The new, fourth edition of The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services launches in print and online on 27th March and 3rd April. We're proud to say we feature in the guide this year! Designed for those who dislike motorway services food, this glovebox guidebook (with its companion website and online map) will steer you into more than 275 better places to eat across England, Scotland and Wales – all near motorway and main road junctions.

How The Extra Mile works

The Extra Mile helps people find their perfect pit-stop by road or by region. It also helps them find and support the country’s smaller, independent food businesses. The book has: 

• 20 full-colour maps (motorways, regions and EV chargers) 
• Over 275 farm shops, cosy cafés, family-friendly stops, dog-friendly pubs, attractions with restaurants, RHS and National Trust attractions and more
• QR codes so readers can get directions or visit places online with ease.

We're super excited and proud to be part of such an amazing guide that helps to promote small food business across the UK. We've always been passionate about supporting local businesses and produce where we can and guides like this are a brilliant place to start with helping to promote incredible, delicious food that helps to keep our small towns, villages and high streets alive and bustling. 

Here are some of our region's other smaller food business in The Extra Mile Guide:

NORTH WEST AND NORTH WALES 

• Essington Farm, Staffordshire
• Middleton Hall & Gardens, Staffordshire
• The Packing House at Middleport Pottery, Staffordshire 
• Kenyon Hall Farm, Cheshire
• The Lambing Shed Farm Shop and Kitchen, Cheshire
• The Devonshire Bakery, Cheshire
• JTO Vintage & The Old Bank Tea Rooms, Cheshire
• Ginger and Pickles, Tarporley, Cheshire
• Ginger and Pickles, Byley, Cheshire
• To Pie For, Cheshire
• Willington Hall, Cheshire
• CSONS, Shropshire
• Hundred House, Shropshire
• Ludlow Farmshop and Ludlow Kitchen, Shropshire
• The Haughmond Village Store, Café & Bakery, Shropshire
• The Furnace Kitchen, Shropshire
• Red Bank Farm Shop & Butchery, Merseyside
• Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, Flintshire  
• Betty Berkins, Flintshire  
• Providero, Conwy
• Chirk Castle (NT), Clwyd
  
  

Thoughts on modern car travel, from Alastair Sawday (editor)

“When travelling these days, the scenery is often of warehouses, service stations, other roads, and giant distribution centres (is that all we do - distribute other people’s stuff?). It’s dispiriting. Travellers need a break from the ugliness, somewhere to rest their battered eyes on green space. They also need to eat some delicious food. 

“The 2023 edition of the much-loved guide, The Extra Mile, will bring relief and touches of delight to thousands of weary or nervous road-travellers. I founded the company a few years ago after decades as a travel-book publisher and am delighted that the longing for ‘good things’ is growing, and that we can support good people. The book is part of the food revolution, and I challenge anyone not to love the idea. (It is important to note that I no longer own Alastair Sawday Publishing, now a thriving employee-owned company. The Extra Mile is an independent publication.)”

From 3rd April, The Extra Mile Guide will be available to buy in all of our Ginger and Pickles stores, pop in for your copy.