To find out a little bit more about Westmorland take a look at our video at the bottom of this page.

The story of Westmorland Limited began over 30 years ago. Back in the late 1960's, the developers of the M6 motorway approached John and Barbara Dunning, who farm at High Chapel Farm at Tebay, near the summit of Shap, with a view to building the M6 through their land. The Dunning's, instead of opposing the development, worked with the developers to minimise the impact of the M6 motorway through their land at the Lune Gorge. They also kept some of the land on either side of the Motorway and following a successful bid opened a small service area and hence in 1972, Westmorland Limited was formed when two local Cumbrian families, the Dunnings and the Birketts who were Bakers at Penrith came together. Tebay Services is still Britain's only locally owned and run Motorway Services

The company is now owned and run by the second generation of Dunnings and has become a multi - sited operation employing over 500 people across six distinct businesses.

1972
Tebay Services opened on the northbound side of the M6, near J38. Initially, comprising of a small service area with 28 staff, petrol facilities, a shop and a cafe with seating for 60 people

1976
Tebay Mountain Lodge opened, a small hotel with 32 bedrooms at Tebay Services Northbound

1980
Tebay Caravan Park opened, with 83 caravan spaces

1986
The truck stop at Junction 38 opened, catering principally for HGV drivers and coach parties, featuring a shop, a bar and a café seating up to 80 people.

1988
Tebay Services Northbound was completely redeveloped. A new forecourt and shop were built and the Café was extended to seat over 300 people.

1993
Tebay Services Southbound opened, with a forecourt, shop and a café seating up to 300 people.

1994
The first coffee shop serving everything from Cappuccinos to Espresso opened on the British motorway network at Tebay Services northbound.

1997
Tebay Mountain Lodge was extended to 53 bedrooms, and was upgraded to offer upper three star accommodation and a licensed restaurant. To reflect this change, it was renamed The Westmorland Hotel.

2000
Egon Ronay declared Tebay Service the best in England.

2000
Westmorland Ltd opened the Rheged Centre just outside Penrith and 15 minutes from Tebay Services. An international award winning day out, Rheged is Europe's largest grass covered building, designed to resemble a Lakeland hill. The centrepiece is an Imax style cinema showing 5 films daily. You can also see the free Discovering Cumbria Exhibition, with its giant map show and information centre where knowledgeable staff are on hand to help you make the most of your visit to the area. There are 10 rather special shops which reflect the unique nature of the region, its craft people and producers, offering a choice not often found on many high streets. Plus indoor and outdoor play areas, pottery painting workshops and a selection of cafes offering fresh food with a distinct Cumbrian flavour.

2001
Rheged won the prestigious, international British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award.

2002
Rheged won the official award for Cumbria - The Lake District's Best Visitor Attraction.

2003
Westmorland Farm Shops opened in 2003 at Tebay Services North and Southbound. This was a new concept on a British motorway and one we are very proud of. We offer fresh, quality food with specialities from Cumbria and neighbouring counties.

2004
Westmorland Farm Shops won the BBC Radio 4 food and farming awards for ‘Best Local retailer'.

2005
John and Barbara Dunning's daughter Sarah Dunning became Chief Executive of Westmorland Limited. Sarah like her father is passionate about local produce, the Company's local Cumbrian roots and local talent

2006
Tebay Services were voted the Best Motorway Services in Britain by ‘Which Holiday' magazine. Judges visited 57 of Britain's major service stations along major holiday routes and said of Tebay Services " This independently run station was the best we saw. A decent restaurant, well stocked shop with quality kids' toys and free phone calls to a good local hotel all impressed, but it was the local produce shop that sealed the deal. With stuffed pheasant, a deli counter and a selection of chutneys and jams, this is the closest the motorway network comes to Harrods Food Hall."

2006
25 bedrooms at The Westmorland hotel were redesigned and refurbished along with the hotel lounge.

2006
Tebay Services southbound - Petrol forecourt shop was refurbished to provide a larger shop selling produce from local suppliers.

2006
Tebay Services were crowned Breakfast Champion of the North West, for its commitment to the promotion of delicious breakfasts using local produce.

