I'm just off Junction 11, so pretty close, and no need for either of us to drive into either city.
I'm not usually found in pubs, so I'm no expert, but there's a nice clifftop place with sea views in Hill Head that's about halfway between us:
http://osborneviewhillhead.co.uk/
If there's a few of us for a weekend outdoor meet, then Hollybank is good, but more of us may mean the central point moves.
I don't think the Camel is kept in a 'ready to fly'state. It's more doing the job of the coolest garden gnome ever.