The Binbrook Brew Tea Room 15th April 2026

Cycling UK Louth’s Wednesday Wander to ‘The Binbrook Brew Tea Room’ based at the guardroom of former RAF Binbrook. Wednesday 15th April 2026.

Thanks go to Chris Owen for first spotting that ‘The Binbrook Brew Tea Room’ was open every Wednesday between 10 am and 12 noon (starting 4th March 2026). More thanks to John Rickett for devising a route for today’s ‘Wednesday Wander’.

This would be a nostalgic return to RAF Binbrook for John who was stationed here in the 1960’s as Corporal Rickett and for Tim who was an operational meteorologist at the station from 1986 until 1988 when it ceased Lightning operations. Tim remembers arriving at the guardroom on his first day in the middle of July in a cold easterly wind and thick fog explaining that he was the new "'Met Man". They were not impressed.

At least the weather was on our side today with early morning rain having cleared and heavy rain and thunderstorms not due until after 4 pm. Very mild too with a top temperature of 18 Degrees Celsius.

Luckily for Tim, he wouldn’t be ‘Billy No Mates’ today as he was joined by John and it wasn’t long before we were being whisked along by a brisk southerly all the way through Brackenborough and Little Grimsby, ready to tackle the climb up to North Elkington. John was in training for his cycling holiday and working hard, soon reached Boswell at an altitude of about 410 ft AMSL.

For a change John has us routing along Limber Hill, passing Kelstern Airfield War Memorial commemorating in particular 625 Squadron based at the Former RAF Kelstern. ‘Undulations’ followed to the outskirts of Binbrook and on entering the village we noted a sign at The Plough Inn indicating it was open ‘every day’ from 12 noon. Good to have it operating again after temporary closure for a few years.

For the first time in many years, John and Tim headed for the guardroom where we were immediately welcomed by the good folk at The Binbrook Brew, guiding us to the cycle parking rack.

We’d arrived a little after 11.15 am, just in time, not only for tea and cake but also the raffle which was to be drawn just before midday. A modest £5 donation for refreshment, all proceeds going to support the Combined Services and Veterans Fund.

HIS Church which operates out of the Guardroom at Brookenby is a charity that distributes surplus food, clothing and supplies to more than 3,000 charities and food banks worldwide. For 15 years HIS has also supported Combined Services and Veterans through its fund and continues to restore properties at former RAF Binbrook. The refurbishment of the Guardroom is a fine example of its work which houses not only the splendidly decorated tea room but also a small museum, the ‘RAF Binbrook Collection’. Our volunteer guide today, Simeon, who I don't think would have been born at the time of the station's closure.

Fuelled on slices of cake and buns and with John winning one of the raffle prizes (he chose a box of stuffed dates) we bade farewell but were certainly looking forward to leading the club back here on another Wednesday, perhaps to see the completion of the RAF Binbrook Memorial Garden.

With skies brightening, time to head off into the wind past Swinhope and the Click’em Inn. We’d be back here soon for the Bloodwise Charity Ride. The valley running through Wold Newton gave us some welcome shelter from the wind, much more exposed however at Salters Lane. Time for John to cool down as his winter jacket was a little on the heavy-duty side in view of temperatures which had indeed risen to 18 Degrees.

A pleasant downhill swoop to North Ormsby, acknowledging cheery waves and greetings being given by a family taking a picnic at the ‘cyclists' bench’. Back into the headwind via Brackenborough when John suggested taking a final cup of coffee at Betties. 1.30 pm and a free table by the window gave us a perfect view of the increasingly sunny conditions. Thanks go to John for the coffee. 

35 miles covered with 1800 ft altitude gained.  

Tim's 'Relive' Video: https://www.relive.com/view/vE6JAGmALxO