Film director Guy Ritchie has opened a smokehouse restaurant at his airfield on the Wiltshire-Dorset border. The producer and screenwriter, famed for movies including Snatch and The Gentlemen, bought Compton Abbas Airfield in 2022.
The new eatery - Lore of the Sky - takes inspiration from its Fitzrovia sister pub, Lore of the Land, with a Texan-inspired menu curated by head chef Alex Brown.
The venue will serve "authentic" barbeque food such as oak-smoked pork belly, loaded Smokehouse nachos, and a slow-braised Jackfruit burger. All dishes are smoked on-site using a J&R Oyler Smoker, flown in directly from the barbecue heartlands of Texas.
The restaurant will also sell a selection of draught beers, ales, and ciders from local Dorset and Wiltshire breweries. Altitude, a locally brewed lager, has been created in-house to celebrate the airfield’s aviation legacy.
Compton Abbas Airfield is a fully operational airfield with a rich aviation heritage, offering panoramic views over Shaftesbury. Visitors to the restaurant can watch Spitfires and vintage aircrafts take off and land throughout the day, as plane owners and pilots gather to enjoy the lively airfield community.
There are also flying experiences available on-site and throughout the year the airfield hosts events that extend past the regular scheduled air shows, including Classic Cars at Compton, the British Aerobatics Association competition, Land Rover Weekend, fireworks, and the Christmas Fly-In.
"With the legacy of Lore of the Land behind it and a deep connection to aviation heritage, Lore of the Sky is poised to become one of Dorset's favourite new dining destinations - where storied history, stunning views, and irresistible barbecue food come together for an unforgettable experience," a spokesperson for the restaurant said.
The airfield neighbours Ritchie's country estate in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. The film director, who was previously married to pop superstar Madonna, took over the ownership and operation of Compton Abbas Airfield from the Hughes family in February 2023.
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