Is adored to bits? That's by the way (8)
I believe the answer is:
roadside
'by the way' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'is adored to bits?' is the wordplay.
'to bits?' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'to bits' mean this).
'is'+'adored'='isadored'
'isadored' is an anagram of 'ROADSIDE'.
'that's' is the link.
(Other definitions for roadside that I've seen before include "just off the tarmac" , "Verge" , "kerb" , "shoulder" , "where speed-checks may be?" .)