16 March 2023
Last October, when the news broke that Compton Abbas was being sold to Guy Ritchie’s Ashcombe Estates, it would be fair to say that there was some concern over its future as a GA airfield.
Happily, shortly after the story broke, a letter from Guy Ritchie to staff, residents and the wider community, assured everyone that the airfield will ‘keep running in the spirit that has been curated by the Hughes family…’
Work to improve the building housing the restaurant and bar was planned for February, with the airfield due to open to visitors in March.
With the airfield still closed, FLYER asked manager, Andrew Wood, for an update.
Andrew said, “When we started our redevelopment, we became aware very quickly what poor condition the original building was in. As such, we saw it prudent to completely remove the old café building and replace it with a new, purpose-built café/restaurant and bar. This has lengthened the development phase, but the result will be an establishment worthy of the stunning view here – and certainly warrant the journey by air or land. Our aim is to open to flying visitors in early April (we hope to be able to offer a limited food and beverage service), then fully open to the public from mid-late April. As with all developments of this scale timelines can change, the final result though will breathe new life into Compton Abbas Airfield, and I am confident it will remain a jewel in the crown of UK GA.”
There is one completed piece of work – the airfield’s new logo.
