An M54 motorway station has been rated Britain’s worst, with one driving warning prospective customers to ‘stay hungry. stay thirsty. Whatever you do, don’t stop’.
A survey carried out by car dealer specialists Brindley Group, who evaluated reviews of service stations from across Britain’s motorway network, found the Telford pit stop to be the worst, followed by Harthill on the M8 in Scotland and Birchanger Green on the M11.
Reviewing the M54 Telford services on Googleone motorist, Carl Farrugia said: ‘Horrifically over priced’, adding: ‘Pure opportunists and would avoid at all costs!’
John Smith added: ‘Over priced and not a nice services to stop at. If you pull up, top tip, just search petrol in your sat nav and there is a Tesco a junction down or an Asda a mile or so away. I always do it when stopping at services near towns. Save yourself anywhere from 10p to 30p a litre.’
The service station, which is operated by Welcome Break, was given an average Google Review rating of 1.9 out of five.
Other service stations included in the list of the ten worst were Bridgwater on the M5, Bothwell on the M74, Michaelwood on the M5, Toddington on the M1, Broxden on the M90, Gordano on the M5 and Lancaster on the M6.
The survey also found the Tebay services on the M6 were given the highest average rating of 4.4 out of five.
Telford has the worst motorway service station in the country according to a survey of motorists, followed by Heart of Scotland on the M8, Birchanger Green on the M11 and Bridgewater on the M5
| Rank | Services | Location | Region | Operator | MSO Rating | TripAdvisor Rating | Google Rating | Average Score (/5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telford | M54 at J4 | West Midlands | Welcome Break | 2.09 | , | 1.9 | 2 |
| 2 | Heart of Scotland (Harthill) | M8 between J4 and J5 | Scotland | BP | 1.94 | , | 2.5 | 2.22 |
| 3 | Birchanger Green | M11 at J8 | East of England | Welcome Break | 3.03 | , | 1.8 | 2.42 |
| 4 | bridgewater | M5 at J24 | South West | Moto | 2.29 | , | 3 | 2.65 |
| 5 | bothwell | M74 southbound between J4 and J5 | Scotland | Roadchef | 2.67 | 2 | 3.3 | 2.66 |
| 6 | Michaelwood | M5 between J13 and J14 | South West | Welcome Break | 2.63 | 2 | 3.7 | 2.78 |
| 7 | Toddington | M1 between J11 and J12 | East of England | Moto | 2.95 | 2 | 3.5 | 2.82 |
| 8 | broxden | M90/A9 Broxden Roundabout | Scotland | MFG | 1.8 | , | 3.9 | 2.85 |
| 9 | Gordano | M5 at J19 | South West | Welcome Break | 2.48 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 2.86 |
| 10 | Lancaster | M6 between J32 and J33 | North West | Moto | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 2.97 |
| Rank | Services | Location | Region | Operator | MSO Rating | TripAdvisor Rating | Google Rating | Average Score (/5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tebay | M6 between J38 and J39 | North West | westmorland | 4.32 | 4 | 4.4 | 4.24 |
| 2 | Beaconsfield | M40 at J2 | East of England | Extra | 4.45 | 4 | 4.1 | 4.18 |
| 3 | Gretna | A74(M) between J21 and J22 | Scotland | Welcome Break | 4.29 | , | 4 | 4.15 |
| 4 | Gloucester | M5 between J11A and J12 | South West | westmorland | 4.22 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.07 |
| 5 | Cairn Lodge | M74 at J11 and J12 | Scotland | westmorland | 4.55 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.05 |
| 6 | donington | M1 at J23A and J24, A42 and A50 | East Midlands | Moto | 4.34 | 4 | 3.8 | 4.05 |
| 7 | Oval | M1 at J16 | West Midlands | Euro Garages | 4.18 | , | 3.9 | 4.04 |
| 8 | Blackburn with Darwen | M65 at J4 | North West | Extra | 4.18 | , | 3.9 | 4.04 |
| 9 | Sarn Park | M4 at J36 | Wales | Welcome break | 4.14 | , | 3.9 | 4.02 |
| 10 | Rivington | M61 between J6 and J8 | North West | Euro Garages | 4.12 | , | 3.9 | 4.01 |
Brindley Group collated data from more than 100 service stations on 29 different motorways, looking at reviews on Trip Advisor, Google Reviews and Motorway Services Online.
