M5 Roadchef

letsbehonest

Stopped off at a M5 Roadchef services area in Devon £2.10 p for a mug of hot water with a teabag in it and a dash of milk, a cup of tea I think it's called. I declined and settled for just the expensive ham egg and chips. I don't do it very often and it is my choice, but never again.

Googlewhacker

you pay for conveniance....

marleyboy

Motorway Services are re-known for their outrageous prices, its why I prefer to drive on til the next motorway exit and head for the nearest Mcdonald's or equivalent, where I can have a brew n a quick bite to eat, using the toilets if need be.

fluffnutter

marleyboy wrote: »

Motorway Services are re-known for their outrageous prices, its why I prefer to drive on til the next motorway exit and head for the nearest Mcdonald's or equivalent, where I can have a brew n a quick bite to eat, using the toilets if need be.

Which will be an inevitability, seeing as Mucky D's go straight through you like a dose of salts.

bosseyed

Googlewhacker wrote: »

you pay for conveniance....

Well, here we are on this immensely quiet road that only runs for about a third of the length of the country connecting a great many major towns and cities, why if only someone would put some manner of eatery on this lonely stretch of road, but ALAS! I fear it must be financially unviable to sell edibles at the side of this barely populated stretch of road. But wait! Roadchef hath staked their claim on this barren bit of land and as its such a difficult road with barely any passing trade I shall happily pay well over the odds for a cup of tea, esepcially considering how hard it must have been for the delivery lorry to get here through the fields and that.

Convenience my bum, you pay through the nose because they know choice is limited and you'll pay it rather than stray from the motorway in search of somewhere cheaper, suckers that we are.

Keith

and there was me thinking it due to the higher costs of remaining open 24/7/365 and the fees that must be paid to operat.

Apollonia

Have you thought of planning your stops in advance and search for the nearest Tesco to the M5 with cafe and petrol (other supermarkets are available) or whichever facilities you require? That's what I do for long journeys, either that or pack a flask of coffee and some sandwiches to take with me.

Taking my own coffee and sarnies is probably more MSE than going to Tesco...

nomoneytoday

The costs of running such a place aren't cheap.
Rents/land costs, 24 hour heating and lighting, wages+getting staff in, plumbing, VAT and other taxes, offering free WC facilities etc all have to paid for somehow. They wouldn't last long charging just the 10p cost of tea bag and some milk...

Sooler

Apollonia wrote: »

Have you thought of planning your stops in advance and search for the nearest Tesco to the M5 with cafe and petrol

This site does just that http://www.5minutesaway.co.uk/ :j

marleyboy

I cant imagine a customer caring how much the overheads are when it comes to how much money a customer is paying for a brew.

You are either prepared to pay excessive costs or your not, its one of the prime reasons I choose not to go to a motorway service station, if I need a rest break, I exit at the next (or previous) turn off, and go elsewhere. I have even been known to visit a local greasy spoon, where a large mug of tea costs around 70p, and a full English breakfast costs around a couple of quid. With free toilet amenities for all.

juno

If you have an AA card you get 20% off at Moto