ROG:
Whether in truck or car, I never buy from the services unless there is no other option.
I can usually find a large superstore close to a motoway and a nice chat with their security usually gets a truck ■■■■■■■■■■■■ for a short time
EDIT to add -
I wonder if the large supermarket chains could take over and run motorway services and combine them with their usual superstores.
Access from the motorway for commercials combined with access from the A road(s) nearby for the usual shoppers
That would be a no goer, Under present legislation Rog as MSA’s are not supposed to be a destination in their own right. So lots of restrictions are placed on MSA’s (but maybe a bit of supermarket creep is going on) you would end up with all the service area’s as an extra M/Way jnc (Think 19 M6) and the chaos you have around there.
There no way i can pay MSA prices even the fast food bit, and the food looks dodgy. I use Mickeys 500m from jnc 7 M53, excellent food and room for big un’s to turn, park up etc and reasonable prices. But i suppose by law he ain’t got to be open paying for staff 24/7 when no one’s using the facilities.
I take most of my food with me. but supermarkets are normarly accsessable in a truck if you dont mind a walk. i would never buy food from a msa. over priced muck. last time i did kfc had run out of all cold drinks and i had to wash spicy chicken down with hot coffee .
With the sole exception of the M&S outlets I can think of not one single MSA where i would be tempted to part with my cash.
Unlike most of the rest of Europe British MSA operators appear to take the view that their customers including car drivers are simply wallets to be emptied in return for overpriced poor quality food, dirty and or run down facilities and of course in our case exorbitant parking fees.
The sad thing is that the situation hasnt changed in donkeys years because no one in government has any interest in making things change. Lets face it, when did you last hear of a member of the British government using a service area?
Hombre:
‘…no one in government has any interest in making things change …when did you last hear of a member of the British government using a service area?..’
Hmmm, we not only vote for them but also seemingly advocate ‘their system’ that provides jeans at £5 a pop.
Like most drivers, I avoid them like the plague and only use them for 1’s or 2’s. I think our friends from the east have the right idea with a bowl of camion stew from the trailer box !
sweedishsix:
i would like to know how the justify the prices on msa,s they say the rent is high then would that be set by the council who in turn do not want us to park in there towns/industrial areas or is that because a good truck cost 100k they think we are all made of money it is the same with some aftermarket toys to help us when we are out ie tv■■? truck stop price£399.99for a 12volt tv/dvd combo yet in asda you can buy a 15 inch tv/dvd combi that runs of 12volt and its lcd ■■?cost £125 are we being ripped of oh yes from every corner but hey thats my opinion for what its worth
Though it was some years ago (1980s) so not sure if it has changed, anyway I was told that the reason MSA prices are so high is that under the licence agreement they are obligated to provide hot meals 24 hours a day, which means providing /paying staff to work nights regardless of a lack of customer demand, and so this sometimes unnecessary cost is passed on to all items sold at an MSA,
stampy:
Though it was some years ago (1980s) so not sure if it has changed, anyway I was told that the reason MSA prices are so high is that under the licence agreement they are obligated to provide hot meals 24 hours a day, which means providing /paying staff to work nights regardless of a lack of customer demand, and so this sometimes unnecessary cost is passed on to all items sold at an MSA,
if that’s true Sedgemoor (S) and Taunton Deane aren’t fulfilling their obligations - no hot food after 9pm at either
i normally cook my own stuff in the cab, but when im been lazy normally 3 times a week, i get something from burgar king or macdonds, some places charge more than others, yet woodall prices are the same as in the high street! but on a 45min break i sometimes get a sandwich as a snack, but for value magor services was best, £11 to park and a £% mean voucher, worth over £10 on food in the cafe!!
When I was on the road I always used to take my own food to make sure I had something decent.
Fast food is an absolute last resort - I am not a burger or KFC fan at all and sometimes chose to go hungry rather than eat what they have on offer.
The best option is a good home cooked meal in a proper truckstop cafe but those are now so few and far between they are like gold dust.
About twenty quid to park and a meal voucher for 7/8 quid not for me thanks a tenner spent in a supermarket will keep me fed for a week easier to find a layby or truckstop.
fast food only due to getting vouchers with every fill-up. so thats a coffee in the morning and a hot
chocolate some afternoons, a burger if an early finish means a late game of golf( not often enough) and constant reordering of uniform trousers. for some reason.
MSA’s in the UK are only for the three S’s in my opinion.
Wifey freezes portions of food she cooks for the family the week before, I also always have tins of stuff and sandwich making gear in the fridge. A couple of ready meals from camping shops also I’m addicted to the chicken balti from Blacks around £4 a meal and much better than the MSA. Also pubs with the meal deals get my vote £3.95 for a carvery before 6.30pm
Luckily I’m normally over the pond so all I have to watch out for is Mental Cheese (sic) never liked the stuff!!
msa restaurants only stay in business as they have a captive audience,people wont stray from the mway on a journey,so are left with no choice but to eat there,or pack lunch.if they were serving food of that standard and price in a high st cafe,theyd be out of business in a week!
The only food I buy in a services is from M&S, some of there prices are not bad and they have a few 2 for 1 deals on some things like bags of fruit and certain drinks so you can buy for today and tomorrow in one go.
and i had to wash spicy chicken down with hot coffee . 
