Motorway service stations too expensive to eat at
Millions of people drive on British motorways every day and being one of these people I'm sick and fed up of being ripped off when I stop at a service station for a break and something to eat.
Driving to your final destination you will see countless signs telling you that 'Tiredness can kill' and that you should 'take a break', but my advice to you is if you want to take a break, take a fat wallet as well. Only last week whilst travelling down the M40 on my way to Oxford when I felt I needed to pull over for a rest and since I hadn't eaten that day decided I'd kill two birds with one stone and have a bit of nosh at the same time.
I fancied something simple and hopefully tasty and considered that a ham and cheese baguette and a cup of coffee would fit the bill and shouldn't break the bank. How wrong was I? Whilst I couldn't complain about the food, and the coffee was nice even if it was served in an over the top fancy cardboard cup with hand shield; I was astonished when I was charged around 3 for the sandwich and a further 1.80 for the coffee!!!
What gives? Is it really too much to ask in this day and age for some simple reasonably priced food and a bit of a break whilst on the road. I suppose you could take a packed lunch with you and eat that when you stop for a break, but then where would you sit and eat? In the car I suppose because most of these places would object to you taking food in. There again if you happen to be riding a motorcycle tough luck, you'd best stand in the car park in the rain and munch your 'fresh' sandwich and drink your lukewarm coffee.
The bottom line is it's just another example of big companies who are able to monopolise a market. They are quite happy to reap the benefits of a guaranteed supply of customers, but have only one goal in mind. That goal would be maximum profit and who cares about value for money! So come on all you big service station eateries be fair! Please don't rip us of with hiked up prices at these places just because you can and you know we have no choice as to where to go when we need to take a break.
Related Web Sites
5 Minutes Away
Excellent site that gives you the opportunity to find an alternative to motorway service stations. Search all the major motorways and find food and fuel within 5 minutes or 3 miles. The site is also available on mobile!
Speakers corner
This is a link to a similar article that nicely points out the advantages and disadvantages of the motorway service station.
Moto
This is a link to one of the big places, a very nice site so at least we know where the money goes!
BBC News article
Another article this time from the BBC News web site.
Welcome Break
A nice site that points out all the good things to be found at a Welcome Break service station.
Comments from visitors
Voice of Reason - 21-Mar-11 13:21
So much easier and simpler and cheaper. Service areas usually had somewhere for people to eat their own food or I simply ate in the car.
And, round trip, that was 6 days on the road.
Always travel with some food. I did the same this Easter on a 7 day drive around Normandy. Not a problem. Consumer power - don't let them have your money.
Edward Skinner - 23-Sep-09 15:32
Well, thickos, the entity that provides you with those services has overheads to pay, staff, rent, cleaining, capital costs, depreciation, tax, social charges, losses, breakages, insurance, licences, just to name a few.
When I owned a restaurant and people adopted that approach I used to tell them to leave, if they hadn't eaten, or if they had, I'd tell them to pay what they could afford (which either shamed them into paying the correct price, or they paid nothing) and to never darken our doorway again.
The Plain Truth - 24-Aug-09 20:59
Jewish Scotsman - 14-Aug-09 20:18
Fill up (with food, drink and petrol) before you leave or begin the return journey (and have a leak as well) and it will be a rare journey in which a visit to these temples of overcharging and under provision is necessary. If a break is necessary for a rest, most services have free parking for up to two hours.
Ozzie-Welshman - 5-Aug-09 11:03
The staff are useless too I suspect they only work there because they failed the intelligence test for Mcdonalds.
At the services there were approximately 10 - 15 people in front of me, this is without doubt pathetic, what are Moto Services thinking of? One of the busiest stretches of mortorway in Europe, without a doubt a major lack of service.
I tried to call London Capital Radio, but could not get through, I have just emailed CEO of Moto to suggest he calls me. Anyone else witness this today?
Guerbberchille - 19-Feb-09 23:39





