prices at services !!!

vikingaero

Prices at services are high for a number of reasons:

(1) The site operator pays the Govt a premium for the site - can be tens of millions of pounds.
(2) They are required for provide free parking for a limited period and free toilets to everyone. (Toilets are high maintenance and often get trashed and this makes operators reluctant to spend on them unless absolutely necessary).
(3) They are not allowed to advertise (although some places get around this by using trade names M&S)
(4) They have to bus in staff if the services are in remote locations.
(5) They have the usual salaries of chairman, directors, head office staff etc to pay before even paying local salaries.

It really is a catch 22 situation. People are happy to use the services for toilet stops yet give nothing back. That means that others are subsidising the free parking and toilets through higher food bills.

Some services have improved. Westmorland is very good and Roadchefs are generally above mediocre.

nearlyrich

I travel a lot for work and I do use service areas, mainly for toilets and the odd coffee although the M & S foodstores are pretty good for fresh sandwiches etc.

I try to avoid buying fuel as it can be upto 10p dearer per litre:eek:

DCFC79

vikingaero wrote: »

Prices at services are high for a number of reasons:

(1) The site operator pays the Govt a premium for the site - can be tens of millions of pounds.
(2) They are required for provide free parking for a limited period and free toilets to everyone. (Toilets are high maintenance and often get trashed and this makes operators reluctant to spend on them unless absolutely necessary).
(3) They are not allowed to advertise (although some places get around this by using trade names M&S)
(4) They have to bus in staff if the services are in remote locations.
(5) They have the usual salaries of chairman, directors, head office staff etc to pay before even paying local salaries.

It really is a catch 22 situation. People are happy to use the services for toilet stops yet give nothing back. That means that others are subsidising the free parking and toilets through higher food bills.

Some services have improved. Westmorland is very good and Roadchefs are generally above mediocre.

i did try and emphasise the point that the site the services is located is a prime location but i got blown out of the water

BLUis

I must admit that i hate going to services when going on long distance journeys, BUT i have to say that when me and the oh went to the Lake District for a wknd we stopped at some services that were absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Its a family owned 'farm services' called Westmorland. They have a fantastic butchers, shop and the food in the restaurant was amazing. We paid around £18 for 2 decent sized, hot, nutritious meals and drinks. They were probably charging the same as pub meal prices.

I can thoroughly recommend this services for anyone travelling north or south near Penrith (sorry not sure what motorway it is??).

http://www.westmorland.com/

tessie_bear

the prices are dear at services....we normally go in to use the toilet and have a drink we have bought with us in the car....if u are driving a long way u need a break so i dont think it is as simple as dont go...but take stuff with u

seadee

BLUis wrote: »

I must admit that i hate going to services when going on long distance journeys, BUT i have to say that when me and the oh went to the Lake District for a wknd we stopped at some services that were absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Its a family owned 'farm services' called Westmorland. They have a fantastic butchers, shop and the food in the restaurant was amazing. We paid around £18 for 2 decent sized, hot, nutritious meals and drinks. They were probably charging the same as pub meal prices.

I can thoroughly recommend this services for anyone travelling north or south near Penrith (sorry not sure what motorway it is??).

http://www.westmorland.com/

These services are on the M6.

Pretty good. I prefer the southbound one as I find it a bit nicer.
Although having said that the food on my last two trips was a bit of a let down.
On the southbound trip, Friday evening, they had very little hot food on the go, certainly nothing I wanted, this was about 7pm.
On the way north on the Sunday at about 5 pm they had even less.

The farm food shops are good though

PolishBigSpender

sexykellylovespink wrote: »

i stopped at services to get kids a bit of brecky over easter as we was going on a day trip, here is wat i got them -

ds1 - 2 sausage and a fried egg

ds2 - 2 sausage and toast

guess how much it cost !!!!


over £ 7.00 :eek:

What's your point? It's a free market, isn't it?

The usual IT'S A SCAM when it goes against you, while it would be a loophole if you found a way to get them for free/next to nothing.

beaker141

I think the price of a tea has come down over the last ten years or so. I'm sure in excess of £3 was the norm for a pot of tea (for one) in the early 90's, now at the costa coffee type outlets I can get a large take out tea for £1.85.

Noggin_the_Nog_2

The website is www[dot]nearthemotorway[dot]co[dot]uk - sorry I can't post the link properly, I'm a newbie!

DCFC79 wrote: »

there was a book published about pubs etc that sold food close to the motorways but i cant think of the name, theres also a website which is similar and you choose your motorway and it will list places to eatc close to the motorway,

juno

You can find facilities that are 5 minutes away