This information was combined to produce aggregated scores ‘some of which were positive, some of which were decidedly not’.
The Tebay services on the M6 between Junctions 38 and 39 were deemed the best on the entire network with an aggregate score of 4.24 out of five and a Google score of 4.4 out of five – compared with the two out of five mark for Telford.
The M40, on average had the best services, with a score of 3.76, followed by the M1 on 3.64.
The M5 which links the Midlands with the South West had the worst with an average of 3.31.
The survey collated data from more than 100 services stations across the UK’s motorway network
Regionally, there were huge variations, with the North East of England and Northern Ireland having the highest averages of 3.78.
The East of England and the South West were the least popular with 3.18 and 3.24 respectively.
A spokesperson for the Brindley Group who completed the survey said: ‘Good news if your road trip passes through Northern Ireland or the North East – these regions both had the highest average score from the public.
‘The East Midlands, North West, Wales and Yorkshire & The Humber all generally had a respectable showing too, but vacationers traveling through Scotland, South West, and especially the East of England might want to steer clear of the services in this area – even if it means having to hold it in!’
However, motorists using the motorway network have received some good news after the UK’s largest operator of Motorway Service Areas (MSAs), Moto, announced they will cut the price of fuel by 15p per liter – which could save the average motorist £7.50 a tank .
Fuel bought at MSAs typically costs around 20p per liter more than the UK average.
The 15p reduction will bring Moto’s prices within 10p per liter of those charged by supermarket filling stations, according to the company. The firm has also received permission to put signs ahead of their service stations advertising the cost of fuel.
Chief executive Ken McMeikan urged other motorway forecourt operators to slash their pump prices.
While services on the M5 were viewed negatively, the pit stop in Gloucester, pictured was praised by motorists ‘because it is essentially a big farm shop’
Cairn Lodge services, pictured, were described by motorists as ‘excellent’
He said: ‘Today marks a hugely important next step in improving fuel price transparency on the motorways and in helping motorists’ money go further.
‘We want to move quickly to install the signage and reduce prices at our sites as fast as we can.
‘We have worked tirelessly to show National Highways that the new signage is a very sensible measure that will allow us to reduce prices for motorists.
‘If other motorway operators also look to install the new fuel signage and lower prices at their sites, motorists will see fuel prices comparable to local high street forecourts up and down the UK’s motorways.’
The approval for the new displays follows a trial at Moto’s Frankley site on the M5 in Birmingham last year which resulted in more motorists stopping to refuel, enabling prices to be lowered.
Many motorists about the cost of fuel on motorway service stations which can be more than 20p per liter more expensive than in a supermarket
Moto was required to demonstrate to National Highways that the signs provide useful information and do not distract drivers.
RAC fuel and Simon Williams said: ‘Moto’s bold decision to lower the cost of filling up at its service areas should permanently transform motorway fuel retailing for the benefit of everyone on the road.
‘For years drivers have been confused as to why motorway fuel is so expensive and, as a result, many have actively avoided buying fuel at services, or only topped up with the bare minimum to get them to their destinations.
| Region | Avg. Score |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 3.78 |
| North East | 3.78 |
| East Midlands | 3.67 |
| North West | 3.49 |
| Wales | 3.49 |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 3.49 |
| South East | 3.47 |
| West Midlands | 3.45 |
| Greater London | 3.39 |
| Scotland | 3.32 |
| South West | 3.28 |
| East of England | 3.14 |
‘Now drivers will be able to fill up on the motorway safe in the knowledge that they’ll be paying a fair price.
‘We strongly urge all the other motorway service operators to follow Moto’s lead and give the UK’s drivers a better deal at their pumps.’
RAC figures show average prices at UK forecourts rose by less than 1p per liter in January, reaching 146p for petrol and 150p for diesel on Monday.
The organization said drivers are getting a ‘better deal’ as retailers cut their margins to ‘more normal levels’.
But it warned that ‘storm clouds are gathering’ due to rising oil prices,
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