Film director, Guy Ritchie, has expanded his hospitality empire and this time, he’s taken to the skies. Having purchased Compton Abbas Airfield in Dorset in 2022, Ritchie brings a texas-style barbecue restaurant to the aviation site. Lore of the Sky maintains the quality and ambience of his Fitzrovia pub, Lore of the Land, with added panoramic views and countryside charm.
As a Dorset local, Ritchie’s Ashcombe Estate has become a destination for leading figures in the food world, with Carousel hosting a residency in the summer of 2025. His nearby aviation-inspired restaurant, located just two hours from London Waterloo by train, is likely to attract both locals and day-trippers. With views over Shaftesbury, guests can watch as spitfires take off throughout the day and there’s even the opportunity to take part in flying experiences. The setting of a fully operational airfield is a unique sell in itself, but the food offering is equally exciting.
Lore of the Sky serves authentic Texas barbecue cooked in a state-of-the-art J&R Oyler Smoker, which is the first of its kind in the UK and only the second in Europe. The bit of kit was flown in directly from the heartlands of Texas and is the ideal vessel for their low and slow approach to barbecuing. With fresh, local produce smoked on-site, head chef Alex Brown has designed a mouth-watering menu of tender oak-smoked pork belly, loaded nachos and slow-braised jackfruit burger. To wash it down, there’s an artisan array of draught beers, ales and ciders from local breweries including their in-house lager, Altitude, which has been created to celebrate the airfield’s legacy.
While there is still an untapped market for Texas barbecue in the UK, Lore of the Sky is the new hotspot for foodies and flying fanatics alike.