Other Services On this Motorway:

Burton In Kendal
Charnock Richard
Corley
Hilton Park
Keele
Killington Lake
Lymm Truckstop
Knutsford
Lancaster (Forton)
Norton Canes
Sandbach
Southwaite
Stafford
J38 Truckstop
Tebay East
Tebay West

Other Pages:
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Opened: 1972 Original owner: Westmorland Current Owner: Westmorland Northbound Only (Tebay East serves the southbound side)

Trivia:

Concentrates on Local produce and styling

The only MSA with a Caravan Camping park

Owned by Westmorland Ltd- one of the smaller MSA's and firmly rooted in local business.

Temporarily renamed as Tebay Mountain Lodge during early 1990's

Praised by Egon Ronay when he surveyed Motorway Services in 2000 and gained 2 stars. One of only 5 MSA's to get this award.

When the restaurant at Tebay West was refurbished in 2000 it was briefly renamed as "The Howgill Restaurant" this was dropped after some customers thought that it was a full service (waiter/waitress) facility


History

Opened in 1972 with a small shop (where the Coffee Shop now is), a cafeteria seating only 60 people and a Shell filling station that comprised about 6 pumps and a wooden hut as a kiosk.

Tebay Mountain Lodge Motel opens in 1976 with 32 rooms (no restaurant facilities at the time)

In 1980, Tebay Caravan Park opened on the site to allow Caravans and Campers to pitch for an onvernight stay or longer. This is now the Tebay Park Touring & Static Caravan Site and is the only MSA with such facilities.

In the Early Eighties, The shop and cafe at Tebay West were extended slightly.
The motel became known as a Hotel with the opening of a small restaurant and conference facilities

When the restaurant at Tebay West was refurbished in 2000 it was briefly renamed as "The Howgill Restaurant" this was dropped after some customers thought that it was a full service (waiter/waitress) facility

1988 - Redevelopment of Tebay West. New forecourt and shop built (BP), new shop built alongside restaurant and restaurant extended to seat 300 people.

1996 - Coffee Shop opened

During the Mid 1990's food production for both Tebay Sites (+other Westmorland interests, such as the truckstop just off M6 J38) was centralised with a new kitchen built at Tebay East and a sandwich making department.

The hotel was extended to 53 bedrooms in 1997, and has now been awarded Upper 3 stars by both the AA and RAC, 4 crowns by the ETB and has an AA rosette for its food served in the Bretherdale Restaurant. The hotel also has larger conference facilities. To reflect the change the hotel was renamed The Westmorland Hotel.

In 1998 an office block was built and named Westmorland Place, to house all Head Office functions.

1999 - Further redevelopment of the restaurant with larger food servery area.

2000 - The petrol franchise at Tebay changed from BP to Texaco

2000 - When the restaurant at Tebay West was refurbished in 2000 it was briefly renamed as "The Howgill Restaurant" this was dropped after some customers thought that it was a full service (waiter/waitress) facility

2003 - New kitchen built at Tebay West (The cafe had extended several times since opening, but the kitchen remained the same size!)

2003 - Farm Shops opened at Tebay East & West

2004 - Farm Shops visited by Prince Charles

2004 - Featured on the BBC programme "Country File"


