Old Fashioned Truck Stops
- Thread starter Tengu
- Start date
-
Hey Guest, We're having our annual Winter Moot and we'd love you to come. PLEASE LOOK HERE to secure your place and get more information.
For forum threads CLICK HERE
When I was a consultant with the RTITB I used to suggest that looking at car parks gave a good indication of the purchasing power of a demographic.
I’d estimate that the proportion of more recent, four wheel drive and large engine capacity cars is higher at the two Westmorland owned services than most other service stations.
I have no idea who buys stuff from their Rheged gift shop but I haven’t! Do people really pick up an £120 jumper en passant?
We do sometimes enjoy their cinema as we drive home from our Lakeland winter break. Food? - not so much, more style than sustenance.
I’d estimate that the proportion of more recent, four wheel drive and large engine capacity cars is higher at the two Westmorland owned services than most other service stations.
I have no idea who buys stuff from their Rheged gift shop but I haven’t! Do people really pick up an £120 jumper en passant?
We do sometimes enjoy their cinema as we drive home from our Lakeland winter break. Food? - not so much, more style than sustenance.
Driving down from Scotland to the Moot, a stop off at Tebay was almost compulsory 
The carnivores filled up their coolers with good stuff for the week.
I just had lunch and chilled out for a bit.
£120 for a decent jumper isn't out of the realms of reasonableness these days. Compared to places like the House of Bruar it's probably seen as a bargain.
The carnivores filled up their coolers with good stuff for the week.
I just had lunch and chilled out for a bit.
£120 for a decent jumper isn't out of the realms of reasonableness these days. Compared to places like the House of Bruar it's probably seen as a bargain.
I enjoy Gloucester services particularly for their biltong. Big fatty bits, amazing.
Can get a decent steak there as well!
Can get a decent steak there as well!
@Pattree
Like this....
www.houseofbruar.com
Honestly ? I'd rather pay a home knitter to do it, and buy really good wool for her too.
M
Like this....
Men's Dale of Norway Myking Sweater
The Dale of Norway Myking sweater combines years of textile heritage with contemporary styling for a modern-looking knit with an illustrious pedigree.
Honestly ? I'd rather pay a home knitter to do it, and buy really good wool for her too.
M
@Pattree
Like this....
Men's Dale of Norway Myking Sweater
The Dale of Norway Myking sweater combines years of textile heritage with contemporary styling for a modern-looking knit with an illustrious pedigree.
Honestly ? I'd rather pay a home knitter to do it, and buy really good wool for her too.
M
I think, people that don't knit, have no idea how much 'good wool' costs. When the missus knits me a new jumper the wool can easily cost £80.
(sorry, straying off topic
)
The last Aran jumper I knitted for Himself cost me over seventy just for the wool, so I know where you're coming from on this.
I think the OP's old fashioned truck stops are a different thing entirely from the reality of most folks stop offs.
Most stop offs are over priced, intended as cash grabs of people who just need a quiet break, a clean loo, a cuppa and maybe a bite to eat....ah but, that's not 'maximising profit', is it ?
Arcade games, expensive shops, etc., aren't really what most want on a quick break on a long motorway journey, but it seems to be a winning formula for profit, so the 'truck stops' become hidden in backwaters, and known to fewer and fewer people.
Not a bad idea for a thread
I think the OP's old fashioned truck stops are a different thing entirely from the reality of most folks stop offs.
Most stop offs are over priced, intended as cash grabs of people who just need a quiet break, a clean loo, a cuppa and maybe a bite to eat....ah but, that's not 'maximising profit', is it ?
Arcade games, expensive shops, etc., aren't really what most want on a quick break on a long motorway journey, but it seems to be a winning formula for profit, so the 'truck stops' become hidden in backwaters, and known to fewer and fewer people.
Not a bad idea for a thread
There are quite a lot of fairly-clean-spoons attached to some of the smaller service stations. I can’t remember using one. We have time these days to pull off the motorway at lunchtime and find a pub or a garden centre. There are some excellent ones around.
Anyone used the Tebay truck stop?
Edited to add:
I take @Toddy ‘s point but I also think that trucking has changed. Some truck stops like Gloucester and Lymm have huge parking capacity, changeover areas and security as well as overnight accommodation.
Anyone used the Tebay truck stop?
Edited to add:
I take @Toddy ‘s point but I also think that trucking has changed. Some truck stops like Gloucester and Lymm have huge parking capacity, changeover areas and security as well as overnight accommodation.
Last edited:
As said above, the situation has changed because the demand has changed.
With modern comfortable trucks and cars the need to stop frequently has diminished. The trucks I’ve seen have air con, heat, fridges, microwaves etc. add up the price of coffee and food and you are eating into your wage. Most services also charge for overnight stays whereas a lay-by costs nothing.
I’ve stopped in a few of the older transport style stops for work. The toilets are often less than clean with a whole different range of “services” offered….
With modern comfortable trucks and cars the need to stop frequently has diminished. The trucks I’ve seen have air con, heat, fridges, microwaves etc. add up the price of coffee and food and you are eating into your wage. Most services also charge for overnight stays whereas a lay-by costs nothing.
I’ve stopped in a few of the older transport style stops for work. The toilets are often less than clean with a whole different range of “services” offered….
There was a book on alternatives to the service station on motorways with quality and more reasonable eateries within a few miles of the motorway junctions. One was M6 J32 in the form of a food hut in a carpark on the Millenium footpath by the side of the River Lune. Good old burgers, breakfast buns of various types and the obligatory hot drink. All with water bowls for the doggies. Not truck friendly but IIRC that book was more for car drivers or smaller vans that could use the carpark. Was it Woodies? I remember how to get there but not what it is called. Always a queue to get anything when it is open.
I know which book you mean, I have a copy someone...... Will have to dig it out and post the title.
It came with a fob to get a discount at the places featured in the book. I think it was pre covid, certainly I was traveling a lot for work at the time e I bought it.
Not sure all of the places ut featured are still there, but I think the farmhouse at Teddington Hands roundabout (A46) is.....
GC
