Latest news with #serviceStations
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Best and worst UK motorway service stations revealed – just 70 miles apart but one's ‘perfect' and the other's ‘filthy'
THE best and worst of the UK's 90 service stations have been revealed with only 70 miles separating the top and bottom ranked. A Which? survey has revealed the top ranked and the bottom ranked service station, many on the list were described as " filthy." 4 4 Gloucester made the top of the list winning five star ratings in several categories. Bottom the list was Moto's Bridgewater services in Somerset with a pitiful one star rating. The two dramatically different motorway service stations sit just 70 miles apart from one another. Gloucester services, owned by Westmorland Family, earned an overall rating of 85%. The service station won five star ratings in categories including shops, food and drink, facilities, cleanliness and accessibility. Westmorland Family also owns Tebay services in Cumbria and Cairn Lodge in Lanarkshire, both of which made the top five. Rugby services, owned by Moto, placed third and and Leeds Skelton Lake, owned by Extra, placed fifth. Westmorland Family's Tebay location came in second and their Cumbria and Cairn Lodge location came in fourth. Despite the firm's Rugby site placing third overall, Moto's Bridgewater services came dead last. Nine of the bottom ten service stations on the list are owned by Moto. Customers gave the Bridgewater location an overall score of just 23%. The site scored a dismal one star rating across all categories, it was described as " unwelcoming , cramped and overpriced." More than half of visitors ranked the food and drink at Bridgewater as "poor." 4 4 The results come from a survey of 8,677 experiences from 4,078 Which? Connect members in November/December 2024. One offered a dull verdict on Bridgewater services: "Time for a demolition job." Moto's Bridgewater site was also said to "look and feel filthy" and "smell of stale urine." By comparison Gloucester was reported by Which? to be "sparkling clean, have excellent facilities and outdoor spaces that are a pleasure to be in." Second place, Tebay services, also run by Westmorland Family was described in the same way. Fifth place, Leeds Skelton Lake, hosted its first wedding in December 2024. Moto service stations dominated the bottom end of the leader board with the majority of the bottom ten service stations owned by the firm. Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto, said: "During the past two years, we have invested over £50 million in refurbishing our service stations and building a new motorway service area on the A1M at Sawtry. "This substantial investment demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the experience for all our customers. "We value customer feedback and are resolutely committed to addressing any concerns. "The most recent independent Transport Focus study, conducted in the summer of 2023, surveyed a significantly larger group than the Which? panel. "Moto achieved an average customer satisfaction score of 94% across our Motorway Service Areas. This feedback highlights the positive impact of our ongoing efforts." The Which? motorway service station league table Top ten Which? motorway service stations: Gloucester - Westmorland Family - M5 Tebay - Westmorland Family - M6 Rugby - Moto - M6 Cairn Lodge - Westmorland Family - M74 Leeds Skelton Lake - Extra - M1 Norton Canes - Roadchef - M6, toll Killington Lake - Roadchef - M6 Annadale Water - Roadchef - A74 Beaconsfield - Extra - M40 Donington - Moto - M1 Bottom ten Which? motorway service stations: Sandbach - Roadchef - M6 Frankley - Moto - M5 Kinross - Moto - M90 Toddington - Moto - M1 Washington - Moto - A1 Watford Gap - Roadchef - M1 Thurrock - Moto - M6 Lancaster - Moto - M6 Leeming Bar - Moto - A1 Bridgewater - Moto - J24
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Britain's best and worst service stations revealed - including one that's so posh it boasts a cheese counter and deli
Which? has revealed the best service stations in the land - and the ones that motorists might do better to avoid. The consumer champion asked 4,000 of its members to rate 90 of Britain's service stations, rating their experiences in eight categories including food prices, cleanliness and outside space. Considered an integral part of any UK journey by car, service stations offer a brew, a bite and a toilet stop but, found the research, standards can vary wildly. The bad news for British drivers? Which? reports that's it's still largely a bleak picture for travellers on long journeys, with facilities at many service stations described as often 'dirty, dated and inadequate'. There are a few shining lights however, with Gloucester Services on the M5 receiving the highest customer survey score of 85 per cent, achieving five stars in almost all of the categories. The luxurious service station boasts a farm shop and kitchen selling locally sourced produce - including gelato, cheese and patisserie - from 130 regional suppliers, as well as 24 fast charging points for electric vehicles, and a tranquil lake to sit by. At the less glamorous end of the spectrum, Moto Bridgwater in Somerset, an hour south of Gloucester Services on the M5, fared the worst, placing bottom on the list - with one visitor saying Bridgwater's toilets 'smelt of stale urine'. Other gripes included inadequate parking spaces, and cramped and overpriced facilities that 'look and feel filthy'. Meanwhile, those surveyed about Gloucester Services offered glowing reviews about their time there, with one happy customer describing it as 'head and shoulders above all the others that I've used.' Another who'd visited told Which?, which was conducting its first service station survey in four years: 'If all motorway service stations were like Gloucester I'd be delighted to spend time at any. 