New bar bids to recreate airbase spirit

The people behind a new bar based at the former social club at RAF Coltishall are hoping to recreate the community spirit that once existed at the airbase.

When the RAF moved out amenities enjoyed by forces' families such as the pool, shop, gym, theatre and family centre all closed.

The Diplomat at Badersfield, Ormesby Road, opened as a small bar about five weeks ago but its function room is now up and running and it's also offering food on the menu.

It's is being run by Ben Thompson and former RAF station warden Glenn Burton, and Mr Thompson said he hopes the new Norfolk community that is emerging from the former airmen's quarters at RAF Coltishall will adopt it as their home from home.

He said: 'The Diplomat site used to be the old families' centre and we would like to try and recreate the community spirit that used to be down here, although we are not a social club.

'Our aim is to turn it into a venue for anything, a great reasonably priced place for families and something that pulls the entire area together.

'We will be having pool and darts teams and there's also talk of a rugby 7s team and a power league football team.

'We have got a rough guide to the next two to three months entertainment-wise, including bands, theme nights and food nights.'

The expertise to make the bar a success is coming from owners Matthew and Nicola Colchester, who run the Recruiting Sergeant in Horstead, who are working in partnership with businessman Richard Germany.

Mr Germany said: 'I bought it as I see it as an opportunity to bring the community down there together. It's only been open about five weeks but it's already going well. We hope that live groups will play there in the future.'

The Diplomat offers curry nights on Wednesdays, fish and chip nights on Fridays and, usually, barbecues on Sundays. The opening times are Monday to Thursday 4pm until late, Friday 3pm until late and on weekends 12pm to late.