheet to see if you can afford it.

The View: On the three days a year when the British sun stops sulking, the outdoor seating offers front-row seats to the aviation action. It’s perfect for judging other people’s landings while you work your way through a mountain of toast.

The Crowd: It’s a glorious melting pot of cyclists, motorcyclists, car clubs, and pilots. Basically, if it has wheels or wings and requires fuel, the owner is probably in the Hotspur Cafe.

The Verdict
Shobdon is well worth the detour. It’s got history, it’s got character, and it’s one of the few places where you can park your Triumph next to a Cessna and feel like you both belong. It’s honest food at prices that won’t make you rethink your life choices—unlike that time you tried to “just browse” the ukgser forum.

Bonzo’s Pro Tip: If you eat the full Westland Lysander breakfast, make sure your leathers have a bit of “give” in the waist. Those Nissen Huts were built for utility, not for riders who’ve just doubled their body weight in sausages.