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Tebay Services named the best motorway service station in the country

As it should.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 25th August 2023

Tebay Services has just been named the best motorway service station in England… and quite rightly so, if you ask us.

But the thing is, it’s not quite for the reason you’d expect.

Most of us will spend a good chunk of time at motorway service stations throughout our lives, whether we like it or not, but it’s fair to say that the majority of them aren’t much to write home about, and if anything, tend to be slagged off rather than given glowing reviews.

Tebay Services, on the other hand, is a massive exception to that.

Tebay Services has been named the best in the country / Credit: Tebay Services

The little slice of motorway services heaven – which is just off the M6 in Cumbria – is so much more than your average service station.

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A classic halfway stop-off for Mancs heading up north, the family-run Tebay is pretty much iconic at this point, and is known and loved for its lakeside setting and rural surroundings, stunning spacious interior with vaulted ceilings, the wealth of cafes and restaurants serving up dishes home-cooked on site, and its farm shop selling all sorts of local produce.

The Cumbrian gem is regularly – and if you’ve ever been, you’ll know, unsurprisingly – named among the best in the UK, but does tend to miss out on the top spot to its sister site, Gloucester Services, off the M5 in Cheltenham.

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The Cumbrian gem off the M6 has taken the top spot in a new ranking / Credit: Tebay Services

But a ranking by Cinch using data collated from recent reviews has now seen the original family-run services given the number one honour it truly deserves.

However, though, it’s not quite for the reasons you’d expect of a motorway services, as it’s actually scored highly for its wide range of ‘downtime’ options, rather than for being somewhere to grab a quick bite to eat and nip to the loo.

The data showed that families travelling across the country love to take the time to unwind at Tebay while taking in the fresh country air and stretching their legs in the spacious surroundings – with the famous farm shop, duck pond, children’s play area, and outdoor dining terrace are all listed as a big reason for its 4.5/5 Google rating (from 18,200 reviews).

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The beloved service station has scored top marks for its range of ‘downtime’ options / Credit: Tebay Services

Explaining why Tebay has taken the top spot in its 2023 ranking, Cinch wrote: “If you’re planning to stop off for a break and you’re craving an environment that offers something with a bit more pizzazz, you need to visit Tebay services.

“It’s arguably the UK’s most famous service station, which says a lot.

“Visit this family-owned site in the scenic part of the M6 and make use of beautiful views, a farm shop, a duck pond and even a barbecue shed (depending on the season).

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“Sitting for too long in the car can be a major cause of fatigue, so take the opportunity to stimulate your mind and body by visiting a service station that promises more than just a big car park and a bit of grub.”

Featured Image – Tebay Services

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Didsbury favourite Rustik adjust plans to close after overwhelming support

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rustik West Didsbury closing for good end of the month

Didsbury favourite Rustik recently announced that they would soon be closing, seemingly for good, after more than a decade, but after a fortunate twist of fate, there looks to be a sliver of hope, and like they could be staying open after all.

The beloved neighbourhood cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but the independent Irish eatery confirmed that they were due to shut down permanently by the end of last month.

Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.

To no surprise whatsoever, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution, which has also helped lead to a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Updating their followers via social media on Monday, 13 October, Rustik wrote: “We Need You More Than Ever […] We know it’s been quiet since we closed our doors — and honestly, it’s been a tough time behind the scenes.

“So many of you reached out, checked in, sent kind words, and we’ve felt every bit of that love. Thank you. Truly. When we said goodbye, we weren’t sure what the future looked like. But due to unexpected changes and plans falling through, things have come back around… and now, we’re reopening.

“It’s not easy to say this, but like so many in hospitality right now, it’s tough. We know we’re not alone in this — many small businesses are facing incredibly difficult decisions. But instead of closing the chapter, we’ve decided to give it one more shot. With everything we have.

“So, we’re reopening this Wednesday, 15 October, with a brand new brunch menu and the same Rustik heart you’ve always known. For now, we won’t be open in the evenings — but that might change. What matters most is that our doors will be open again, and we can welcome you back.”

Not only is this obviously brilliant news, but Burton Road favourite is also offering guests a 20% discount off the menu until Halloween (31 Oct) – their way of not only encouraging new customers to come through their doors, but also as a thank you to all their loyal patrons over the years.

Again, the return of late dining and their usual full programme of nighttime events still looks uncertain, but for now, they’ll be “serving coffee and brunch Wednesday to Sunday, 9am–4pm, and hoping to see as many familiar (and new) faces as possible.”

On a personal note, we’ve always loved their cult classic pub quizzes, which were some of the best in Manchester and regularly packed out every week. If you know, you know.

