Gloucester Services has become the first motorway site to win the top prize at the prestigious Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards, held at the London Hilton Park Lane.
On a sell-out glittering night hosted by TV celebrity Alexander Armstrong, and with a space-themed backdrop, Laurence King, managing director of the company behind the M5 development, Westmorland Ltd, also picked up the prize for Retailer Champion, supported by the event’s principal sponsor Certas Energy, following an online vote by the readers of Forecourt Trader.
Judges said Gloucester Services, which was recently officially opened by Prince Charles, was completely unique among the motorway network, and challenging the norm, with its dedication to local food, farming and the surrounding community. It has two main aims – to make local, quality food accessible and affordable to everyone on the move; and to inject vital investment back into the surrounding community thanks to a unique partnership with Gloucestershire Gateway Trust.
Forecourt Trader editor and chairman of the judges Merril Boulton said: “Gloucester Services is the antithesis of today’s normal motorway services areas – or any other forecourt in the land. There is no clutter of famous coffee or foodservice brands clamouring for your attention; there is no piped music. There is space, there is calm, there are scenic views. There is a farm shop, a butchers, a cheesemonger; there are freshly made scones and elderflower cordial; a mouthwatering menu of ‘home-cooked’ options to sit and eat as you look out at the countryside scenes and fountain of flowing water. There are dry-stone walls and wooden beams and a meadow on the forecourt roof! This is something really special. There is no question that Gloucester Services should be the Forecourt Trader of the Year in 2015. Amazing entry, amazing business ethos.”
The full list of winners is as follows:
Best Car Care and Lubricants Outlet
Nick Fraser of Fraser’s Budgens of Marlborough in Marlborough, Wiltshire
Best Community Engagement
Laurence King of Gloucester Services in Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire
Best Customer Service
James Kay of HKS Meteor in South Normanton, Derbyshire
Best Design and Development
Laurence King of Gloucester Services in Brookthorpe
Best Food-To-Go Outlet
Gary Thornton of Casey’s Euro Spar Crossmaglen in Newry, County Down
Best Forecourt Innovation
Jonathan Tout of Tout’s Budgens of Langford in Langford, Bristol
Best Hot Beverages Outlet
Antonie Hoyle of Exelby Services Coneygarth in Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Best Site Manager
Jan Hawthorne of HKS Sandringham in Leicester, Leicestershire
Best Soft Drinks Outlet
Marcus Burnley-Lowe of Spar Battlefield in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Best Valeting Facilities
Brian Tew of Highworth Filling Station in Highworth, Wiltshire
Scotland (up to 4mlpa)
David Penny of Penny Petroleum, Auld Brig Filling Station in Alloa, Clackmannanshire
Scotland (4mlpa-plus)
Senga Mulrine of Gulf Carronvale in Larbert, Stirling
Northern Ireland (up to 4mlpa)
Gary Thornton of Casey’s Euro Spar Crossmaglen in Newry, County Down
Northern Ireland (4mlpa-plus)
Daniel Mellor of Spar Ballyclare Milestone in Ballyclare, County Antrim
Midlands (up to 4mlpa)
Paul & Pinda Cheema of Malcolm’s Stores Nisa Local in Coventry, West Midlands
Midlands (4mlpa-plus)
Jan Hawthorne of HKS Sandringham in Leicester
Northern England (up to 4mlpa)
Joseph Richardson of Jos Richardson & Son, Filey Service Station in Lebberston, Scarborough
Northern England (4mlpa-plus)
Rocky Leach of Chellow Heights Service Station in Bradford, West Yorkshire
West Country & Wales (up to 4mlpa)
Simon Lunn of GH Lunn & Son in Axbridge, Somerset wins for West Country & Wales
West Country & Wales (4mlpa-plus)
Jonathan Tout of Tout’s Budgens of Langford in Langford, Bristol
London & South East (up to 4mlpa)
Merwin Amirtharaja of Murco Canvey Island Service Station in Canvey Island, Essex
London & South East (4mlpa-plus)
David Charman of Parkfoot Garage Ltd in West Malling, Kent
Motorway Services
Laurence King of Gloucester Services in Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire
Certas Energy Retailer Champion of the Year Award - Retailer vote
Laurence King of Gloucester Services
Best Forecourt Fuel Brand - Consumer vote
Tesco
Highly Commended Oil Company Initiative Award
Jet
Winner of the Oil Company Initiative Award
Shell
Forecourt Trader of the Year 2015
Laurence King of Gloucester Services in Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire
No comments yet