New motorway services to showcase Cheshire produce at farmshop and hotel

Ambitious plans to build Tatton Services at junctions 7 and 8 on the M56, creating 300 new jobs have been unveiled.

The development will include a 100-bedroom hotel arranged around a kitchen garden where travellers can relax.

An artist impression of the new hotel at the proposed Tatton Services

All the food served will be freshly cooked on site.

It is an 80/20 partnership between the Westmorland family, the UK's first award winning family-owned motorway services business and landowners, the Tatton Estate.

The concept is based on the successful Tebay Services on the M6 run by farmers John and Barbara Dunning which champions home grown food, crafts and clothes.

The family has a strong track record of nurturing local producers and supporting them to thrive and it aims to work with at least 130 suppliers within 30 miles of Tatton Services and a further 70 across the north west.

The Westmorland family works closely with local producers

Sarah Dunning said: "Quality local food was at the forefront of my parents' vision when we opened nearly 50 years ago but it is the people behind the produce and our enduring relationships with our makers that gives our business heart.

"We have a real local emphasis. We make our own food and work with producers who make their own.

"The class of butchery and bakery is something we really value as a business.

The kitchen will serve freshly cooked food, made from scratch, as it would be at home

"We are really excited to be working with the Tatton Estate. They have knowledge of the land and the locality. The fun part of the process will be working with producers."

The family has opened two other service stations on the M5 in Gloucester and on the M74 in Cairn.

The kitchen at Gloucester Services

The Tatton design is inspired by a farmstead. It consists of three buildings crafted from natural materials including heavy timber.

Water management, landscaping and planting schemes will enhance biodiversity.

A fuel barn will evolve with the transition from traditional fuels to EV and other fuels of the future.

An artist impression of the fuel barn at Tatton Services

It will open with 54 electric vehicle charge points with the capacity to increased this number when required.

"People will see as soon as they come that this is definitely an independent service area not part of a chain," said Sarah.

"The buildings will be beautifully crafted and made with thoughtful materials.

"From the landscaping to the building to the produce to the people, we hope that customers will feel different from the moment they come onto our site."

A virtual public consultation runs until August 24.

Public exhibitions are live webinars will be held next month.

For more information visit tattonservices.com