This year we're going for a fortnight on the M5: Service station has become a destination in itself with families spurning the seaside to enjoy its waterfall, rolling country and delicious organic treats 

  • Families are giving up seaside holidays to spend time at Gloucester Services 
  • The service station boasts its own nature reserve and local farm produce
  • It also has a waterfall, clearwater pond, trees and rolling hillside
  • Locals are using it for high-class shopping to buy clothes and furniture 

An English service station has become an unusual holiday destination in itself.

Families are giving up their traditional seaside getaways to spend time at Gloucester Services on the M5.

It bills itself as a farm shop and kitchen and also boasts its own pizza oven, a cafe service homemade dishes, and butchery. 

After opening in August last year, it has become a huge attraction and holidaymakers can enjoy its waterfall, clearwater pond, trees and rolling hillside.

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Families are giving up their traditional seaside getaways to spend time at Gloucester Services on the M5

Families are giving up their traditional seaside getaways to spend time at Gloucester Services on the M5

Locals also use the services as a high-class shopping experience instead of somewhere to stop for a coffee

Locals also use the services as a high-class shopping experience instead of somewhere to stop for a coffee

Chicken and with asparagus, game with blackcurrants and beef growler topped with hardseed mustard are among the pie selections

Chicken and with asparagus, game with blackcurrants and beef growler topped with hardseed mustard are among the pie selections

The services, between junctions 11A and 12 on the northbound carriageway, opened in August last year without a corporate coffee shop, fast food joint or gambling machine in sight

The services, between junctions 11A and 12 on the northbound carriageway, opened in August last year without a corporate coffee shop, fast food joint or gambling machine in sight

The services, between junctions 11A and 12 on the northbound carriageway, opened without a corporate coffee shop, fast food joint or gambling machine in sight.

It's a particular favourite with families from Birmingham who are making the 55-mile trip to holiday at the service station which boasts its own nature reserve and local farm produce. 

They're even taking advantage of the crushed stone paths to walk their dogs.

Locals are also treating it as a high-class shopping venue to buy clothes and furniture.

It bills itself as a farm shop and kitchen and also boasts its own pizza oven, a cafe service homemade dishes, and butchery

It bills itself as a farm shop and kitchen and also boasts its own pizza oven, a cafe service homemade dishes, and butchery

The service station has ditched the mainstream ciders for Pilton Somerset keeved cider

The service station has ditched the mainstream ciders for Pilton Somerset keeved cider

Most of the food on sale in its shops and restaurants is sourced from 130 trusted suppliers within a 30-mile radius

Most of the food on sale in its shops and restaurants is sourced from 130 trusted suppliers within a 30-mile radius

Focaccia sandwiches, home-made cakes, wild boar sausage rolls and sushi are all on offer and there is no sign of a Starbucks or KFC

Focaccia sandwiches, home-made cakes, wild boar sausage rolls and sushi are all on offer and there is no sign of a Starbucks or KFC

Pictured is a selection of cakes on offer to travellers and holidaymakers at Gloucester Services

Pictured is a selection of cakes on offer to travellers and holidaymakers at Gloucester Services

Most of the food on sale in its shops and restaurants is sourced from 130 trusted suppliers within a 30-mile radius.

Focaccia sandwiches, home-made cakes, wild boar sausage rolls and sushi are all on offer and there is no sign of a Starbucks or KFC.

The rest stop, owned and operated by family firm Westmorland, was created in partnership with the social regeneration charity Gloucestershire Gateway.

The second southbound service area opened earlier later this year as part of a £40 million project.

Gloucester Services is the sister project of the Tebay Services in Cumbria, which has won a number of awards since it opened.

Steak for dinner? Pictured is a butcher at Gloucester Services arranging the meat on display

Steak for dinner? Pictured is a butcher at Gloucester Services arranging the meat on display

The rest stop, owned and operated by family firm Westmorland, was created in partnership with the social regeneration charity Gloucestershire Gateway

The rest stop, owned and operated by family firm Westmorland, was created in partnership with the social regeneration charity Gloucestershire Gateway

Gloucester Services is the sister project of the Tebay Services in Cumbria, which has won a number of awards since it opened

Gloucester Services is the sister project of the Tebay Services in Cumbria, which has won a number of awards since it opened

James Swinton said: 'This place is fantastic. After five minutes you forget you're next to a motorway. 'Honestly, you could be in the Lake District or somewhere'

James Swinton said: 'This place is fantastic. After five minutes you forget you're next to a motorway. 'Honestly, you could be in the Lake District or somewhere'

James Swinton, 32, from Smethwick, West Midlands, has been on several holidays at the services with his wife and three kids.

The lorry driver said 'I usually hate being on the motorway and can't wait to get off it.

'I spend hours parked up in service stations and I never thought I'd actually choose to come to one on my day off.

'They're horrible, grotty places and can taste the diesel in the air.

'But this place is fantastic. After five minutes you forget you're next to a motorway.

'Honestly, you could be in the Lake District or somewhere.

'Why travel hundreds of miles when you've got this on your doorstep?'

Sarah Dunning, CEO of Westmorland Family, said: 'We believe proper food matters and it is this commitment to local sourcing and the community that really sets the business apart'

Sarah Dunning, CEO of Westmorland Family, said: 'We believe proper food matters and it is this commitment to local sourcing and the community that really sets the business apart'

It bills itself as a farm shop and kitchen and also boasts its own pizza oven, a cafe service homemade dishes, and butchery

It bills itself as a farm shop and kitchen and also boasts its own pizza oven, a cafe service homemade dishes, and butchery

Retired factory worker Gwen Colback, 66, also holidays at Gloucester Services with husband Jeff, 67.

The grandmother-of-five, from King's Heath, Birmingham, said 'It is a bit weird going for outings at a motorway services, I suppose.

'But everyone's got their favourite little places. We're both retired and we've been all over the world travelling.

'One day we were driving back home from Bristol Airport and stopped here for a brew and a McDonald's.

'But we couldn't believe how different it was, the scenery is amazing.

'We've been back a few times since. It's lovely and you can barely hear the traffic.'

Sarah Dunning, CEO of Westmorland Family, said 'We believe proper food matters and it is this commitment to local sourcing and the community that really sets the business apart.

'It's important to us that we sell products of Gloucestershire for Gloucester and we relish the fact that our greatest opportunity as a business is that we are able to bring exceptional local products to a much wider audience.

'Not only are we creating jobs within the business itself, we are investing in local businesses and the community and contributing to the protection and creation of jobs.' 

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