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This Shell Crest Petrol Filling Station occupies an envious location on the A57, known locally as Handsworth Road about 3 miles to the East of the City Centre. The A57 leaves the A630 here, known as the Sheffield Parkway, so it is one of the busiest traffic routes out of, or into the City ... Read review
Advantages: Now Open Every Day 24 Hours Disadvantages: Mobile Mast On Premises, No Cash Machine
...Cigarettes.
This Shell Crest Petrol Filling Station occupies an envious location on the A57, known locally as Handsworth Road about 3 miles to the East of the City Centre. The A57 leaves the A630 here, known as the Sheffield Parkway, so it is one of the busiest traffic routes out of, or into the City and for this reason alone this makes for an ideal location.
To add to its desirable location there is also a large Asda ... ...it has always been a Shell Station.
The Creation of a small Spar Supermarket on the same site is a more recent thing, and a rather brave move considering that the Asda Supermarket located only a stones throw away is also open 24 hours. It therefore goes without saying that this Supermarket never set out to compete directly with the Asda but instead draws the majority of its trade from its Customers that stop off to buy Petrol, Fill ... more
I never really expected to ever write a review on my local Petrol Station because it is something that has always been there and I suppose it is the sort of place that I have always taken for granted.
However the inspiration behind this review came on Christmas Day morning when driving past here I noticed that it was not only one of the few Filling Stations that was actually open for business as usual in my home City of Sheffield, but that the Supermarket that is attached to this place was also open, fully functional and packed to capacity with people buying last minute items like Milk, Bread and Cigarettes.
This Shell Crest Petrol Filling Station occupies an envious location on the A57, known locally as Handsworth Road about 3 miles to the East of the City Centre. The A57 leaves the A630 here, known as the Sheffield Parkway, so it is one of the busiest traffic routes out of, or into the City and for this reason alone this makes for an ideal location.
To add to its desirable location there is also a large Asda Supermarket almost on the doorstep and since this Store does not have a Filling Station of its own due to the lack of space for one there is even further custom without any competition for some distance around in any direction.
The Prices at the pump are competitive but not the cheapest in Town by a long way. As of December 2006 the prices are as follows:
Unleaded - 84.9p/litre Super Unleaded - 89.9p/litre Diesel - 89.9p/litre
There has been a Filling Station on this site for as long as I can remember, local opinion being that it first appeared at some point during the 1960's and as far as I recall it has always been a Shell Station.
The Creation of a small Spar Supermarket on the same site is a more recent thing, and a rather brave move considering that the Asda Supermarket located only a stones throw away is also open 24 hours. It therefore goes without saying that this Supermarket never set out to compete directly with the Asda but instead draws the majority of its trade from its Customers that stop off to buy Petrol, Fill up their tyres up with air, or use the Car Washing facilities.
It is a clever marketing ploy that you have to walk straight through the Shop to pay for your Fuel, although at night time, after 10pm, the Shop doors are closed and you pay for your Fuel at a hatch. It is still possible to buy products from the Shop at these times, as providing that you know what you want, the Cashier will go into the Shop and find it for you.
The range of Products sold is surprisingly extensive. At the front of the Shop on the Forecourt beneath the hatch window there are always fresh Flowers, Bags of Coal, Logs, Charcoal etc. and immediately inside the doorway there is a rack displaying Daily Newspapers and Magazines.
Inside the Shop there are basic food products but the emphasis is a lot more on Snacks, Crisps, Chocolate, Bags of Sweets, the sort of things that would be ideal for Car Journeys. Less surprisingly perhaps there are also Paperback Novels and CD's although the range is not extensive.
Perhaps the most popular area of the Shop is where the Fridges and Coolers are to be found. These are always stacked full of everyday items like fresh Milk, Soft Drinks, Fresh Sandwiches, and Savoury Snacks like Sausage Rolls and Pork Pies.
Behind the Counter there are Cigarettes and other Tobacco related products and there is also a National Lottery Machine Point. Whilst a small part of the Shop on the back wall is set aside for Motoring related items including Oil, Screenwash, Road Maps etc.
Outside on the Forecourt there are nine separate Pumps set out in three rows to try and minimise the queues at popular times. There is also a point for air which was always free but now costs 20p a time and there is a large modern automatic Car Wash.
So in summary I would recommend a visit to this place if you are in the area since it is open 24 hours, every single day of the year, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's Day when it is only open 10am until 4pm, and the staff always seem to be friendly.
On a negative note there is no Cash Machine here although all major Credit and Debit Cards are accepted.
Finally this place has not been without a little controversy. About three years ago it was reported that this Filling Station had installed a hidden Mobile Phone Mast within its sign that displayed the prices at the pump. This is a trend that has become commonplace in Petrol Filling Stations across the UK, and after complaints from the local residents it was confirmed that this was true, and despite some low key local protests this Mast remains.
