Royal Air Force Club, London (RAF Club)

This is a club, which means that the bar may be only open to members.

The club was founded in 1918 and the present clubhouse, situated very near Hyde Park Corner, was opened in 1922. Membership is primarily for past and present commissioned officers of the RAF and its associated nursing and reserve forces, plus those from Commonwealth and other friendly air forces. The building contains an extensive collection of aviation-themed paintings and memorabilia; note particularly the arched and vaulted corridor with its framed squadron badges, the paintings of flying Hurricanes and Spitfires, and the marvellous stained glass window.

Whilst the ground and first floor restaurants, bars (most with keg draught beer, but none with real ale) and function rooms retain much of their original appearance, the basement is completely contemporary. It houses the Running Horse Tavern, named after an eighteenth century pub which once occupied the site, a small room, decorated in mock-Tudor style and divided into booths. As well as several keg beers and a changing real ale, the permanent cask beer offered is, appropriately, Shepherd Neame's Spitfire! A short menu offers pub grub at modest prices. Opening hours etc shown above relate to this bar alone.

Please note that entry to the club - and therefore to the Running Horse Tavern - is restricted to its members and their guests.