'Gloucester is a pleasure, has great staff, nice food, a farm shop, a garden with a lakeside walk and dog walking. They deserve every success.' The eight categories the 4,000 members were asked to comment on included food/retail outlets, shops, food and drink selection, facilities, cleanliness, convenience and accessibility and outside space. Gloucester Services is part of the Westmorland Family, which is no stranger to positive customer responses. It had two other services in the top five, including Tebay M6 services in Cumbria, which had a 77 per cent score, and, north of the border, Cairn Lodge on the M74 in Lanarkshire, which received a score of 72 per cent. Both might have challenged for the top spot but neither fared well on price. Located on the M6 in Cumbria, just an hour south of the Scottish border, Tebay Services is frequently regarded as one of the country's best - and has been described by some on TikTok as 'proper boujee'. Elsewhere, motorists in need of a breather on the M6 in Warwickshire should make for Rugby's Moto Services, which soared in the survey, with a 75 per cent score - and four stars across almost every category. One traveller said 'Rugby is new and clean and on a nice day is perfect to break up your journey'. Nationwide brand Moto had dismal responses generally but its success with Rugby - which opened its doors in April 2021 - means it's the first ever national company to rank so highly in a Which? survey. Moto will still likely wince at its rankings though; the UK's largest service area operator filled nine of the ten spots at the bottom of the table. Other services that didn't impress include Lancaster Services on the M6, which scored just 34 per cent in the survey. Customers grumbled that a pedestrian bridge across the motorway, with facilities on either side meant the experience felt 'crowded' and with 'poor access'. Moto Thurrock on the M25 has previously been voted the worst motorway service station in Britain, and Which?'s new research suggested that's still the case One driver said being forced to trek over the bridge to get 'an underwhelming breakfast served in a cardboard box' wasn't ideal. And Hilton Park, also on the M6, notched up the same score, with one motorist calling it 'dark and gloomy', while another said basic soap and hot water wasn't always available. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel said of the latest survey: 'The best service stations are a convenient pit stop with decent food and facilities, however our survey shows those are few and far between and that many services are not up to scratch. He added: 'Poor facilities and extortionate prices for food and drink were widespread complaints, but most shocking of all was how drivers told us just how many services were unclean. 'To avoid disappointment, people should plan their route to avoid the worst service stations and look for alternative places to stop.' The availability and number of EV charging points was also a major factor for the first time, with both Moto Rugby and Leeds Skelton Lake, run by Extra, deemed to have fast and plentiful places to charge electric vehicles. Leeds Skelton Lake scored highly - 68% in total - across other areas too, with its RSPB viewing platform over Skelton Lake a particular highlight.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing star to reboot career by fronting a new Channel 5 documentary about bizarre subject
Former JLS star JB Gill is now turning his talents to presenting a new documentary about a very unusual subject - the UK's love of service stations. JB, 38, who was a runner-up on last year's Strictly Come Dancing, will front Britain's Favourite Service Station in an hour-long documentary for Channel 5. An insider told The Sun: 'Joking aside, this is a show that will probably get pretty impressive viewing figures. 'After all, service stations are a bit of a guilty pleasure for most of us. They added: 'Even more surprising is the fact they've got a former pop star in as the host, but execs seem to think it will work.' The show is reported to examine the varying popularity of Britain's service stations to get to the bottom of what makes a truly exceptional pit stop. As its name suggests, Britain's Favourite Service Station will also reveal the best in the UK after consumers were asked in a poll by Which?. This will not be the pop star's first presenting gig either and he has previously fronted Songs of Praise and The One Show. JB found a whole new audience last year thanks to his dancing skills on Strictly, lasting for an impressive 22 episodes. While he was initially partnered up with pro dancer Amy Dowden, their union only lasted six weeks after she fell unwell and he ultimately danced to the final with Lauren Oakley. News of the documentary comes amid the revival of JB's pop star career as JLS are set to go on tour again in 2026 after splitting in 2013. The tour will kick off in Glasgow, Scotland, with one show at the OVO Hydro before stopping in Aberdeen, Newcastle, Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Nottingham. The Everybody In Love hitmakers will wrap up their tour with two final shows at London's iconic O2 Arena on November 28 and November 29. News of the documentary comes amid the revival of JB's pop star career as JLS, who formed on the X Factor, are set to go on tour again in 2026 after splitting in 2013 Fans can expect the shows to be packed front-to-end with classic pop bangers - including the #1 smash hits 'Beat Again', 'Everybody In Love', 'The Club Is Alive', 'Love You', 'She Makes Me Wanna' and many more. JLS commented, 'Your boys are back!! We're SO excited to be back out on the road with another Hits tour bringing the full CLUB vibes to your city!'' 