Motorway service stations rated.

Tashyboy

Tashyboy

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I see there's a list out rating all the service stations from best to worst. Last one I went in was Trowell north to pick up in laws. It was terrible. Absolutely shocking. How these people get away with running ( some of ) these stations is beyond me.
Now ave just had a quick look at the list and Trowell is nigh on midway. So there is another 50 odd stations worse than Trowell. God help us all.
 
I suppose it's how they rate them, and on what.
I judge Services by their toilet facilities, and whether they have automated soap, water, hand blowers and no door handles to have to use after cleaning your hands(knowing that most don't bother)
 
Tebay is the best by miles IMVHO

On one occasion we had to dive into Tebay during a blizzard. 6'' of new snow.
I would have been quite happy to stay all day but the roads cleared an hour later.

Stafford is awful, made that mistake once.
Also like the Gloucester pair [Moto?]
When they first opened they were staffed mainly by OAP's which was fun.
 
Bunkermagnet said:
I suppose it's how they rate them, and on what.
I judge Services by their toilet facilities, and whether they have automated soap, water, hand blowers and no door handles to have to use after cleaning your hands(knowing that most don't bother)
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^^^ This...

Don't do 'fast food' so won't eat at services unless we've taken it with us...
 
Cleanliness is the big one for me. Get that right and you are half way there. The rest is much of a muchness. The environment at Tebay, also Killington Lake going southbound in the Lakes on the M6, doesn't half help. Nothing a busy service station down south can do about a concrete jungle versus the Lake District.
 
Local radio banging on about this, as we (Berkshire!) won with Reading Westbound! I think its and expensive hole, so dread to think what last place is like!
 
Lord Tyrion said:
Cleanliness is the big one for me. Get that right and you are half way there. The rest is much of a muchness. The environment at Tebay, also Killington Lake going southbound in the Lakes on the M6, doesn't half help. Nothing a busy service station down south can do about a concrete jungle versus the Lake District.
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Tebay is owned by a family firm who don't just see it as a licence to print money. the food is excellent and reasonably priced (compared to other services), and they have a good farm shop there as well.

The also own J38 services, which is aimed at truckers, but anyone can use it. Again, it is excellent, I used to go in all the time when I was travelling over to Lytham from Newcastle.

They have also got Cairn Lodge which is a small services about 40 miles south of Glasgow. Went in earlier this year, same high standards.
 
When I was a kid, we used to go and eat at the service at Knutsford for a treat when we have been out for a run, There used to be waitress service back then
 
Dont need them in this digital age, just a rip off. Very easy to find supermarkets with filling stations instead.
Handy Tesco at Carlisle beside M6 J43, similarly big Asda Glasgow M8 J24 (with McDonalds/KFC nearby for kids) etc etc.
 
When you have been driving on your own for 2-3 hours and need a break you are not in a position to pull over, switch the engine off, google what is around. Service stations are all about convenience. They fill you up and get you going again with the minimum of fuss, usually at all hours of the day or night. You pay for the privilege but they have their place.
 
rudebhoy said:
Tebay is owned by a family firm who don't just see it as a licence to print money. the food is excellent and reasonably priced (compared to other services), and they have a good farm shop there as well.

The also own J38 services, which is aimed at truckers, but anyone can use it. Again, it is excellent, I used to go in all the time when I was travelling over to Lytham from Newcastle.

They have also got Cairn Lodge which is a small services about 40 miles south of Glasgow. Went in earlier this year, same high standards.
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Funnily enough I was in Cairn Lodge yesterday on the way home from a short break away. Also has the benefit of being relatively quiet.
 
Doon frae Troon said:
Tebay is the best by miles IMVHO

On one occasion we had to dive into Tebay during a blizzard. 6'' of new snow.
I would have been quite happy to stay all day but the roads cleared an hour later.

Stafford is awful, made that mistake once.
Also like the Gloucester pair [Moto?]
When they first opened they were staffed mainly by OAP's which was fun.
Click to expand...

Tebay is great

They also run the Gloucester ones which are also good

The rest seem to mostly be varying degrees of awful
 
Doon frae Troon said:
Tebay is the best by miles IMVHO
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This SS was always my 'target' on my frequent road trips to (and from) Scotland (home in Surrey; working in Edinburgh for 2 years - twice). The fact that it was locally owned and not part of a chain seemed to make all the difference in style, attitude and quality of service!
 
maxfli65 said:
Dont need them in this digital age, just a rip off. Very easy to find supermarkets with filling stations instead.
Handy Tesco at Carlisle beside M6 J43, similarly big Asda Glasgow M8 J24 (with McDonalds/KFC nearby for kids) etc etc.
Click to expand...

...these's a few quid to be made by designing an App with that sort of info! (Wish I'd paid attention in the computer room at school rather than playing Space Invaders!)
 
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