For anyone who's driven around on UK motorways (that's highways for the rest of the world) and stopped by the service stations, you'll know that there is absolutely nothing to shout about service stations in UK. They'er only good for a free toilet stop, and getting an expensive coffee to keep you awake. Last weekend, on the way back home from the Team UK Hive meetup , I stopped by a service station that was an absolute breath of fresh air compared to all the other service stations I've visited. So nice that I spent three whole hours here and only left because that's the time limit on free parking.
Service stations on UK motorways are operated by a handful of companies and the eateries and shops inside are dominated by high street chains. They are not places you want to spend more than 20 minutes there. Gloucester Services is different. It's operated by a family run business in conjunction with a local community charity. The building itself is built on farmland, and is located amongst some of the prettiest natural area in the region. In order to preserve the surounding landscape and not to erect an ugly concrete eyesore, they dug into the land so the landscape wraps around the service station and car park. Then they added a 4000 square meter green roof and planted vegetation that is similar to the surrounding natural environment. This ensures the service station blends in with the area and does not stand out too much should hikers visit the nearby elevated areas. Big thumbs up to integrate a modern facility with the local ecology.
Once you step inside the space is so airy and natural, very different from the other concrete based functional service stations. The main dining area is straight ahead from the entrance and extends all the way to the back where there is a pond and more outdoor green space. What I love most was the wooden ceiling beams running through the center of the building from front to back and the big opening in the center that lets the natural light flush inside.
To the left is the Quick Kitchen for people who don't want to sit down for a meal and just want to grab quick coffee or bite.
This wall talks about the ethos behind the service station and how they work with and support the local community. It always nice to learn more about a place you go to.
The highlight of the service station for me is the Farmshop. All the produce inside are sourced from local suppliers, including many smaller artisan business. Selling their products here give them an opportunity to reach more customers than just their normal farmer market or small local village shops.
I'm a massive sucker for good artisan bread, and cakes etc. They have a great variety here, as many as, if not more than other normal farm shops. The patisserie counter looked so mouth watering and I was so tempted to get a few pieces of cake, but I was worried they wouldn't last the journey home.
Knowing who grew the produce you're eating and where it came from is always nice. Not that it makes any difference to the actual taste, but it's the thought that there is life behind the produce, if you know what I mean.
Likewise for the meat and poultry from the butcher. Most of them came from local farmers, apart from the couple at the bottom of the list. Maybe there are no poultry suppliers locally.
Anyway, hubby was over the moon when he saw the butcher counter here because he found a particular breed of pork that we love. Gloucestershire old spots is a breed of pig, thought to be the oldest pedigree spotted pig breed in the world. They're reared outdoors, have high fatty content and a delicious succulent flavour. Not that many places sell them, and you certainly won't find them in your high street supermarket.
Hubby is rarely so enthusiastic when we go shopping unless it's something he likes to eat, and this definitely is the top of his list. He didn't even ask me if I wanted to buy any, and had a good chat with the butcher who gave him some tips on who best to roast it. Needless to say, we had a lovely roast pork dinner the next day and I didn't have to lift a finger. Too bad I forgot to take a photo of it as we were very eager to dig in!!!
We must have spent over an hour in the farm shop as it was lovely to browse through all the fresh produce. And that left me just enough time to grab a beautifully cooked Sunday roast dinner before it was time to leave. Luckily, the service station is about an hours away from me, and there are plenty of beautiful countryside for walks etc. I have a feeling I will be back pretty soon, and maybe I'll pick up some of these delicious looking chocolate next time.
Ooooh, so many sweets there??
For me, it would be better to avoid that part and choose the asparagus :D
the point is, can you resist the chocolates 🙃
Right now, I can't!
I am back to 🍫 intake habits 🙈
But during the first months of this year I could resist. I resisted to all sweet, sugar or chocolate related food.
LOL!!! I was thinking the same...
except I wouldn't actually avoid the sweet area.
Hahha
I mean, I would not like to avoid it, but I should do it :))
I look for those “heathy protein/adult candy” truffles. Get my chocolat🧟♂️ fix.
Weren’t we talking about Asparagus?!? 🧟♂️
🧟♂️
Or we could dip these in chocolate? Asparagus chocolate fondue, special Hive dish. Nom nom nom. 😋
Lol, I’ll try it.
Hi @livinguktaiwan,
Thank you for participating in the #teamuk curated tag. We have upvoted your quality content.
For more information visit our discord https://discord.gg/8CVx2Am
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Hmm in the US they're called rest stops
I got to admit, rest stops does sound more appropriate than service stations.
This post has been manually curated by @bhattg from Indiaunited community. Join us on our Discord Server.
Do you know that you can earn a passive income by delegating to @indiaunited. We share 100 % of the curation rewards with the delegators.
