Tobias Ellwood Joins Soldiers For Lunch At New Dining Facility

Tobias Ellwood has officially opened a new junior ranks diner at Larkhill Garrison, which will soon be serving over 1,000 soldiers every day.

The defence minister enjoyed a lamb curry with personnel and took a tour of the new facilities.

He said the food is a far cry from what was on offer when he was in the Army: "You didn't have a choice, that was the thing... You were very limited in what you could have.

"What we're seeing here is a far greater choice for individuals to choose.

"It's a community hub."

The new diner is a big step up from the old mess which only had space to seat 120 soldiers at any one time.

It is all part of getting Wiltshire ready for the arrival of more than 4,000 service personnel and around 3,000 attached partners and children from Germany. 

Major General Richard Wardlaw, Director of Basing and Infrastructure for the Army, said:

"The kitchen is fully operational and that dining facility could be feeding all five regiments today.

"We have worked very closely with Wiltshire Council on making sure that not just these facilities but the highways, medical facilities and education facilities have received the investment and uplifts required to deal with the increased population."

Over a billion pounds have been spent on the Salisbury Plain area but only in September, when the move is complete, will the soldiers and their families deliver their verdict on the new set-up.