Doesn’t anyone use Burton-in-Kendal?
In an idle moment last night, I added a basic stats page to the main site, showing which sites get the most and fewest comments. It’s probably no surprise that Bolton West has had more comments so far than any other site, as it’s not only located on a very busy motorway but also has the largest number of negative comments – people seem more likely to comment when they’re complaining rather than praising!
However, at the other end of the scale, there are five sites which, at the time I write this, have had no comments at all either negative or positive. These are:
Of these, I’m less surprised about the first three. They’re all relatively recent additions to the database, and the Derby South services aren’t even real MSAs – they’re MSA-like services on the A50. But the lack of comments on the other two does surprise me. They’ve been listed on the site since I created it, and they’re both on major motorways (the M1 and M6 respectively). London Gateway is possibly a special case since it’s actually fairly small, and doesn’t get as much traffic as its seemingly prime location would suggest – it’s so close to the end of the M1 that a lot of potential customers prefer to use off-motorway facilities either before joining the motorway or after they leave it.
But what about Burton-in-Kendal? It’s on a busy motorway, there aren’t many off-motorway options nearby and it’s the northbound twin of the popular Killington Lake. It’s also in between Lancaster and Tebay Northbound, both of which also have a fair number of comments. I’d expect Burton-in-Kendal to have at least some comments here as well, therefore. But no – it has remained resolutely uncommented on since the site was created.
Is that because no-one uses it? Do you all stop at Lancaster, or continue to Tebay instead? Or is it simply so bland and uninteresting that no-one who does use it thinks it’s worth commenting on?
Whatever the reason, it would be nice to fill in the gaps and get at least one comment (and, ideally, at least one photo) for each MSA listed here. So if you happen to be passing Derby South Westbound, Tiverton, Caerphilly, London Gateway or Burton-in-Kendal, why not drop in and let us know what you find. But especially Burton-in-Kendal. I want to know why it’s so unpopular with readers of this site.
Why no comments? Well it’s a non-place.
Chances are you’ve either stopped at Forton – or whatever it’s called nowadays – because you feel that you’ve now escaped from the Lancashire conurbation and it’s time for a pee – or you’re so glad to have escaped that you’re going to press on to Tebay ‘cos you either know about it or have heard good things about it.
Either way you end up nodding aat Burton-in-Kendal but not actually stopping.
It’s a quite inoffensive sort of place with what you need but nothing to make it memorable (if any MSA meets that description!). It’s a bit like Sandbach but smaller and not as depressing – a sort of Michaelwood like place.
Comment by David Gartside — 13 August 2008 @ 10:03 pm
Poor old Burton. I often stop there on my way home to Cumbria. It’s the first break after the Welcome to Cumbria sign and therefore a sign of civilisation after the earlier horrors of the south M6 (south is anywhere below the Blackpool turn-off).
It might be dull but its a damn sight better than stopping at Forton. Who would do that?!
Comment by ellie turner — 11 September 2008 @ 6:31 am
There are no Caerphilly services – j32 is the the junction with the A470 – on the roundabout there is an Asda, a petrol station and just off the roundabout there is a hotel, but there are no signposted services.
Comment by Dave — 3 November 2008 @ 1:41 am
I like Burton specifically because it is so quiet, plus they do a nice fry up.
I would exactly call that stretch of the M6 a “Busy Motorway” though – probably it is one of the quietest sections in the country.
Comment by Phil — 10 June 2009 @ 10:46 am
We often stop at Burton on the way up to Scotland. An entirely adequate services. We like Tebay – but it always rains on us there. Burton is just far enough up the motorway from Manchester for a stop. Forton – not a good choice. Burton is small and quiet – we tend to take a picnic (because the dog travels with us). Gents is clean if rather out of date. Ladies is adequate. Neither the best nor the worst services on the M6 – just adequate – probably deserves to be busier.
Comment by Keith — 4 July 2009 @ 12:42 am
I regularly stop at BIK on the coach on the way home from matches in Manchester. It is blandmess personified, always quiet but at least the toilets are very handy, being the first thing you hit from the car-park
Comment by Joe — 10 October 2009 @ 1:16 pm
It is odd it’s never been commented on. It’s a lovely services, with proper food and nice staff.
The first place I ever ate proper Cumberland sausage.
Comment by David — 10 October 2009 @ 11:08 pm