Gloucester and Tebay services have been named the UK’s best motorway service stations, according to a survey conducted by Which?
According to a poll of 2,700 people, the top three services are owned by the Westmorland group, with Gloucester (on the M5), Tebay (on the M6 at the edge of the Lake District) and Cairn Lodge (on the M74 in Lanarkshire) ranking first, second and third in the table.
Gloucester scored a rating of 86 per cent, gaining five stars for cleanliness, range and quality of its shops and food outlets, as well as its range of facilities.
Tebay scored 83 per cent and Cairn Lodge was given a rating of 69 per cent.
At the other end of the table was Bridgwater on the M5, owned by Moto. The service station received just 32 per cent, and was awarded just one star in every category.
According to Which?, recent visitors described it as “dirty” and “depressing”, and others complained of a urine smell and toilet paper strewn on the floor, while another simply said it “should be demolished”.
‘It pays to plan ahead’
“The results of our survey show that it pays to plan ahead to avoid some of the UK’s worst motorway services,” said Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel. “It could be the difference between a home-cooked meal in peaceful surroundings, or crowded queues in downright dirty facilities.”
“Whether you’re zipping down the M5 towards the beaches on the south-west coast, or up the M6 towards the Scottish border, make sure your journey isn’t spoiled by a stop at a shoddy service station.”
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