Bringing old petrol stations back to life

Bringing old petrol stations back to life

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From art deco apartments in Sussex to a trendy burger bar in London, some of England's former petrol stations are enjoying a new lease of life following creative makeovers.

. London, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

In London, a distinctive old petrol station forecourt has bloomed into a florist.

. London, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

Another enjoyed a spell as an open air cinema before closure and an expected renovation into commercial property.

. East Preston, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

The overhaul opportunities have been created as more than 20,000 stations closed in the United Kingdom over the past 40 years, according to the U.K.'s Petroleum Industry Association (PIC).

. Olney, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

Almost 8,500 stations were left in Britain at the end of 2015, with the PIC blaming the closures on strong competition and the expense of complying with environmental regulations.

While large chain service stations, who carry lower overheads per litre sold, have been better placed to survive, smaller, independent outlets have tended to struggle.

. Taunton, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

At the old Black Cat Garage near Tiverton, in the south-west English county of Devon, a rusting old pump can be seen outside the small outlet where a closed sign hangs on the worn green door.

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Slideshow

Rusting petrol pumps outside a long-closed rural village petrol station are seen on a minor road near Trowbridge.
. Trowbridge, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

Rusting petrol pumps outside a long-closed rural village petrol station are seen on a minor road near Trowbridge.

A sign hangs outside Black Cat garage which has been shut for over a decade, on a minor road near Tiverton, Devon.
. Taunton, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

A sign hangs outside Black Cat garage which has been shut for over a decade, on a minor road near Tiverton, Devon.

An old petrol pump is seen at the entrance to a house in a village near Stroud in the Cotswolds.
. Stroud, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

An old petrol pump is seen at the entrance to a house in a village near Stroud in the Cotswolds.

Original Shell fuel pumps are seen in the front garden of Manor Road Garage petrol station.
. East Preston, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

Original Shell fuel pumps are seen in the front garden of Manor Road Garage petrol station.

Visitors and car enthusiasts walk in front of restored Shell petrol pumps as they attend the Goodwood Revival historic motor racing festival, an annual event celebrating a mid-twentieth century heyday of the racing circuit, near Chichester.
. Chichester, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

Visitors and car enthusiasts walk in front of restored Shell petrol pumps as they attend the Goodwood Revival historic motor racing festival, an annual event celebrating a mid-twentieth century heyday of the racing circuit, near Chichester.

A woman walks into a burger restaurant sited on the forecourt of Bloomsbury Service Station.
. London, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

A woman walks into a burger restaurant sited on the forecourt of Bloomsbury Service Station.

A former petrol station, now used as a furniture and car sales room as well as vehicle repairs centre is seen on a minor road near Telford.
. Telford, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

A former petrol station, now used as a furniture and car sales room as well as vehicle repairs centre is seen on a minor road near Telford.

A modern classic Ford car is seen through the showroom window of a former petrol station.
. Telford, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

A modern classic Ford car is seen through the showroom window of a former petrol station.

A London bus and taxi drive past a former petrol station forecourt, now used as a bar, cafe and food court area in Shoreditch in east London.
. London, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Toby Melville

A London bus and taxi drive past a former petrol station forecourt, now used as a bar, cafe and food court area in Shoreditch in east London.