I'm in Stockport on BE Pro getting 16 MB Down. Had BE for 2 years haven't had any issues in that time really good service. Speed is conditional on distance from exchange and quality of the copper between.
Used NTL Virgin up to 20meg (ha!!) that was a real headache, never again!
Unfortunately moving in October and the best speed I can get is going to be 4 MB which that is going to be a real pain!