Neil I couldn't picture Neon in quaint village in England just a few large cities.
When I was a child Neon lights were common, restaurants and especially for motels*. I remember riding in the car on a trip and you would come into a small town from the dark countryside to a sea of color.
Then in the 80's Neon went out of fashion and was considered a blight.
*In the old days motels had a Neon sign you could see from the highway vacancy / No Vacancy. Today you have to get off the interstate drive up to the lobby only to find a No Vacancy sign tapped to the door.
What motel chains are popular in your country (non-USA)?