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Tip top motorway services

 
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tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 38250
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:15 pm    Post subject: Tip top motorway services Reply with quote    

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8337326.stm

Been there myself, excellent place.

Barefoot Andrew
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 13173
Location: Floating away on a sea of R&S
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Me too, on the way back from a West of Scotland hol in Sept 2001. At least I think it was that one.
A.

judith
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 17835
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

It is good. Just a shame that it is still a solitary beacon of hope in a sea of mediocrity or worse.

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28915
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

There's a jolly good book called 'off the motorway' (published by Travel Publishing ISBN 1-902-00781-6) for those who would rather avoid motorway services if possible.

Gervase



Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 7005
Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

I almost cried when we walked into the Tebay services this summer. It's a fantastic place, and you can't help but think, "If they can 'get it' and do such a wonderful job, why are we saddled with such dreadful services everywhere else?"

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 38250
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Gervase wrote:
you can't help but think, "If they can 'get it' and do such a wonderful job, why are we saddled with such dreadful services everywhere else?"


Exactly.

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28915
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Because they're privately owned rather than being part of a chain? Because they're close enough to the destination of most people using the M6 (at least North bound) that they know that they need to be good enough to make people want to stop there?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 38250
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Well I guess the thought that went through my mind was how an independent manages to gain a site.

Gervase



Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 7005
Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

I may be wrong, but I think the motorway was built across the farmland owned by the original operators of the services, and the deal to run the site was part of the terms negotiated with the Dept of Transport. Canny beggars!

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 13394

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Gervase wrote:
I may be wrong, but I think the motorway was built across the farmland owned by the original operators of the services, and the deal to run the site was part of the terms negotiated with the Dept of Transport. Canny beggars!


Yes, that's the kind of thing I had heard. I think they may even still farm, as ISTR reading something about 'meat from our own farms' somewhere at Tebay services.

JB



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 5600
Location: Sitting in a corner gently beating my head against the wall
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Been there. The only service station I know of where I'll be there because I want to stop rather than because I need to stop.

jocorless



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 4354
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

It's our treat if we've been north for any reason - I always stop there and spend far too much money in the shop - Even though its only 30 minutes from home

Bebo



Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 6086
Location: East Sussex
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Anyone can put in a planning application for a motorway service area on land adjacent to the motorway. However, to get planning consent you have to be able to demonstrate that there is a need for it (generally based on distance to the next one), to design a suitable standard of access to the motorway and preferably have Highway Agency support. I was involved in a Public Inquiry related to a motorway service area in Bucks once. It were really boring.

lottie



Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 4009
Location: ceredigion
PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 09 2:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Used to stop there regularly ages ago taking/visiting Y.D. at Uni---I always ended up spending too much on cheese.

ninat



Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Posts: 200
Location: Highlands
PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 09 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote    

Ballinuig Service Station on the A9 is fantastic. It's really a transport cafe, but it's so good that everyone else goes there too.

My son wanted chicken nuggets on his first visit much to my horror, but I was delighted to discover they were large pieces of chicken breast.
The free tea and coffee refills are great.
The queue is often out of the door but the fast turnaround time means you don't have to wait too long for a table.

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