Wiseman_Vaughn
Well-known member
its a bit of a pain getting in but has good charging points
Alternatives to Motorway service stations
- Thread starter hobblewobble
- Start date
Centralscrutinizer
Well-known member
Tebay services are good 
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
If you can make it a bit further then the Thirsk services (just off the A19) has loads of charging points as well as a McDonalds, Costa and a decent supermarket / minimart type of thing as well.
red_clowne
Well-known member
Glews Services off junction 36(?) on the M62 heading towards Hull. Macdonalds drive through (so toilets available).
Fat_Dragon
Well-known member
I prefer making my own food and drink at home and take it with me. Much cheaper and more convenient than rip off service stations.
Services in this country are embarrassing. Coming back from Devon last weekend I used Google maps to find an alternative near Stroud. Found a lovely cafe 2 mins off the motorway.
Why are they so bad? The new one near Leeds is ok but generally they are dirty, over priced and serve terrible food.
Why are they so bad? The new one near Leeds is ok but generally they are dirty, over priced and serve terrible food.
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
Mainly because the only companies that can afford the cost of the service station are fast food outlets, and therefore it's the same KFC, Burger King etc, however with a few exceptions such as this:-
Home | Westmorland Family | Farmshops & Kitchens | Cumbria
Westmorland Family. We cook real food and sell exceptional produce in motorway service areas that celebrate place and craft.
westmorlandfamily.com
Nero80
Active member
The showers in leeds skelton services are appalling, only 2 of them aswell. Food wise, its not a bad service station. Plenty of choice
NorthumberlandBoro
Well-known member
The thought of showering at a service station sends a shiver down the spine .
It's bad enough using the bogs.
Nero80
Active member
Needs must sometimes im afraid, not usually a pleasant experience, although there are exceptions
Littlejimmy
Well-known member
Tebay and the likes are nicer in the main but also quite steep in pricing. The WH Smith model does make me laugh with all their signage saying something like "ONLY £643.99" for a small pack of wine gums that cost a quid in Tesco. If you can be arsed and know where to look you can usually find a supermarket with a petrol station not far off the motorway.
JudgeNutmeg
Active member
If it’s just to break up a journey, sign up for National Trust or English Heritage membership. Plenty of places just off the motorways you’ll be able to get into for free with toilets, cafes and shops. And you can sit and chill out with a nice view for half an hour.
I spend lots of time travelling between sites with work and regularly go to supermarkets / retail parks near junctions especially for diesel.
There’s a Morrisons, pub and McDonald’s right next to j1 on the M18 which is worth a stop instead of Woodall or ferrybridge if heading that way, plenty of good places just off the M1 regularly along the way too.
There’s a website of them out there - justoffjunction or something like that.
There’s a Morrisons, pub and McDonald’s right next to j1 on the M18 which is worth a stop instead of Woodall or ferrybridge if heading that way, plenty of good places just off the M1 regularly along the way too.
There’s a website of them out there - justoffjunction or something like that.
This link might be useful. https://justoffjunction.co.uk/index.php
Norfolkred1
Well-known member
The only thing motorway services get from me is bodily fluid, overpriced in every department.
The_Lizards_Jumpers
Well-known member
Think there's a website, justoffjunction or something like that.
Surprised no one has mentioned it on this thread to be honest.
Surprised no one has mentioned it on this thread to be honest.
hobblewobble
Well-known member
3rd post.
BigAl76
Well-known member
This is where I met Sir Alex Ferguson. Had a brief chat with him (an obligatory selfie) about Michael Carrick.Mainly because the only companies that can afford the cost of the service station are fast food outlets, and therefore it's the same KFC, Burger King etc, however with a few exceptions such as this:-
Home | Westmorland Family | Farmshops & Kitchens | Cumbria
Westmorland Family. We cook real food and sell exceptional produce in motorway service areas that celebrate place and craft.
His driver, who I was also chatting to, said Sir Alex likes these services when travelling back from Manchester because there is less 'riff raff' about.
Then he met me. Unlucky.
Someone researched and published a pamphlet in the late 90s about alternatives to motorway services. I used to have a copy that is obviously now well out of date. But the author sent me it to aid football fans travelling to away games. Basically they researched food and petrol outlets within 4 or 5 miles radius of motorway junctions. In each case the fuel, food and drink was much cheaper than services rates. They even looked at fast food outlets and compared town centre/retail park with services to reveal the premium being paid for the convenience of a motorway stop.
Obviously it gets more difficult on an evening and oil companies are sometimes wise to pricing near to motorways, But even so the pamphlet showed you could make a considerbale saving by exiting at junctions rather than taking services stops.
It would be really interesting to see an updated survey.
Obviously it gets more difficult on an evening and oil companies are sometimes wise to pricing near to motorways, But even so the pamphlet showed you could make a considerbale saving by exiting at junctions rather than taking services stops.
It would be really interesting to see an updated survey.