... The Welcome Break service station on the M3 Between London and the south, is one that I have had stopped at on a number of occassions.
The prices that you will encounter at Welcome Break motorway service stations in the United Kingdom are, in all fairness, extortionate. This is no different ... Read review
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Advantages: The motorway services can be very handy in certain cases Disadvantages: They are often hugely overpriced as far as goods and petrol is concerned and the cleanliness isn't always of the highest standard
...up ahead, can be very welcome for many motorists and their passengers. It is the chance to take a quick break from the road and driving. The opportunity just to catch a few minutes fresh and have a quick stretch of the legs before setting off again to complete the journey. They can be very handy if you urgently need the toilet and you are a long way off your final destination. The Welcome Break service station on the M3 Between London and the south, ... ...that you will encounter at Welcome Break motorway service stations in the United Kingdom are, in all fairness, extortionate. This is no different to some of the companies that operate either. They charge way over the odds for basic goods that you could buy elsewhere for around two thirds of the price. I nicked a lift off of my sister and her boyfriend back to London a couple of weeks ago and I was feeling a bit peckish as I hadn't eaten any breakfast. ... more
The sight of a motorway service station, just up ahead, can be very welcome for many motorists and their passengers. It is the chance to take a quick break from the road and driving. The opportunity just to catch a few minutes fresh and have a quick stretch of the legs before setting off again to complete the journey. They can be very handy if you urgently need the toilet and you are a long way off your final destination. The Welcome Break service station on the M3 Between London and the south, is one that I have had stopped at on a number of occassions.
The prices that you will encounter at Welcome Break motorway service stations in the United Kingdom are, in all fairness, extortionate. This is no different to some of the companies that operate either. They charge way over the odds for basic goods that you could buy elsewhere for around two thirds of the price. I nicked a lift off of my sister and her boyfriend back to London a couple of weeks ago and I was feeling a bit peckish as I hadn't eaten any breakfast. I went into the petrol station shop and purchased a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a chocolate bar and a bottle of water. I was a little bored too so I bought a couple of tabloid newspapers. They came to a total of £6.77, which is an awful for lot compared to what you would pay in a 'normal' place. If I were to buy the same things from a branch of Tesco Express, I would estimate that they would come in at just under £5 which isn’t too bad.
The petrol prices that you find at motorway service stations, including Welcome Break, are the one thing that bugs me most. The prices at the pump tend to be around 8p a litre higher than those in more accessible areas, if that is the right way to say it. That means for every 10 litres that you pay for, you would have got one free had you purchased it elsewhere. If people have pulled into a service station to buy petrol because they are running low, they don’t exactly have a choice whether to fill up or not. This way, they have the customer over a barrel and seemingly charge what they like. The worst place that I have come across is Fleet Services in Hampshire, the prices that the Shell garage charges are massive.
There are those that say, I must admit that I do agree that you are paying for the convenience. It is much the same as 24 hour or 'open 'til late' convenience stores; they are there for you when most shops are closed. In order that they operate in different circumstances to provide you with a service, they can charge that little bit more. The motorway services are rather cunning, in that just by being there people feel compelled to make use of what is being offered. They also have a policy that if the customer wants something they will pay whatever they have to, because there isn't any other alternative. They do also stock quite a wide range of products, which is to their credit.
The restaurant facilities that you tend to get in these service stations tend to be very poor, although that is only a generalisation. I am not saying that there are no good quality food services to be found, but on the whole they are very poor. They are on the whole, very poorly kept. They are dirty and grubby, as well as lots of litter and bits of food lying around. The staff that work in these places, bless them, must be on fairly low wages and therefore very demotivated and in some cases disillusioned with their role. As a result, they have no desire to keep the facilities in good order. The food that is on offer is pretty poor too. You know what to expect from the usual fast food chains, so I won't even go there. The other restaurants that provide more civilised surroundings and slightly better cuisine are of a relatively low standard. The food isn't at all great and the service isn't much better.
The Welcome Break at Fleet, has a Burger King, McDonalds, KFC and Little Chef as well as a two petrol stations and other shops. The two sides are linked by a concealed pedestrian footbridge that allows you to cross from one side to the other with ease. There are plenty of toilets and telephones that the public can use, as well as a load of arcade machines for people to waste their money on. It is often very busy at all times of the day and throughout the year. In certain parts of the summer, it is rammed and in most cases it is pointless trying to get in and out of there unless you are prepared to wait your turn.
