Motorway service stations rated.

Having used them in the 80's when I was going to football all over the country they are significantly better, and more plentiful that they were then. Some are still grim but provide a service to drivers. Some I'll happily take a break in and eat in and others I'll use purely use in case of a quick nature break and nothing else. Are they under invested? Are they victims of their own success in terms of being a captive market unless you leave a motorway and start searching for alternatives
 
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.
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Is that the one with the butchers, farm shop and home made pies, scotch eggs andsausage rolls? If so then yes, it's great !
 
Yes it is.

Incidentally, a big thumbs up to Greggs who are appearing at lots of stations now but still charge the same prices as in the high street. Considering the higher rents they will be paying that is great customer service.
 
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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They also do the new Gloucester services on the M5. Excellent they are. Family loos are a brilliant addition for families with young kids.
 
Bridgewater is shocking. The worst bit is the concrete multi-storey car park that was built in the days cars were a lot smaller. It's almost impossible to park because most cars take up 2 spaces. And it's dreary and damp all the time. Moving to Taunton means we never have to stop there again! :D
 
I pretty much know all service stations from Bothwell services on the M74 to the dreadful Sandbach on the M6. Whilst Tebay is good and Westmoreland do a fine job there and at the services in Gloucester which are really good (stopped there Saturday on the way to Exeter) I find the Northbound stop murder as the car park is garbage. Biggest complaint on Tebay more northbound than south just its always mobbed. Last time I was in Cairn Lodge it was dead and the shops pretty poor, granted it was 6 months ago at least but will be interesting to see what Westmoreland do to it.

Of the Moto/Welcome Break stations, Southwaite is awful and only good for a leak, likewise Lancaster and Knutsford. Charnock Richard is ok and had a bit of money spent on it recently likewise Gretna, Killington Lake also a decent stop going South, Burton on Kendal North is another leak stop only.

M65, the services at Darwen are ok. M62, Birch and Burtonwood are not bad, Hartshead Moor is ok too.

M1 Wetherby, smashing station but too big, too busy and miles too expensive. Scotch Corner, horrible and another only good for a leak.
 
It's ok having rubbish service stations but who is overseeing them to improve. Otherwise they will keep making money for a Rammel service.
 
I guess it’s all down to expectations and what you are using them for - for me it’s only mainly somewhere to stop off and go to the toilet , how busy they are will depend on how clean they are. Never really have any issues on that scale.

People are mad if they get Petrol from them - guess the only ones that do will be people that use a company credit card so it’s not out of their own pocket or people who have not really prepared the journey to ensure they don’t need petrol. Of course there is the view that do the long distance and need to refuel along the way but would still find somewhere just off the motorway to refuel if needed.

The food - well it’s fast food really , no real difference again prob a bit more money but again it’s a captive audience , the other shops are mainly full of tat

In the main people are really only there for max an hour so they aren’t going to be 4 star establishments.
 
Went to visit daughter on weekend in Brizol and dropped into Gloucester services to give the dogs a pit stop and the place was rammed which surprised me as the M5 was quiet, guess lots of locals shopping there at farm shop ?
 
I've only been to Tebay the once but would def use them again. Their range of food is much less generic and probably worth the slightly inflated prices.
Sandbach I found was just ok but not awful, it always seems to be packed out and parking is a pain though.
 
If anyone ever uses Membury east bound, you can get out of the services using the local access road and come to our pub which is a mile up the road.
 
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