Motorway Services Online

Retrieved from "https://motorwayservices.uk"

Westmorland: Difference between revisions

← Older editNewer edit →
Visual
m added COVID-19
m update
Line 14: Line 14:
}}
}}


'''Westmorland''' are an operator who stand out for being family-owned. They are markedly different from the rest, as they are now the UK's only significant, independent operator.
'''Westmorland''' is a family-owned service area operator. They shun big brand names and instead work with local producers, creating some of the UK's most talked-about service areas. They are now the UK's only significant independent operator.


As an operator, their roots begin at their busiest site, [[Tebay]]. With no major operators interested in taking it on, a local family decided to do so. Meanwhile, a government parliamentary secretary visited Germany and was impressed by the food offered by family-run service stations, and suggested the UK did the same. Little did he know that an isolated but important success story was brewing back in the UK.
As the Dunning family were farmers themselves, Westmorland's ethos is that each site should be rooted in the local community, selling food that is locally-sourced, and gifts which were created by local suppliers. New projects tend to be created in partnership with local charitable causes. Each service area is promoted on its own merits and ironically that means many of their customers will talk about [[Tebay]] and [[Gloucester]] without ever realising its Westmorland who run them.


It was a long time before Tebay became an established part of the motorway network, but when it did the nation took its uniqueness to heart. The company's growth was slow and steady, but 42 years later in 2014 they made a huge leap by opening the first part of [[Gloucester|Gloucester services]], and acquiring the independent [[Cairn Lodge]].
Both of their qualifying services were among the first six to be given five stars by [[VisitEngland]]. In 2019, [[Transport Focus]] graded Westmorland 98% for customer satisfaction, putting them well ahead of every other operator. In 2021, [[Which? Magazine]] awarded all three top spots to Westmorland's service areas.


Both of their qualifying services were among the first six to be given five stars by [[VisitEngland]]. In 2019, [[Transport Focus]] graded Westmorland 98% for customer satisfaction, putting them well ahead of every other operator. In 2021, [[Which? Magazine]] awarded all three top spots to Westmorland's service areas.
The Westmorland business was especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as their restaurant experience is arguably their most famous feature. During the lockdown, they adapted to sell pre-packaged products and more takeaway food. They also offered interest-free loans to staff who needed financial support, and were praised by some of their suppliers for the understanding they showed.
 
===An Unusual Approach===
{{fulldetails|History:Tebay}}
High Chapel Farm was one of hundreds of farms which lost some of its land to the construction of the M6 in the late 1960s. It was lucky that a motorway service area was proposed at Tebay, and even more lucky that all of the existing operators had turned it down. Desperate for somebody to come forward, the Department scaled back their proposals, and as a result this was now one of the only service areas which were affordable for a small firm to take on.


The journey hasn't always been so smooth. In 1979, representatives of the Department of Transport finished a disappointing meeting with Mr Dunning with their notes saying "he is a seemingly naive hill farmer". Clearly this hasn't hindered Westmorland's ambition: perhaps that's because Westmorland management has got better with experience, or perhaps it was actually the Department of Transport who were approaching things from the wrong angle.
The Dunning family, who had been managing High Chapel Farm, decided to take a gamble and branch out from farming to service stations. They were very inexperienced, but they bought with them a totally different outlook. As all the other operators merged and battled to have the biggest brand names, Tebay increasingly stood out as an anomaly; a place which was happy to do things on a smaller scale if it meant better quality. This really took hold when the farm shops opened in 2003.


The Westmorland business was especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as their restaurant experience is arguably their most famous feature. During the lockdown, they adapted to sell pre-packaged products and more takeaway food. They also offered interest-free loans to staff who needed financial support.  
The company's growth was slow and steady, but 42 years later in 2014 they made a huge leap by opening the first part of [[Gloucester|Gloucester services]], and acquiring the independent [[Cairn Lodge]]. Both of these now follow the ethos made famous at Tebay.


==Westmorland Services==
==Westmorland Services==

Revision as of 23:10, 1 August 2021

Westmorland
Westmorland
Camera icon
Camera icon
Many more photos in the gallery
Locations:5
Introduced:1972
Head office address:Westmorland Motorway Services Ltd
Westmorland Place
Orton
Penrith
Cumbria
Official Website:
www.westmorlandfamily.com

Westmorland is a family-owned service area operator. They shun big brand names and instead work with local producers, creating some of the UK's most talked-about service areas. They are now the UK's only significant independent operator.

As the Dunning family were farmers themselves, Westmorland's ethos is that each site should be rooted in the local community, selling food that is locally-sourced, and gifts which were created by local suppliers. New projects tend to be created in partnership with local charitable causes. Each service area is promoted on its own merits and ironically that means many of their customers will talk about Tebay and Gloucester without ever realising its Westmorland who run them.

Both of their qualifying services were among the first six to be given five stars by VisitEngland. In 2019, Transport Focus graded Westmorland 98% for customer satisfaction, putting them well ahead of every other operator. In 2021, Which? Magazine awarded all three top spots to Westmorland's service areas.

The Westmorland business was especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as their restaurant experience is arguably their most famous feature. During the lockdown, they adapted to sell pre-packaged products and more takeaway food. They also offered interest-free loans to staff who needed financial support, and were praised by some of their suppliers for the understanding they showed.

An Unusual Approach

See also: History:Tebay

High Chapel Farm was one of hundreds of farms which lost some of its land to the construction of the M6 in the late 1960s. It was lucky that a motorway service area was proposed at Tebay, and even more lucky that all of the existing operators had turned it down. Desperate for somebody to come forward, the Department scaled back their proposals, and as a result this was now one of the only service areas which were affordable for a small firm to take on.

The Dunning family, who had been managing High Chapel Farm, decided to take a gamble and branch out from farming to service stations. They were very inexperienced, but they bought with them a totally different outlook. As all the other operators merged and battled to have the biggest brand names, Tebay increasingly stood out as an anomaly; a place which was happy to do things on a smaller scale if it meant better quality. This really took hold when the farm shops opened in 2003.

The company's growth was slow and steady, but 42 years later in 2014 they made a huge leap by opening the first part of Gloucester services, and acquiring the independent Cairn Lodge. Both of these now follow the ethos made famous at Tebay.

Westmorland Services

Westmorland operate the following services: [view on a map - refine search]

Planned Services

Westmorland are currently developing plans to build:

Visitor Feedback

Visitors can leave public feedback on their experience by logging into the CommentBox app. You can do so quickly below:


Views expressed in these comments are those of the individual contributor. User accounts are managed by CommentBox.io. Registration helps prevent automated spam.
We ask the companies named to check here, but we can't force them to do so.

Main Page | Photo Gallery | Map