All in all, I would say that you should only really stop at the services if you are going, or have been on, a long journey and need a break. I would definitely say that drivers stop and take a five minute break from driving and that others just get a bit of air and have a little stroll. There should be no need to buy anything from the services, provided that you are well prepared for your journey. Only a little emergency should result in you splashing your cash on the overpriced goods on sale. The services are there for your convenience and I have to say that they can be mini lifelines for some people in certain situations. The only reason that we stop at Welcome Break, is if one of us needs the toilet urgently and in any case just to stretch our legs for a minute.
Advantages: Food - if you're starving Disadvantages: Lots - see op
...A1 / A303. Welcome Break are visited by me more than any others, so I'll write this opnion on them though it could be any one of the big chains! They also have the Days Inn lodges and offer meeting rooms at the sites with lodges. These I assume (having never stayed in one) will be full of business men and travelliong sales men..)
Specifically, I've regularly used the following services.
Corley M6
Oxford M40 (absolutely fantastic place). Warwick ... ...of hell on earth, not welcome break havens. Usually I go to services for just a few things - petrol, or the loo, or ciggies. Getting petrol normally isn't too bad, as Welcome Breaks' stations are large, well laid out and have toilets as well. The petrol station shops are starting to become more like cafes in their own right with fresh coffee, fresh baguettes, wide ranges of snacks and a few motor spares and accessories you might need for your journey. ...
Lightpants 10.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Welcome Break
Advantages: LIGHT, AIRY BUILDING, AND GOOD CHOICE OF FOOD Disadvantages: SERVICE CAN BE SLOW FOR THE FOOD
...off JUNCTION 2, is the WELCOME BREAK services of HOPWOOD PARK.
I have visited these services over a dozen times in the last two years. This has been whilst going on holiday, or mainly, whilst doing the taxi run, transporting my daughter between CARDIFF university, and home in NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
This site has been visited therefore at all times of the year.
The site itself is fairly new, having opened up in 1999. It is not one of the largest sites ... ...way in, or out, take your pick, is a petrol station with the usual selection.
The car park can get full at busy times of the year.
There are spaces for 500 cars, 10 caravans, 36 hgv, and 14 coach spaces. Disabled people are well catered for with 15 spaces just outside the main entrance, and there are also spaces for parent and child.
Being a caravan owner, i find the caravan spaces tend to fill up quickly, especially during the summer.
Access ...
JABBY 17.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Welcome Break
Advantages: if you need to "go", then they are useful, Costa Coffee Disadvantages: price, choice, not enough of them
I always stop at this service station between junction 28 and 29 on the M1-not because I particularly like service stations, because I don't, but because it's the one service station I know that you can get a decent cup of coffee- Costa Coffee has a franchise on this site. I have driven past more than one other service station on a journey up or down the M1 to stop at this one, located near Nottingham. These services are relatively new so they are ... ...building and the facilities. Compared to some service stations, they are palatial. The grounds are pleasant, and well lit at night so you can stop without fear of walking in an unlit carpark. Important especially if you are a woman. I like to feel safe. I have stopped here at 3 in the morning on the way down to London, and parked my car, got out and used the facilities without feeling threatened. Costa Coffee wasn't open at that time of night, by ...
ginger59 08.04.2003 (26.06.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Welcome Break
Advantages: good facilities Disadvantages: expensive in parts
...part of our road systems. Welcome break have many motorway service stations situated all over the UK, and they are all very similar. Fuel stations which are reasonably priced, seeing as though they are on a motorway! Many have a burger king,or Mcdonalds or a similar type of food outlet, the prices at these are the same as if you were buying food in the high street. The newsagents at the areas are of good standard, and supply many magazines, books, ... ...They have small ammusement arcades to fill time whilst resting from driving.
The coffee bars and cafes are of a good standard but they are rather expensive.
Welcome breaks and indeed other motorway service areas should regularly be used for short rest periods for each and every driver. ...
willsmj 05.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Welcome Break
Advantages: freshly cooked, tasty, nice environment,clean Disadvantages: expensive but who cares
...recommend to everyone to get up on a sunday morning and take a trip to the motorway services but what i do recommend is if you are going on holiday and stop at a welcome break, splash out a l;ittle and treat yourself to a Big Breakfast. Delightful. xx ...
blondgem 18.11.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Welcome Break
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