They’re not the most glamorous of places, and not the kind of place I like to frequent (if possible) but what’s your worst service area/truck stop.
Mine: Lymm - wouldn’t let my dog ■■■■ in those toilets, and to charge you for a shower when they don’t clean the bloody things! 
Colsterworth, an utter dump. All the money they rake in yet you’re parked in a muddy field. I’d rather eat the rotten food at Markham moor and park on Tarmac than use Colsterworth. And then they have the cheek to issue a pathetic food voucher to bring the cost back down to what it should be anyway.
Any Road Chef ones.
Lymm with it’s awful truck accessories shop full of all ride crap.
Not so much a Service area, more a Truckstop…Lincoln Farm, it’s a bit like ‘Life on Mars’ a trip back to the seventies. I know,… I first used it in 79, it aint changed! (apart from no more Strippers. 
)
Roasts are stodgy, frys are greasy, (sorry if it’s just me btw 
) but I suppose if people still park there in numbers as they do, it won’t change.
Well as all the ones mentioned are my regulars I may be in the minority but I do like a bit of rough…
Tris:
Colsterworth, an utter dump. All the money they rake in yet you’re parked in a muddy field. I’d rather eat the rotten food at Markham moor and park on Tarmac than use Colsterworth. And then they have the cheek to issue a pathetic food voucher to bring the cost back down to what it should be anyway.
Agree with the parking area opinion, but the food at Colsterworth aint too bad, better than a lot of places last time I was there.
Are you seriously saying you would rather eat crap food as long as you parked on tarmac, than eat half decent food (albeit overpriced in your opinion) and park on inferior surfaces. 
Never heard that one before mate.
Dipper_Dave:
Well as all the ones mentioned are my regulars I may be in the minority but I do like a bit of rough…
Newark is the best option out of the three on that stretch of the A1 IMHO.
Michaelwood, a complete ■■■■■■■■ staffed by inbred unfriendly half-humans.
robroy:
Tris:
Colsterworth, an utter dump. All the money they rake in yet you’re parked in a muddy field. I’d rather eat the rotten food at Markham moor and park on Tarmac than use Colsterworth. And then they have the cheek to issue a pathetic food voucher to bring the cost back down to what it should be anyway.Agree with the parking area opinion, but the food at Colsterworth aint too bad, better than a lot of places last time I was there.
Are you seriously saying you would rather eat crap food as long as you parked on tarmac, than eat half decent food (albeit overpriced in your opinion) and park on inferior surfaces.
Never heard that one before mate.
Yes, the last time I was there I had clean boots and had cleaned my mats then had to squelch across that ■■■■ hole of a parking area. Add on all the ■■■■ that clogs up the spray suppression and parking there probably creates an hours work to put things back to how they were before I pulled in.
I’d rather park in a lay-by and cook my own food.
Each to their own but parking surface is a minor consideration for me, but I prefer a rough surface as it soaks up me ■■■■ better.
I do like to be fairly level though.
Tris:
robroy:
Tris:
Colsterworth, an utter dump. All the money they rake in yet you’re parked in a muddy field. I’d rather eat the rotten food at Markham moor and park on Tarmac than use Colsterworth. And then they have the cheek to issue a pathetic food voucher to bring the cost back down to what it should be anyway.Agree with the parking area opinion, but the food at Colsterworth aint too bad, better than a lot of places last time I was there.
Are you seriously saying you would rather eat crap food as long as you parked on tarmac, than eat half decent food (albeit overpriced in your opinion) and park on inferior surfaces.
Never heard that one before mate.Yes, the last time I was there I had clean boots and had cleaned my mats then had to squelch across that [zb] hole of a parking area. Add on all the [zb] that clogs up the spray suppression and parking there probably creates an hours work to put things back to how they were before I pulled in.
I’d rather park in a lay-by and cook my own food.
Know what you mean about dirty boots and mats mate, I am also a bit arsey about keeping interior clean (maybe not as bad as you though bud, couldn’t give a ■■■■ about spray surpression )
Cook or microwave a lot myself but never use lay bys.
Colsterworth is ok for the bar and Sky Sports for me, but as you say a better parking surface would be better, but not my priority or first consideration tbh. 
Eurogarages worst by far ,disgusting .
I think Lucy should write an article for T and D on the suggestions made in this thread. The “services” operators’ responses/excuses would make interesting reading.
Moto MSA’s seem to be the worst for me. Thurrock is a hell hole. £28 to park there now without a meal voucher.
Muckaway:
Any Road Chef ones.
Lymm with it’s awful truck accessories shop full of all ride crap.
Says the man who used to have frilly curtains in a day cab 
tango boy:
Muckaway:
Any Road Chef ones.
Lymm with it’s awful truck accessories shop full of all ride crap.Says the man who used to have frilly curtains in a day cab
Nowt worse than your unit going in for a service and having to drive around in one with grandad curtains.
tango boy:
Muckaway:
Any Road Chef ones.
Lymm with it’s awful truck accessories shop full of all ride crap.Says the man who used to have frilly curtains in a day cab
Never had any curtains in a day cab, had a day cabbed Scania that came with a pelmet jobbie thing. It swayed around in front of my eyes so much it almost hypnotised me into thinking I had a good job. I say it nearly did.
Not allowed “any of that poncey crap” I’ve been told. My boss only just tolerates my nameplate in the window but he takes it out just to move my truck in the yard to wash it.
Tris:
tango boy:
Muckaway:
Any Road Chef ones.
Lymm with it’s awful truck accessories shop full of all ride crap.Says the man who used to have frilly curtains in a day cab
Nowt worse than your unit going in for a service and having to drive around in one with grandad curtains.
What are ‘Grandad curtains’ ?
robroy:
Tris:
tango boy:
Muckaway:
Any Road Chef ones.
Lymm with it’s awful truck accessories shop full of all ride crap.Says the man who used to have frilly curtains in a day cab
Nowt worse than your unit going in for a service and having to drive around in one with grandad curtains.
What are ‘Grandad curtains’ ?
Yes do tell 
I can imagine Grand Ma curtains as being gingham with a nice lace trim, but Grand Dad ones? Maybe nicotine yellowed from the pipe smoke? Or brown n yellow stripes like a Werther`s Original?