@the.manc Pub quiz and 80p wings – what a sick night!👏🏻😎 #themanc #rustik #didsbury #greatermanchester #westdidsbury #pubquiz ♬ Sunrise – Official Sound Studio

They signed off by adding: “This is a fresh start, but we can’t do it without you. If you’ve ever loved what we do, now is the time we need you most. Your support, your presence, even just sharing this with someone who might pop in – it means everything. With love, gratitude, and a little bit of hope — The Rustik Team.”

This positive turn of events comes just a few weeks after what fans thought was the endgame for the West Dids community cornerstone.

Posting across all of their accounts on 17 September, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.

Expressing their gratitude after the best part of a decade in the south Manchester suburb, they touched upon the post-COVID recovery period, rising business rates, supply chain costs and many of the same challenges that other hospitality venues have cited as reasons for the initial decision.

“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.

We sincerely hope the talk of closing proves to be merely a blip and that this next chapter signals the start of an incredible new era for Rustik, and as for you local foodies, we urge you to meet the further call for support and visit them during this crunch period.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Rustik West Didsbury (via Facebook)

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Salford City set to reverse kit colour following clear-cut fan vote

Danny Jones Danny Jones Salford City FC reverting footy kit colour back to orange after fan vote

Salford City FC are set to make a historic change, or rather turn back time, as the Greater Manchester side looks set to change its main kit colour back to orange.

The Ammies are undergoing another big overhaul – the most significant since the ‘Class of 92’ bought the club back in 2014 – with supporters being invited to give their thoughts on the direction they want to see the club going in.

Currently sitting ninth in the third tier after making a positive start to the 2025/26 campaign, Salford City have been met not only with fresh investment in recent months but a fresh push for change from the ground up.

Including, as it turns out, the kit colour. After genuine calls to reverse the kit colour from the fans, the Salford board took a fan poll, with over three-quarters of all those who took part voting to return the City jersey to orange.

As you can see, 77.1% of Ammies confirmed that they were in favour of bringing back the predominantly orange and black shirt, shorts and socks; the switch is expected to happen before next season.

The League Two side has made it clear that promotion to the Championship is the big target over the next few years, and as the new consortium headed up by Gary Neville and David Beckham continues to try and transform the club once again, they’re looking to make big statements.

It doesn’t get much more foundational than restoring the orange shirts that Salford City wore for the best part of four decades prior to the initial takeover.

The decision itself comes after a thorough ‘heritage consultation’ process, where the older Neville brother and other key figures took supporter feedback into consideration, including the majority kit vote.

In terms of announcing the change, they’ve had plenty of fun revealing the outcome on social media, too.

Sharing a full statement on the club website, SCFC went on to detail that there is “significant work to be undertaken at the Peninsula Stadium to update cladding and seats, amongst other infrastructure upgrades that are already due to take place.”

Hoping to combine their “tangerine heritage with modern style to create a striking orange identity”, the overall brand aim is now simpler than ever: “when you see orange, you will know what it means. This is Salford. Proud. Unmistakable.”

Long-time supporter, Richard Kedzior – who also owns the recognisable orange and black flag that hangs in the west stand – said of the news: “I’m delighted that we’ve reverted back to orange, which over a 40-year period was the colour we were always associated with prior to the change to red.

“It’s a welcome return to tradition as well as giving us back our unique identity that will once again identify us all as proud supporters of Salford‘s premier football club.”

Before the reversal was fully confirmed, co-owner Neville discussed the potential change in a room full of passionate Salfordians.

Old Dead Tree fanzine committee member, Kev Wright, continued in the statement: “The orange kit represents Salford’s true identity. It sets us apart and reminds everyone that we are our own Club, not just a shadow of Manchester United.

“When we play in red, the comparisons are inevitable, and people can mistake us for something we’re not. Salford is different. It’s about local pride, about belonging to a community with its own history and its own future. Orange gives us a distinct voice and a colour we can call our own. It’s more than just a kit – it’s a statement that we are Salford, and proud!”

Signing off, fellow Ammie Deb Sculthorpe believes that this could be the ‘fresh start’ that the 85-year-old footballing outfit needs, adding that “timing is everything and now is the time.”

A further consultation is set to take place regarding the club crest, too, as some have also suggested reverting the modern logo to the old Salford Central-style badge, with more information to be shared as and when.

What do you make of the decision to swap the modern Salford red for Greater Manchester‘s second city classic orange strip, Ammies?

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Salford City FC/Gareth Lyons (via Wikimedia Commons)

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