Aaron S.
Yelp
Tebay Motorway Services, on the M6 in Cumbria, certainly offers a different experience to what one would usually find at motorway services, gone are the usual fast food brands from Burger King to Subway, and gone are the big coffee shops from Starbucks to Costa, being replaced with a Farm Shop.
I like the idea of a farm shop, but for a motorway service station, I really don't think it works, as it replaces a stop on the motorway, where one could get a bite to eat or essentials like a newsagent like WHSmith.
I was shocked to learn that despite having a Farm Shop, which was quite well stocked with many fresh produce items, and unique brands including the Lake District Distillery (One of the best British vodkas around), they had no gluten-free food, other than a vegan pie, and a couple of fries. I was told that despite the Farm Shop being listed as being open until 9 pm online, they only offer a full service in the morning and early afternoon, and would not be able to do a gluten-free snack or sandwich after 4 pm, which I find pretty ridiculous, they have a lot of pre-made food but if you're gluten-free, you're going to be left hungry.
There is a communal seating area and toilets which are required to be open 24/7 by law, as well as coffee machines and a very small food offering for non-GF folks on their 24/7 menu, but this is only fulfilling their legal requirements as a service station. I didn't find it to be clean or inviting overall in this area.
The staff member seemed friendly, she seemed to genuinely care and seemed to be upset she could not find anything for me to eat too.
I do like the idea of a farm shop offering a unique range of products, and this certainly isn't terrible, but it doesn't work as a motorway services, It takes something to have me missing the likes of McDonald's and Subway, and it appears this may be it. 2*