2006
Westmorland's Chief Executive, Sarah Dunning named Young Director of the year of the North West

2006 and 2007
The Westmorland Caravan Park won the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award in recognition of its active environmental practises from protection of plant and animal habitats to the efficient use of energy and recycling.

May 2007
J.38 Truckstop and Services underwent a £500,000 refurbishment and was re-launched by Sally Boazman (aka Sally Traffic) of BBC Radio 2. Located just off the M6 at J.38, one mile from Tebay Services, J.38's refurbishment included a new look 140 seat café, new village shop, new showers and toilets, new free cash point, new security barriers and CCTV

July 2007
Tebay Services launched an outdoor eating area complete with a BBQ hut which serves delicious lamb and beef from our farm, hand made Galloway beef burgers, world famous Cumberland sausage, field mushrooms with melted Mozzarella, locally made ice cream and Fairtrade tea, coffee and orange juice. So on hot days travellers can enjoy a taste of Cumbria against the stunning backdrop of the Howgill Mountains.

April 2008
Tebay Services Southbound Cafe and coffee shop were refurbished to offer a contemporary venue serving daily roasts of lamb and beef from our farm, delicious homemade burgers and pies, deli counter featuring local produce, salad bar, curries, fish and chips and freshly baked cakes and coffee lounge serving Fairtrade tea. coffee and hot chocolate. We also opened Made to go serving takeaway items including sandwiches, soup, pies, salads, cakes and fruit, the majority of which are created on site by Westmorland's Chefs and Bakers

2008
A meat cutting room and the first Butchers counter at a motorway services opened in the southbound farm shop, selling lamb and beef from our farm adjacent to Tebay Services plus locally reared chicken, pork and venison.

2008
The Westmorland Hotel, only a 2 minutes walk from Tebay Services southbound was awarded a red rosette for food for the 10th year, with the signature dish being the lamb and beef from the Dunnings farm just a mile away.

May 2008
J38 Services and Truckstop was awarded the Park Mark Award for safer parking, due to the introduction of security barriers, additional lighting, installation of CCTV and the active role of the Parking Marshall.

October 2008
Sarah Dunning wins 'Business Woman of the Year Award' in the CN Group Business Awards.

2009
Rheged wins 'Best Business Tourism Award' in the Enjoy England Excellence Awards. The 'Enjoy England Awards are the highest accolade in English tourism.  They celebrate the very best quality. help to raise standards across the industry and secure England's place as a world class destination.

March 2009
The refurbishment of Tebay southbound was completed to include a brand new cafe, a new indoor play area and childrens garden, completely refurbished toilets and an extended shop which includes home and lifestyle items.

May 2009
The Westmorland Farm Shops gain a 'Big Tick - Rural Action Award from Business in the Community.  These awards identify and celebrate companies having a positive impact on the community, environment, marketplace and workplace. Peer-assessed and independently assured the Big Tick award is the most respected endorsement of responsible business practice. The decision to award the Big Tick was made by a panel of independent, experienced practitioners, and as such is both hard won (only 39% of applicants in 2008 were successful), and highly prestigious.

October 2009 
Westmorland Limited's Chief Executive Sarah Dunning has been named both 'Cumbria Young Director of the Year 2009' and 'North West Young Director of the Year' at the annual Institute of Directors Awards Ceremony. Nearly 200 nominations were received for business directors and owners who have been shaping the economy, creating jobs and making a difference in their respective industries.    

November 2009
Tebay Services has been awarded the 2009 Grand Prix of Gastronomy by Egon Ronay, the founder of the British Academy of Gastromomes.  The Grand Prix is annually awarded for anyone or anything  that has done the most in last 12 months to improve the quality of the food in the UK.  Previous winners include Jane Grigson, Albert and Michel Roux, Somerset Cheddar and H.R.H Prince Charles for his revival of mutton.

Over the years, Westmorland Limited has established a strong reputation for quality, individuality with a strong local and artisan focus.

Today, throughout our growth and expansion, our values have remained consistent. We are committed to all things local and we have remained as dedicated to our individuality and quality as we have always been.