The de Havilland Aircraft Museum has now reopened following a £30,000 refurbishment of the café and Aeroshop.

The café now includes fixtures and fittings from a BAe 146 and Trident, both built at the Hatfield factory, alongside new and enlarged shelving offering improved display of clothing, model kits, books and memorabilia.

The building itself was a general storage barn on the farm that once occupied the site near London Colney. By 1986, and now part of the museum, it benefitted by a donation of ‘surplus to requirement’ concrete from contractors on the adjacent stretch of the M25. Until 2019, as well as housing the reception, shop and café, it was also the home of the museum’s Halford Aeroengine collection.

A budget of £30,000 enabled the Museum to completely gut the building, giving local designer Sam Pochettino a blank canvas for her ideas. Contractors Total Floors from Kings Langley had unhindered access for laying the flooring., while all other aspects of the project were delivered by volunteers from the Museum.

Mike Garrick dealt with the commercial components, while Chris Hann organised the repairs, redecoration and fitting out. The five-week project ran remarkably smoothly, involving up to 40 volunteers a day. Chris had allowed up to four days to gut the building and was delighted that the job was completed in just over four hours.

With the project completed on time, in budget and to a high standard, Chris said: “It was so rewarding to work with a committed team, dedicated to the task.

“Special mention should go to Dave Cox, Ian Mercer and Adam Rowland. Dave and Ian implemented the extensive changes to the wiring. Adam ensured that all the stock for the Aeroshop was on display in time for the re-opening.”