SPAR has best forecourts in the North of England after double award win

SPAR stores in the North of England scooped the two regional titles in a stunning night at the Forecourt Trader Awards 2025.

The prestigious awards celebrate the best of the UK’s forecourts and G&E Murgatroyd SPAR Bowness, owned by James Hall & Co. Ltd, won the Up to 4mlpa category on the night.

Located on the edge of one of the country’s premier beauty spots in Lake Windermere, and built out of beautiful Lakeland slate, the Shell branded forecourt brought back into use the former Rayrigg Motors site in Bowness when it opened in July 2024.

Making it a double for SPAR North of England was Jos Richardson & Son Ltd’s Eden Service Station at Malton in the Over 4mlpa category.

Superbly located just off the A64 in North Yorkshire, and adding a much-needed service station and convenience offer to the area, its opening in April this year was the family business’ first new-to-industry forecourt in its 133-year history.

Both forecourt sites wowed the judging panel and beat off tough competition in their respective categories.

Of SPAR Bowness, the judges praised the site’s achievement in “catering for both the booming tourist trade visiting the Lake District as well as the people who live nearby.”

They added that “the excellent forecourt standards have made it a very popular place to refuel while its modern SPAR convenience store stocks a comprehensive range for visitors to the area, and for locals alike, including a wealth of lines from local suppliers.”

The judging panel concluded that “growth of the store has been driven by excellent availability coupled with exemplary store standards, while the forecourt has benefited from the addition of AdBlue.”

Considering Eden Service Station at Malton, the judges lauded it as “an impressive site with plenty of parking”, adding that “JRS Services has successfully transformed an empty field into a thriving petrol filling station with BP branded fuel and a 3,000sq.ft. SPAR store.”

The judges went on to say “the company’s dedication to sustainability is evident across Eden Service Station, where it has installed 220 solar panels on the canopy and shop roof. At full capacity, the panels are expected to offset up to 28% of annual on-site energy consumption.

Eden Service Station also won praise highlighting Jos Richardson & Son Ltd becoming the first SPAR independent retailer to adopt the dual branded Clayton Park Bakery and Cheeky Coffee Food To Go offer area.

The store is serviced by James Hall & Co. Ltd, a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.