London’s Ace of Spades: Where Planes Landed for Parties
Imagine a 1930s London club so spectacularly glitzy it boasted not just a swimming pool and polo field, but its very own aerodrome! This was the Ace of Spades Club in Kingston, a dazzling roadhouse designed by Ernest Brander Musman, which quickly became *the* spot for high society and motorcar enthusiasts to let loose.
From miniature golf and riding lessons by day to live music, comedy, and cabaret till 4 am, fueled by BYOB champagne and brandy (no liquor license needed to party!), the Ace of Spades offered non-stop entertainment. But it was in June 1933 that things truly took off, with the addition of a dedicated airstrip. This wasn't just for show; it hosted ‘aerial garden parties,' air races, and ‘joyrides' for guests, with pilots even scoring a free lunch, their planes drawing curious drivers off the road.
However, this high-flying glamour had its perils. Airman Ben Turner famously almost became lion chow when a sudden gust of wind carried his parachute onto the top of a lion's cage at Chessington Zoo. “Hungry and enraged” lions made repeated attempts to reach him before a fire brigade and a whip-wielding tamer came to his rescue. Meanwhile, the club's outdoor pool, opened concurrently with the aerodrome, saw its own splashy debut with the master of ceremonies diving in fully clothed, captured by British Pathe! The Bystander magazine declared the club was “coining money.”
Though the aerodrome closed by 1937, the Ace of Spades soldiered on, even after a 1955 fire, finally closing its doors in the 1970s. Today, its mock-Tudor facade cleverly houses a Tool Station, Topps Tiles, and a Laser Quest – a far cry from its frolicking, plane-landing heyday, but a testament to its enduring, if re-imagined, legacy.
This unique london attraction planes enthusiasts and history buffs alike with its fascinating story of aviation meeting nightlife in the capital.
The airfield's proximity to central London made it convenient for aviation officials commuting to tower bridge government jobs in the city.
Today, aviation enthusiasts and party-goers alike can visit London Spades to explore the fascinating history of this unique airfield venue.
While london museums tower bridge showcase the city's rich history, few tell the story of this unique aviation party venue.
Students studying in London Soho during the 1960s would often witness small aircraft dramatically landing on busy streets for exclusive celebrity parties.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/history/aces-of-spades-club-kingston-aerodrome)