Here are some handy links for delegations: 100HP, 250HP, 500HP, 1000HP.
Read our latest announcement post to get more information.
Please contribute to the community by upvoting this comment and posts made by @indiaunited.
Seems to me like this place just has all you need as a traveller. I would name this place "Relax and Chill". I love the foods already
I think that's a perfect name
yum, I want that asparagus!
Here you go! I love how fresh they are!
Yeah those are delicious looking. I can tell they leave them water. I learned that trick and try to use it at home, in the refrigerator.
Wow, what a difference. Never seen one like this @livinguktaiwan 😁
So much space and nicely ordered. Great products… what a treat to get some food and drinks there.
Have an awesome evening 👋🏻😁
I wish we had more not these, it would make driving long journeys so much more pleasant
Yes, for sure… one would for sure stop more and it will make a long journey so much more pleasant.
Happy Saturday 👋🏻😁
I love these services, we make sure if we go down that way to stop at the Farm Services. We have recently discovered another one like this up north, somewhere between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. I wish they would not be so expensive though.
Actually some of the stuff were ok. The old spots pork shoulder we got was £6.99 a kg a bit more expensive than the supermarkets but still very good value for the quality. The Sunday roast lunch was £11.50 with loads of of veggies. But other artisans stuff like bread and cakes were expensive as they always are. Too bad I like those the most
ohhh, I did not look at the meat section. I will send my other half, he might like that.
I agree with the artisan stuff, it is always in your face and looks too good to pass and really heavy on your wallet 😄
So you liked your lunch? I have stopped ordering food there as years gone by, seems like quality has dropped significantly. It was on another level at the beginning. Maybe it is down to the pandemic... businesses had to adjust
Sunday lunch was nice, but I found it odd that the plate size were quite small, like big side plates so it looked like you got very large portions. But it was still reasonable portions. And they charged me £1 as a child meal by mistake for one plate so I'm not gonna complain 😉
There are a few of these around the UK, not enough of them by any means - we found another one in Cumbria. Thanks for sharing.
I read they have four around the country and the farmer started off up north somewhere so it maybe the one you found. They are much nicer than the others, wish been had more
You're correct, the ones I found were Tebay Services near Penrith on the M6. If you scroll down to the bottom of the home page, it lists Gloucester Services.
Cakes aren't meant to last the journey home so there is no need to worry lol. This does make a change from the usual rubbish we always find and we have one here similar to that in that it is privately owned and has different things on offer.
So true ☺️
Big corporation managed places just repeat the same formula, like copy and paste, no originality at all 😟
Hiya, @choogirl here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1597.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community:
Looks like a very covenient rest stop, a lot of choices specially for food.
Foodies lovers are quite spoilt here!
At least the toilets are free at the station. Some countries charge 1€ to use them, even if you just bought petrol. It's kind of ridiculous to charge money at a service station when most people who stop are going to be buying fuel or food. But I digress.
Anyway, that farmshop is incredible considering it's in a service station. It looks like an artisinal market.
Operating motorway services are regulated in UK and toilets have to be free, that's why some service stations are really disgusting because they're so badly managed.
Some public toilets start to charge now but it's cheaper than the €1 in Europe, it's between 20p to 40p which I'm ok if it keeps the loo clean.
But back to this place, the farmshop is really nice, it's just makes you feel so good.
I see.
I never carry change so it's annoying to me. Many allow you to tap your card now though. I get charging in public areas like train stations and whatnot but service stations I can't understand really.
Woahhh.... I'm focused and interested in the whole male buns 🥐🥐. you share @livinguktaiwan. it is be very delicious to have breakfast with a cup of coffee.
happy weekend for you and Family 🌸
UK motorway services are generally appalling, but Gloustershire is simply awesome.
Like you I am a sucker for artisan breads, and I would end up buying more than we need if I stopped there. The grass roof so to speak is a fantastic idea. I just wish the UK would get with it more compared to other countries.
The UK motorway stop never looked so good!!! I always thought that this would be a new trend? I cannot believe they didn't go beyond the North and Southbound stops! Perhaps they weren't prepared for people to spend so much time there? Did they really expect the normal touch and go from the motorists?
I love that they chose to honor only the artisan business and not the normal big brand/outlet type of food to be offered up. Did you see that confectionary? Yes, please! I am with you on the artisan bread! I could eat my weight in bread. No lie.
I had no idea they did a butcher too, but, it doesn't surprise me. What a nice surprise to find the pork that is your favorite and so very hard to find - only twenty minutes away! Score! Is it the way the marbled fat makes it so delicious?
Yummy! That asparagus looks divine! Thanks for taking us along with you!
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
Take pictures! Be creative!
5. Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
7. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!
Indeed a lovely farmshop.. It looks clean and organize too.
Wow that sounds amazing. I'll have to go past next time I'm in Glouster! If only all services were like that.