'There's nothing we love more than getting to see you all and perform for you once again.' 'We appreciate your support and we hope you're ready to party with us and our very special guest - Example - very very soon!!' The 16-date tour will also feature support from very special guest Example, 42, at all shows except for the Bournemouth and Brighton shows.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly star gets chance to reboot career with C5 doc revealing Britain's favourite motorway service station
Rod McPhee, TV Editor Published: Invalid Date, Never let it be said appearing on Strictly Come Dancing doesn't put you on the fast lane to renewed fame and fortune — just look at last year's runner-up Jb Gill. The former JLS singer turned farmer and TV host is getting the chance to reboot his career courtesy of Channel 5 with a one-off documentary on a surprising topic. Jb will host Britain's Favourite Service Station, in which he stops off to look at our long-standing love of these roadside retreats which, apparently, are something of a national institution. A TV insider said: 'Joking aside, this is a show that will probably get pretty impressive viewing figures. After all, service stations are a bit of a guilty pleasure for most of us. 'Though it is still a bit of a surprise to see someone has come up with the idea of devoting an entire show to looking at them. 'Even more surprising is the fact they've got a former pop star in as the host, but execs seem to think it will work.' Jb and his pro dance partner Lauren Oakley came second on Strictly last December after a sensational run on the 22nd series. He was originally paired with Amy Dowden, who had to drop out after week six due to illness. Since then he has been pretty quiet, despite the fact he has shifted his focus from JLS to carving out a television career. In the new hour-long show, Jb will be travelling up and down the nation's motorways, and discovering what makes some service stations more popular than others. This isn't all based on a random whim by Channel 5 chiefs, however. The show is in conjunction with a genuine poll by consumer champions Which? identifying the best and worst. Jb will be revealing which is our number one roadside stop-off, and which is parked at the bottom of the list. The suspense is killing me. Ekin-Su Culculoglu has landed a huge new Netflix show as her star continues to rise in the USA. The Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother star is now in reality series Inside, alongside a string of famous Americans. 4 She went to the States just after Love Island All Stars in January to film for the show, a huge YouTube hit which was then bought by Netflix. Ekin is a fan favourite there due to her stint last year on the US version of The Traitors. A TV source said: 'Ekin flew to America just after All Stars to film Inside and it's all wrapped and in the can.' Inside sees ten celebrities locked in a house where they compete for a prize fund. The source added: 'The irony that Ekin had such an awful time on Celebrity Big Brother but went and did another strikingly similar show won't be lost on telly fans.' The finale of Doctor Who 's latest series will be available globally in its first ever worldwide premiere. The Reality War will air on BBC One and Disney+ simultaneously in a prime-time evening slot on May 31. A synopsis teases: 'The Doctor is doomed, Belinda is lost, Ruby is trapped …' Sophie's Geordie u-turn Just weeks after quitting Geordie Shore amid a pay row, Sophie Kasaei has returned to the MTV series. Sophie, who has been on the hit reality show on and off since its 2011 debut, joined the rest of the cast in Portugal, alongside boyfriend Jordan Brook, after her team pulled a dramatic u-turn by coming to a resolution over wages. Insiders told me the dispute was resolved after eleventh-hour talks with show bosses. A source said: 'Execs were determined to keep Sophie in the show and didn't want to lose her, so after some last-minute meetings, they managed to secure a deal everyone was happy with. 'Sophie and Jordan missed the beginning of filming, but they stunned the cast over the weekend when they turned up to surprise everyone.' EastEnders is working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People on a new storyline as Lauren and Peter's son is diagnosed with a visual impairment. Struggling to settle Jimmy, Lauren (Jac Jossa) takes him for tests. The results shock her and Peter (Thomas Law). Elaine's seniors salute West End legend Elaine Paige will lead the cast of a new sitcom about retirement. Take a Bow, written by the mastermind behind the Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson comedy Murder, They Hope, will look at ageing in a similar format to Netflix's popular Grace and Frankie. Elaine's own production company will be behind the series, which will feature an international cast to be announced soon. Writer Jason Cook teased to industry website Broadcast that the programme will aim to 'show that life really starts once you get that awful work stuff out the way'. Elaine added: 'It's a bold, funny celebration of friendship, freedom, and the joy of still being very much alive.'
