The Flying Horse (JD Wetherspoon), Crawley

The Flying Horse is an airside Wetherspoons situated at Gatwick’s South Terminal. As one would expect it is geared for the transient masses and even at 8am in the morning when I was flying out, was pretty full with baggage laden holidaymakers and businessmen. As airport bars go, it is one of the more acceptable places to knock off a pint at an ungodly hour and the beers and choices are far better than some other aiport ‘Spoons I have encountered in the past. 6 ales were available – Spitfire, Hobgoblin, Adnams Old Ale, Pride Abbott and Saltaire Blonde. Prices are above your normal ‘Spoons but not exactly a rip off in the scheme of things. Service was prompt and polite. The décor was as one would expect, the usual plastic, contrived stuff with a rear section divided by a low screen and a few bookcases lining one wall. If this were the High Street it would all seem pretty formulaic but with time to kill time at an airport, it is more than worthy of a visit.

As you exit the security area there is an escalator straight ahead; at the top of the escalator the Flying Horse right in front of you. An airside pub where you can get a decent pint before flying off is a definite plus. As a Wetherspoons it does get busy, with most visitors having masses of hand luggage with them sometimes making moving around a bit tricky. But that’s the nature of the beast with an airport bar of course. This one always seems very cramped, and it’s at the end of the building where there is no natural light. They usually seem to have Exmoor Gold on, along with some of the usual suspects. On a previous visit in January 2010 they also had Phoenix Christmas Kiss on, which at £2.78 a pint is still probably the most expensive ale I have bought in a Wetherspoons. But I’m very glad this bar’s there, as it gives me somewhere to sit and have a decent pint while my wife hits the shops.

Official page of the Flying Horse - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk