Blackfriars Auto Services Blog

5 Years in the Top Gear: Celebrating Blackfriars Auto Services!

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:08:09 GMT

Time flies when you are keeping the wheels turning! It feels like just yesterday we opened the workshop doors at Unit 2 on the Blackfriars Trading Estate here in Nailsea. This month, we are officially celebrating an incredible milestone:

5 whole years of Blackfriars Auto Services!

From day one, our goal was simple: to provide Nailsea and our neighbouring communities in North Somerset—from Backwell and Clevedon to Wraxall and Yatton—with reliable, expert, and entirely trustworthy vehicle care. Whether it’s an annual MOT, a routine service, a tricky mechanical issue, or keeping you cool with air-con re-gas, we’ve dedicated the last half-decade to keeping you safe on the road.

But we didn’t reach this milestone alone. This celebration is entirely about you—our amazing customers.

Why Our Customers Drive Our Passion

Every squeak we’ve diagnosed, every tyre we’ve changed, and every vehicle we’ve handed back running like a dream has been built on a foundation of honest customer service. We know that finding a garage you truly trust can be a challenge. That’s why we treat every car and van that enters our workshop as if it were our own.

Nothing makes the hard work more worthwhile than when our community takes a moment to share their experiences. To celebrate our 5th anniversary, we wanted to highlight a few of the outstanding 5-star Google reviews that have kept us smiling over the years:

Here are just a few of our 52 5-star Google reviews…..

“Nicky and Lee are absolute stars. Every time we use their service we are more and more amazed by the friendliness, honesty, and amazing professionalism. We would recommend nowhere else”!!! -Kate W

“Fantastic experience! Had problems with my BMW that not even the dealer could identify. Lee worked patiently to identify and resolve the issue and get it through the MOT. Thanks Nicky and Lee”! -Andrew P

"First class service" "I have used Blackfriars for my family's MOTs and servicing for several years now. They are always incredibly professional, prompt, and completely transparent about costs. It's rare to find a team this honest and accommodating. Highly recommend them to anyone in the North Somerset area!" — David M

"Brilliant local garage" " Took my campervan in for a full service and MOT. The team kept me updated throughout the day, gave clear advice on what needed doing immediately and what could wait, and the price was very fair. A gem of a local business." — Sarah T.

Looking Ahead to the Next 5 Years

Whether you drive a petrol, diesel, or hybrid vehicle, technology is changing fast, and our team of experienced technicians is continually evolving right along with it. While the tech updates, our core values will stay exactly the same: high-quality workmanship, transparent pricing, and a friendly, jargon-free chat whenever you visit.

To everyone who has trusted us with their vehicles over the last 5 years— thank you. You are the heartbeat of Blackfriars Auto Services, and we look forward to looking after you and your cars for many more miles and years to come!

Need to book your next MOT, service, or repair? Give the team a call on 01275 853708 , drop us an email at info@blackfriarsautoservices.co.uk , or pop by the workshop. Let's get you ready for the road ahead!

Best Wishes from Lee, Nicky and all the team.

Merry Christmas from Blackfriars Auto Services!

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:43:12 GMT

All the team at Blackfriars Auto Services would like to wish all their customers, suppliers, and business associates a very Merry Christmas.

2025 has been an incredible year for us, we have been exceptionally busy. We have developed our team and invested in new equipment too.

We want to thank all our friends and family for their support, and of course, all our suppliers. However, we are proud to say we have the best customers, they are all so loyal and recommend us to so many people! Thank you.

We are taking an extended break over the festive period and will be closed from Saturday 20 December, reopening on Monday 5 January.

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See you in 2026!

Best Wishes

Lee and Nicky

The Brightwell's Fundraising Success!

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:34:05 GMT

Back in October, we sponsored The Brightwell Advent Calendar draw for the third consecutive year.

The Brightwell is one of our charities that Blackfriars Auto Services is pleased to promote.

The Brightwell supports those living with chronic neurological conditions

The draw was for a Hotel Chocolat Grand Advent Calendar, which we sponsored.

This was a really popular draw and raised a phenomenal £670!

We are delighted to make a difference to this wonderful charity.

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets!

To find out more about The Brighwell, please visit www.thebrightwell.org.uk

The Grand Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar Prize Draw!

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:04:24 GMT

Lee and Nicky are delighted to be supporting The Brightwell again this year by sponsoring their very popular Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar Draw.

The Charity supports those living with chronic neurological conditions and is close to our hearts

We are asking all our friends, family and customers to buy some tickets.
A chance to win the incredible Grand Advent Calendar from Hotel Chocolat , worth £80 .

Only £2 per entry.

Behind each of the 24 large doors, you’ll discover a luxury surprise, from decadent slabs of thick chocolate to 50ml bottles of Velvetised Cream™ (vodka-infused for that warming festive glow), to chocolate cracker decorations and brand new treats for 2025.
This is the ultimate Advent calendar, bursting with indulgent surprises and specially designed for grown-ups (Entrants must be 18+, due to the alcohol content in some of the goodies.

The draw will take place on Wednesday, 26 November – just in time to open the first door on 1 December!

How to Enter:
Entries are just £2 each .
Purchase your tickets by clicking the link below.

Thank you so much for your support.

https://www.thebrightwell.org.uk/product-page/hotel-chocolat-advent-calendar-prize-draw

Book Your MOT: A Three-Week Head Start Is Your Best Move

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:23:52 GMT

Let's face it: getting your car's MOT done can feel like a last-minute scramble. You check the expiry date, panic, and then race to find an available slot at a garage. But what if there was a better way? Booking your MOT with a three-week lead time is the perfect sweet spot for avoiding stress and ensuring your car stays road legal and safe. Here's why.

Why Not Wait Until the Last Minute?

Waiting until the last week of your MOT to book an appointment is a gamble. Garages can be booked solid, especially during busy seasons, leaving you with few options. You might have to travel far, pay more for a last-minute slot, or worse, miss your expiry date entirely.

An expired MOT is no joke. Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT is illegal and can result in a fine of up to £1,000. More importantly, it can also invalidate your car insurance, leaving you financially exposed if you have an accident. The only exceptions for driving without a valid MOT are if you're on your way to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs on a failed test.

The Power of the Three-Week Window

The UK's MOT rules allow you to get your car tested up to one month (minus a day) before its current MOT expires while still keeping the original renewal date. This means that if your MOT is due on May 15th, you can get it done as early as April 16th, and your next MOT will still be due on May 15th of the following year. This is essentially a 13-month MOT for the price of 12, as you don't lose any of your current certification.

Booking three weeks out gives you all the benefits of this rule without rushing. It provides a comfortable buffer that allows you to:
Secure a convenient appointment: You can choose a time and date that works for your schedule, not just what's available.
Get time for repairs: If your car fails its MOT, you'll have plenty of time to get the necessary repairs done and book a retest before your old MOT expires. This avoids the stress of an illegal vehicle and the need to rush a potentially costly repair.
Ensure peace of mind: Knowing your MOT is sorted well in advance lets you drive with confidence, safe in the knowledge that your vehicle is roadworthy and legally compliant.

So, next time your MOT is due, set a reminder for three weeks before the expiry date. It's a simple habit that can save you a lot of time, stress, and potential fines. Your car and your wallet will thank you for it!

Call us today on 01275 853708 or email info@blackfriarsautoservices.co.uk

Celebrating our 4th Anniversary!

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:03:23 GMT

We are delighted to be celebrating 4 years of Blackfriars Auto Services on 16 August.

We would like to thank all our amazing customers, our suppliers, and the fantastic team here at the workshops and to everyone who supports us.

We thought you might like to see just a few examples of the rave reviews we receive. We are so proud of our 45, 5-star Google Reviews!

“Great friendly service, will use again!”

“Well worth a visit to Blackfriars. A happy, competent, and kind garage that is second to none. Thank you,”

“Fantastic experience! Had problems with my BMW that not even the dealer could identify. Lee worked patiently to identify and resolve the issue and get it through the MOT. Thanks, Nicky and Lee!”

“I see why it’s this garage only has 5 stars. Absolutely lovely receptionist! Really knowledgeable and friendly. Bonus points if you bring your dog!! Really speedy service even asked if I needed it for a specific time. As a woman going there, I did not feel unsafe or ripped off at all! This will be my regular garage for anything I need doing from now on! Thank you very much everyone”

“Fantastic service from the team here. They were able to diagnose the problem and fix it quickly. Very good pricing and the team were honest about every step. Will definitely be coming back for any future issues, MOTs and servicing!”

“You'll always get an honest, reliable, and friendly service from Blackfriars. My MOT, service and add ons were all dealt with within a day.”

“Make this your go to garage, you won't be disappointed”

“They're good people here, always answer the phone, happy to give advice and explain things. They gave me some good money-saving advice about buying a recon part- which worked out really well.”

“Great garage on my doorstep. Excellent service and very trustworthy,wouldn't go anywhere else.”

“I love this garage! I brought in my Nissan with a broken undercarriage, and they fixed it on the spot. What sets this garage apart is their honesty. They never try to overcharge; instead, they always recommend the best and most cost-effective solutions. This is why I will always return to this garage.”

Get in touch

If you would like any help with an MOT, servicing or repair, please give us a call on

01275 853708 and we will be delighted to help!

Best Wishes from

Lee, Nicky and the team at Blackfriars Auto Services.