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
10 best service stations across Britain revealed with cheapest fuel & great food options – is there one near you?
A GROUP of experts have revealed the UK's highest rated service stations - loved for their choice of food, value fuel and charging points. Whether it's commuting to work or you've set out on a road trip, millions of drivers make regular stops during their journeys each day - meaning service station essentials are as important as ever. 4 4 4 4 New analysis from car buying service WeBuyAnyCar has looked at 95 service stations nationwide, awarding each a score out of 100 based on the number of food options, facilities, charging points and Google review ratings. By using these ratings, they were able to create a ranking of the best motorway stops - known as the Dream Service Station report. Their data found that Worcestershire's Strensham Roadchef is the best-rated service station in the UK, scoring an impressive 80.6 out of 100. Located between Worcester and Tewkesbury on the M5 Southbound, between junctions 7 and 8, it features a 24/7 McDonald's as well as a Costa Coffee, LEON, Coco Di Mama, Chozen Noodle, Fresh Food Cafe, SPAR and a WHSmith. Naturally, it also offers two hours free parking and EV charging. Indeed, it is the only service station to achieve a score of above 80 - closely followed by Leigh Delamere (79.4) and Reading (74.5). Leigh Delamere, located on the M4 near Chippenham, boasts all the favourites, including Burger King, Chow, Costa Coffee, Greggs and KFC. Third-place Reading, meanwhile, once boasted a 100% satisfaction score for the Westbound services and 96% for the Eastbound building, according to Transport Focus. Of the top 10, three of the services can be found on the M1 motorway; Toddington, Woodall and Newport Pagnell. It's worth noting that Moto Rugby, located on the M6, Junction 1, has the highest rating in terms of Google review score. However, the location has limited options available, which sadly impacted its performance in the rankings. At the other end of the table, Bothwell Motorway Services, found just outside Glasgow, was the lowest ranked service station in the UK, scoring only 4.8 out of 100. According to WeBuyAnyCar's findings, people spend an average of 16.5 minutes in a service station when they visit. They also found that, curiously, Marks & Spencer is the nation's preferred service station chain, followed by Greggs. Richard Evans, head of technical services at WeBuyAnyCar, said: 'While some variation in the quality of service stations is to be expected, the findings do show an inconsistency in UK service stations. 'For people who travel long distances, it's important to have service stations with good facilities available to them. 'Taking regular breaks on long journeys is crucial for safety and well-being purposes, helping to prevent fatigue and keep drivers focused. 'Central to this safety approach is having the appropriate rest points where drivers actually want to stop and take a break.' Britain's 10 best service stations Source: WeBuyAnyCar Strensham, Worcestershire: M5 motorway, between junctions 7 and 8. Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire: M4 motorway, between junctions 17 and 18. Reading, Berkshire: M4 motorway, between junctions 11 and 12. Toddington, Bedfordshire: M1 motorway, between junctions 11A and 12. Cobham, Surrey: M25 motorway, between junctions 9 and 10. Woodall, South Yorkshire: M1 motorway, between junctions 30 and 31. Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire: M1 motorway, between junctions 14 and 15. Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire: M40 motorway, at junction 2. Hilton Park, Staffordshire: M6 motorway, between junctions 10A and 11. Cherwell Valley, Oxfordshire: M40 motorway, at junction 10.
