News & Posts

Today is World Kindness Day, and we’d like to say a big thank you to you 💙

Running an independent garage means everything to us. We get to keep doing it because of our customers.

✅ To everyone who’s taken the time to leave us a review: your kind words mean more than you know, and they help other local drivers find a garage they can trust.

✅ To everyone who recommends us to friends, family and neighbours: word of mouth is how local businesses grow, and we’re grateful every time.

✅ To our loyal customers who’ve trusted us with their cars year after year, for MOTs, services and everything in between: thank you for sticking with us.

Your support keeps us going, and we don’t take it for granted.

If there’s ever anything we can do for you or your car, we’re always here to help. Just get in touch or pop in and say hello. 🚗

Today is World Mental Health Day 💙

“It’s like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” – E.L. Doctorow

Life doesn’t always come with a clear road ahead. Sometimes all you can do is focus on the next little stretch, and that’s okay.

We spend our days listening to cars and working out what’s wrong before it becomes a bigger problem. People aren’t so different. Talking about how we’re feeling can be hard, but a simple conversation can make a real difference.

✅ Check in on a friend, colleague or family member today
✅ Listen without trying to fix everything
✅ Be kind to yourself if you’re running on empty

If you’re struggling, you don’t have to go it alone. Samaritans are there 24/7 on 116 123, free from any phone.

And if you ever need a hand with your car, we’re here to help. The kettle’s always on if you fancy a chat too. ☕

Tread depth isn’t just a legal box to tick

It’s what keeps your car gripping the road when it’s wet.

Tread is what clears water from under your tyres. As it wears down, that grip drops off fast: research shows the wet braking distance of a tyre worn to the legal limit (1.6mm) can be up to 44% longer than one worn to 3mm.

Quick check you can do yourself: the 20p test. Pop a 20p coin into the main grooves — if you can see the outer band of the coin, your tread is getting low and it’s worth getting checked.

With autumn rain setting in, give us a call or pop in — we’re always happy to help.

Your tyres can tell you a lot about the rest of your car 🔍

Uneven wear is often a sign that something else needs attention:
✅ Wear on one edge: wheel alignment (tracking) could be out, often after a pothole or kerb
✅ Wear on both edges: usually underinflated
✅ Wear down the centre: usually overinflated
✅ Patchy or “cupped” wear: worn shock absorbers or suspension parts
✅ Fronts wearing faster than normal: steering components may need a look

Catching it early saves money on new tyres and keeps your car handling the way it should.

We’re always happy to take a look. Call in and we’ll check your tyres, tracking and suspension together.

Pre-winter service Is your car ready for winter? 🍂

Colder mornings, wet roads and darker evenings put extra strain on your car. A service now means small problems get spotted before the first frost finds them for you.

A service is the perfect time to check:
✅ Battery health (cold weather is the biggest enemy of a tired battery)
✅ Brakes, tyres and suspension
✅ Lights and wipers
✅ Coolant and antifreeze
✅ Oil and filters

Main dealer standard work from your local independent garage. And servicing with us won’t affect your manufacturer warranty, as long as the schedule is followed.

Get ahead of the cold. Give us a call or pop in and we’ll get you booked in.

Do you like to plan ahead?

If you hate unexpected disruptions to your travel plans (and your budget), proactive maintenance is the best way to avoid them.

A simple way to stay in control:
✅ Keep an eye on what’s due (service, MOT, tyres, brakes)
✅ Fix the small issues early, before they turn into breakdowns
✅ Set aside a little each month for maintenance so it’s not a nasty surprise

And with the festive season approaching, budgeting for your car now can make the rest of the year a lot less stressful.

Want us to help you work out what’s due next on your vehicle?

Your Manufacturer’s Warranty is Maintained with us!

September is one of the busiest months for new car registrations and if you’re replacing your car, we’re still here to help.

Buying new (or thinking about it)? You don’t have to go back to the main dealer for servicing to keep your manufacturer’s warranty.

Your manufacturer’s warranty is maintained with us when your vehicle is serviced to the correct schedule and specification.

So whether it’s your current car or your brand new one, we’re still part of your maintenance process.

Want to chat through what your new car needs and when? Drop us a message and we’ll help you plan it.

🟢🟡🔴 THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE COOLANT! 🔴🟡🟢

Ever popped the bonnet and wondered what’s actually going on with your coolant? Here’s your quick guide 👇

✅ THE GOOD — Bright green, orange, pink or blue, and see-through? Your coolant’s doing exactly what it should: keeping your engine at the perfect temp. Give yourself a pat on the back.

⚠️ THE BAD — Rusty brown or murky? That’s usually just old coolant crying out for a change, or early signs of corrosion in the system. Not an emergency, but don’t ignore it.

🚨 THE UGLY — Milky, frothy, like a strawberry milkshake gone wrong? That’s oil and coolant mixing — and it’s often one of the first signs of a blown head gasket. Other tell-tale signs to watch for:

🔹 White smoke from the exhaust
🔹 Engine overheating for no obvious reason
🔹 Bubbles in the coolant reservoir
🔹 Sweet smell coming from the engine bay
If you’re spotting any of these, don’t wait it out — a head gasket issue can turn into a much bigger (and pricier) repair fast.

👉 Pop in and let us take a look before a small problem becomes an expensive one!

Emergency Services Day – a big thank you!

To everyone in the emergency services  thank you for what you do.

If you rely on your car for shifts, call-outs, school runs, or just getting from A to B, proactive maintenance matters even more.

A few quick checks that help keep you road-ready:

✅ Tyres and brakes
✅ Lights and visibility
✅ Battery health
✅ Wipers and screen wash

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait – get it checked early and avoid a breakdown at the worst time.

Autumn prep starts now 🍂

As the mornings get darker and the roads get wetter, a quick check now can save you a headache later.

Our top 5 autumn essentials:

  • Tyre tread and pressures
  • Brakes (especially if you’ve noticed any noise or vibration)
  • Wipers and screen wash
  • Battery health
  • Lights and visibility

If you want peace of mind, book in for a quick check and we’ll help you get ahead of the season.