DSCF4518 Former bus station and garage, Stratford-upon-Avon - 27 Feb 2014

Thursday 27 February 2014 (1537) - Stratford-upon-Avon: The garden and car park of the Red Lion pub were once part of the ‘Stratford Blue’ bus station and the bus garage was the building across the road (beyond the green traffic light). The rear part of the former garage is occupied by the ‘Kwik Fit’ tyre company although the front part was now empty following the bankruptcy of a large toy and model shop (‘Much ado about toys’) which closed in late 2013. The colourful posters remained in situ. (P.S. Kwik Fit later expanded to also occupy what had been the toy shop area).

‘Stratford Blue’ (Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors Limited) was one of the smaller British Electric Traction Group bus companies owned by, but operated separately from, what was one of the largest British bus companies - ‘Midland Red’ (BMMO). ‘Stratford Blue’ operated around 40 vehicles and, in addition to the Stratford garage had a smaller one in Kineton. We stayed at the Premier Inn - our room was the seventh window from the left above the roof line of the former garage.