A new ranking reveals the UK’s top service stations for cleanliness, food, overall customer satisfaction and EV charging. Gloucester Services on the M5, run by the Westmorland Family, reign supreme as the top-rated service station in the UK. At the bottom with the lowest customer score is Bridgwater on J24 of the M5.
In second place was the services located in Tebay on the M6, also owned by the Westmorland Family, and third place went to Moto Rugby, also on the M6.
When travelling along the UK roads, making a pit stop at a service station can provide drivers and passengers with a refresh, food, drink and a chance to refuel or recharge their vehicle. So, knowing what facilities the service stations have can make journeys much more enjoyable.
That’s why these three stations are held in such high regard among the UK public. Gloucester, especially, has taken the top spot because it not only provides amenities that the public expect, such as free parking, EV charging and reputable cleanliness, but it also offers something different. At the Westmorland Gloucester services, it’s all about embracing British tradition thanks to an onsite farm shop, sourcing local products, and a kitchen and dining area serving classic dishes for all tastes. It also doesn’t hurt that the services are surrounded by the lush Gloucester countryside that the public can embrace before heading off on the road again.
Both runners up also offer a beautiful stop off, with more of a focus on outdoor spaces, fresh food and accessible, clean facilities. Rather than having your standard fast food chains right next to each other or cramped, dull and dirty seating to eat your overpriced junk and toilets that don’t look like they’ve been updated since the 90s, it’s worth travelling to one that treats you better.
Rob Marshall, Company Director of Gateway2Lease, shared his thoughts on avoiding terrible service stations: “Whether you’re travelling for a seaside holiday with the kids or commuting for work, stopping off at a good service station can make all the difference. Knowing what services are available during your journey can help you avoid the really bad ones. What makes a bad service station? Lack of parking, dirty toilets, no charging for EVs, overpriced food, poor signage and directions; the list goes on. Before your journey, check reviews and estimate how much fuel you’ll use before you’re forced to stop at one of the rubbish service stations.”
Conclusion
Professionals and frequent service station users stress the importance of avoiding the poorly reviewed locations. It’s more than likely that if you’re driving up to one of the worst service stations, a much better one, featuring more shop choices, better hygiene standards and an improved customer experience, is just around the corner, often less than an hour’s drive. You should only be going to poorly reviewed locations as a last resort, in instances like running out of fuel or desperately needing to visit the lavatory.
