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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE INSTITUTE (NAAFI)

It was on January 1st 1921 that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes was created by the Government.  It was to run recreational facilities for the armed forces and to retail goods to the men and their famillies.   However, its history went back much further, to the Crimean War of 1854-58, when thousands of British troops died of starvation because of lack of catering facilities.

In 1894 three dissatisfied officers formed the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society and such was its reputation that in 1917 the Royal Navy joined the Co-operative and the following year the Royal Air Force, too.

Although the service grew before the Second World War it was mainly to support British troops in foreign countries, like Ceylon, Germany, Gibraltar and Malta.  During the War it was servicing 800 ships' canteens and some 900 mobile shops.

The NAAFI opened their original premsies in Nissen huts placed on the former site of the Royal Hotel on the corner of Lockyer Street.  This was opened by Mr A V Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, on March 16th 1945.

More permanent premises were opened in Notte Street, where Armada Way goes up to the Hoe, on July 18th 1952 by HRH the Princess Margaret.  The building cost £400,000.  It was designed by Messrs Joseph and had a tavern, dance hall, restaurant and kitchen on the ground floor; reading room, games room, lounge and seven bedrooms for members of the Women's Royal Naval Service on the first floor; and forty-two double rooms on the second floor for male service personnel. 

The building is now used by the University of Plymouth but is due to be vacated soon.

Copyright:   Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

Page updated:  16 February 2007

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