I Explored Britain’s Finest Service Station — Where Couples Even Go for Dates!

As I arrive at Gloucester Services, just off the M5 Southbound, it feels as though I might be on the set of the Teletubbies.

Featuring a living roof covered in grasses and wildflowers It's a far cry from the typical dreary service station atmosphere with its concrete floors, fluorescent lighting, and waiting in line for service. wee .

And it’s this eco design – plus the seriously impressive farm shops, restaurants, and a duck pond – this motorway stopping point has been named the UK’s favorite by consumer advocate group Which?.

The south-west services received the highest customer score of 85%, with one reviewer claiming that it was ‘head and shoulders above all the others.’

Having spent my whole life in Gloucestershire, I must confess, I hadn't really explored this area much. Therefore, I decided to visit what they call the UK's finest service station to find out why everyone talks about it.

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First impressions

When I visit with Millie, my seven-year-old daughter, I'm struck by how different Gloucester Services appears from a usual motorway service area.

With high beams and sky light windows, it feels more like a huge, converted barn hosting a wedding, rather than a spot for weary travellers to grab a coffee and stretch their legs.

Forget the usual chain coffee and fast food – there’s not a McDonalds or KFC in sight. Instead, Gloucester Services gives motorists a culinary experience more akin to restaurant dining.

Even the more ‘upmarket’ staples of M&S and Waitrose have been shunned here and in their place is a farm shop, that wouldn’t look out of place in a posh part of London.

Here, all the products have been locally sourced from more than 130 regional producers within a 30-mile radius.

You don’t have to settle for uncomfortable plastic seats and a rushed bite to eat. The place offers indoor seating near large windows as well as an attractive terrace for outdoor meals with a view of a duck pond.

Motorist Ed Clarke, aged 41 from Bristol, shared his thoughts with me: "This place reminds me of dining at a ski resort restaurant instead of beside the M5. It's incredibly well-equipped and very bright and spacious."

Facilities

Journeying with energetic children can be quite challenging, however instead of avoiding the typical video game arcades and stuffed animals, consider these split-level indoor playgrounds crafted solely from wood, as nature intended.

Millie enjoys frolicking on the timber bridges and slides, thoughtfully arranged so I can easily watch over her while savoring my meal.

Families are well taken care of with dedicated spaces for parent and child parking, facilities for warming bottles, and baby food available for purchase.

It offers complimentary parking for up to three hours along with 24 electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, there are disabled-accessible restrooms available around the clock, coupled with shower amenities.

Furry friends are also not forgotten with water bowls at every entrance and a designated, traffic free dog walk path, taking in the local surroundings.

As I explored this outdoor space, I spotted several individuals taking advantage of the complimentary WiFi and busily typing away on their laptops. I jotted down a reminder to test it out myself during our next sunny spell here.

Farm shop

Within the vast food court, you'll find the farm shop. It offers fresh fruits and veggies, a bakery, butchery, delicatessen, and cheese counters, along with a fish market—making it every gastronome's fantasy. This explains why numerous local acquaintances and relatives I've talked to ensure they set aside time for visits.

There’s also an Italian-style gelato stall operated by the local dairy farm, Wholly Gelato.

Carol, another visitor from London whom I spoke with in the restroom, mentioned to me that both she and her spouse are big food enthusiasts and headed straight for the farm shop.

‘We’ve taken a 30-mile detour just to stop here for a bite to eat, and to stock up on some Gloucestershire goods to take back home,’ she says.

Food and drink

We arrived around 5pm, just in time for an early dinner. I opted for a delicious Macaroni Cheese (£7.25) served with a generous portion of homemade chunky chips and a side of garden peas, which meant that Millie’s plate of sausage and chips came to just £1.50, thanks to the ‘kids eat free’ deal offered to all parents.

Other freshly prepared menu items include beer battered cod, homemade steak pies, and a delicious smelling sweet potato and chickpea curry.

To enjoy during her drive back home, Millie bought a Strawberry Macaron (£3.85) from The Patisserie Box — a local supplier based in Cheltenham — which featured an attractive edible chocolate daisy on top.

I really enjoyed my meal—it was a vast improvement over the limp pizzas served on flimsy platters that I've had at similar places elsewhere in this country. It felt akin to dining at a countryside tavern. I’m planning to return just for an order of those fries.

Final verdict

While chatting near the school gates earlier this week, a buddy of mine mentioned that prior to having kids, she and her spouse would frequently head over to Gloucester Services for quick afternoon dates during their lunch break from work.

Once I finally laid eyes on it in all its splendor (even though it was a decade after its unveiling), I could grasp the reason behind its acclaim.

The next time I require a scotch egg, locally sourced fruits and vegetables, or simply somewhere peaceful to work from home, I will make my way directly up the M5.

The top and bottom tier UK motorway services

Which? sought input from over 4,000 members regarding their opinions on UK services. They evaluated various categories including pricing at food and retail establishments, shop availability, variety of food and drinks, facility quality, cleanliness standards, ease of access, and outdoor spaces.

Gloucester services , part of the Westmorland Family group, received five stars in almost every category with a customer score of 85 per cent.

They were quickly trailed by Tebay M6 services in Cumbria, another Westmorland offering, while Cairn Lodge on the M74 in Lanarkshire came third. It was only due to high prices where they lost stars.

Rugby’s Moto Services also fared well, with four stars across almost every category. One customer said: ‘Rugby is new and clean and on a nice day is perfect to break up your journey’.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Moto’s Bridgwater Services On the M5 arrived last. It received a score of 23 percent and earned only one star across all categories. Critics mentioned that the amenities were tight-spaced, overly expensive, and the restrooms 'had an odor of old urine.'

The other items listed at the base of the table were Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire, Lancaster and Hilton Park in Staffordshire.

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