See also:
Tebay East
Westmorland Entry on the Operators page
J38 Truckstop page

www.westmorland.com

Received votes so far and a sample of comments: People who prefer this MSA 98 People happy to visit 5 People who avoid this MSA 9 Selection of comments received Certainly not bad, but I dont personally feel its as good as its made out to be. 08/04/2005 20:33:28 The only bad point is the sharp unlit sliproad 09/04/2005 11:31:55 This is without doubt the finest servioces in the country . Both for fayre parking areas shoppimg. Congratulations 25/06/2005 00:47:57 it is my favourite MSA in the country 18/07/2005 14:29:54 caravan site excellant 11/08/2005 16:58:00 Visited on a very busy summer weekend. Staff were run off their feet but were extremely attentive and polite. Well presented with nice touches like the local meat on offer and Beutiful hanging baskets and flower displays - Im very jealous!! 09/09/2005 19:39:59 The forecourt is now Total and no longer Texaco 28/09/2005 05:20:06 Finmding it a very expensive MSA; may have to revise prefered stopping places. 18/11/2005 16:00:08 Got a rave review in the Saturday Guardian restaurant reviews in 2005 (the short reviews in the Guide). 02/12/2005 14:12:59 This is a grotty disgusting servives, staff rude, toilets unclean and stink its over prices and very basic 03/12/2005 11:44:29 An altogether excellent site - would recommend it 12/01/2006 17:45:26 Food was disgusting and lukewarm, trays dripping with water, tables not cleared even though it was a quiet time. Lavatories were scruffy. The only good points are the attractive setting and good dog walking areas. 15/01/2006 21:11:11 This is the ONLY stop on the M6 that serves decent food. Farm shop also good - I use it when returning home in the same way as I use my local farm shop. 29/01/2006 12:53:07 The view of Pendolinos snaking up the Lune Gorge at 100mph is unparalleled by any other services 30/01/2006 21:50:36 Car park too small, lots of over prces stuff in the shop. I was desparate for the loo once and it was lucky I was not driving at the time so I had to bail out and wait for the driver to find a parking space in the overcrowded car park. 29/03/2006 22:11:46 Best services in the country bar none 12/04/2006 23:12:04 Its ok for a cuppa 19/04/2006 10:29:10 This services is the best place on the motorway to stop at! i really enjoyed myself while all my needs were being catered for, i stopped at the southbound resturant first and found this marvolous, food was great, staff were great no bad points at all 30/04/2006 01:24:20 actually rather nice, unlike any other MSA I have been to. 19/05/2006 12:58:06 19/06/2006 11:46:32 24/06/2006 14:53:38 Certainly one of the best. Food sometimes only just warm at quiet times. 26/08/2006 22:57:06 The worlds best MSA in my opinion! 22/09/2006 17:22:44 Fantastic local food, well cooked and a great farm shop, an ENJOYABLE stop. 22/09/2006 17:34:45 A Biker, I rested on the grassy bank in the sunshine & fell asleep. Awoke in ducky company, with one of them attempting to hatch my crash helmet. You dont get that at Heston services! 28/09/2006 10:10:17 Just like Tebay East, has a great farm shop, great location and views. Lets you forget youre on a Motorway journey. 29/09/2006 12:29:49 This is the best motorway services I have stopped at with Britain. Lovely scenery and atmosphere, but food quite expensive. When compared to other services, its worth it just to have a break and walk around. 11/11/2006 12:55:42 We made a special visit to this service station on a recent Lake District holiday. We think it should be included as a tourist attraction in Lakeland publicity info. The farm shop is par excellence! 05/01/2007 17:04:07 Outstanding Service Station for all members fo the family. We always make a point ot stop here rather than MSA before or after when we travel to Scotland. Not stopped? then please do make the effort with either North of South. 17/01/2007 18:35:56 since it opened i have visited it EVERY time i was going to go past it. BRILLIANT! I LOVE IT! 13/03/2007 23:28:56 Probably the best Service Area I have come across in Britain. 15/03/2007 14:15:59 I love tebay my girlfriend works there it is a brilliant place to visit to see her!!!!! 18/03/2007 18:32:06 On the approach to The Lake District, this MSA probably has the finest setting of any in England. 18/04/2007 12:03:05 Visited for 1st time, and I must say this is the cream of MSAs, staff veryt nice and the wonderfull views made it a relaxing stop. The Farm shop is magnificent 27/04/2007 10:30:29 i stop there coz theres no others near. its good one for going to carlisle but dont think it offers alot of facilities 15/05/2007 10:48:02 EXPENSIVE! 28/05/2007 12:21:04 Westmorland have an outstanding caravan park and the services are the best in the UK 16/06/2007 21:28:42 Good food, nice surrounding and friendly staff. As a regular user of MSAs I rate this one of the best 10/07/2007 19:51:23 I called hereonce when there just happened to be a power cut. They were superb - managing to serve baked beans on toast and a hot drink. The manageress apologising profusely for something which patently was not their fault. 12/08/2007 20:06:39 But toilets desperately need a refurb 22/08/2007 20:23:13 Although the parking is free, but they made up for it in the price of the food 25/08/2007 15:44:26 good food maybe at top of price range friendly staff ,good location always make a point of stopping there 25/08/2007 21:01:09 I always stop here for a break its great to de-stress by feeding the ducks. 26/08/2007 01:39:01 Always make a point of stopping here on my way to Scotland, good quality food (always do a nice breakfast) and a beautiful setting. 16/09/2007 17:12:45 This is certainly the best MSA Ive encountered in the UK. Its friendly, clean, and the food is excellent. The Farmers market shop is worth travelling for alone. 16/09/2007 18:16:43 What else can anyone say about Tebay, that hasn’t already been said? Quite simply, it’s the BEST services in the UK! Sometimes, somebody sits down and gets something right! Sometimes a place has a certain ‘magic’ that can’t be explained. I don’t know 19/09/2007 10:05:57 Love it, doesont look like a plasticy building like the others. Fits with its surroundings go there evry year on way to northampton. Brill 25/11/2007 11:19:10 This is an absolutely lovely MSA setting in what I can only describe as stunning countryside. I also love the caravan site, but I feel that the prices are getting much too high particularly when compared with Caravan Club sites. 27/12/2007 22:06:30 Just what you want. Decent facilities, excellent farm shop and plenty of opportunity to enjoy the views around. A proper break from the road! 31/12/2007 16:38:41 I just love stopping at this service area or better still staying a night or two at the Cravan Site. It is such a beautiful area of Cumbria that I just never tire of 25/02/2008 22:16:48

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