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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 38250 Location: Essex
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Barefoot Andrew Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 13173 Location: Floating away on a sea of R&S
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Me too, on the way back from a West of Scotland hol in Sept 2001. At least I think it was that one.
A. |
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judith Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 17835 Location: Montgomeryshire
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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It is good. Just a shame that it is still a solitary beacon of hope in a sea of mediocrity or worse. |
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sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28915 Location: North Devon
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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Gervase
Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 7005 Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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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?" |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 38250 Location: Essex
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28915 Location: North Devon
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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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? |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 38250 Location: Essex
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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Well I guess the thought that went through my mind was how an independent manages to gain a site. |
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Gervase
Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 7005 Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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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! |
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gil Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 13394
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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JB
Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 5600 Location: Sitting in a corner gently beating my head against the wall
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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jocorless
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 4354 Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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Bebo
Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 6086 Location: East Sussex
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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lottie
Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 4009 Location: ceredigion
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Used to stop there regularly ages ago taking/visiting Y.D. at Uni---I always ended up spending too much on cheese.  |
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ninat
Joined: 01 Feb 2009 Posts: 200 Location: Highlands
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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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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