DSCF4522 Former bus garage, Stratford-upon-Avon - 27 Feb 2014

Thursday 27 February 2014 (1547) - The view from our room window of the Premier Inn at Stratford-upon-Avon. The rooftop alongside was once the bus garage of ‘Stratford Blue’ (Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Limited). The rear part of the roof which covered the local branch of the ‘Kwik Fit’ tyre company appeared to remain from the bus garage days. The front part had been replaced over the part which had housed ‘Much ado about toys’ a large toy and model shop which unfortunately ceased trading in October 2013. (P.S. Kwik Fit later expanded to also occupy what had been the toy shop area).

The garden and car park of the Red Lion pub (centre left) formed the ‘Stratford Blue’ bus station. Today Johnsons Coaches of Henley-in-Arden is a very active company providing bus services not only in the town but also to other towns in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. One of their Optare Solos is setting out on a town service. The River Avon runs across the photograph in the distance beyond the narrow boats in the canal basin. The Stratford Canal starts here and forms a waterway link to the West Midlands and beyond.