On this day 50 years ago (1976): the M275 opened, along with M27 J9-12. An unusual contract which involved taking spoil from Fareham and carrying it by conveyor belt to Portsmouth Harbour, where the roads were built in the sea. Along its route were several unused bridges: at IBM, Tipner and Rudmore.

After all the fun of Bolton West years ago, people ask me what the current worst service station is. Honestly, none are in that league. But if we're looking for the 'most depressing entry', Knutsford gets let off way too lightly. Most of it was once brown brick. Who signed off the cladding?!

Did you know? It would take Usain Bolt 9.58 seconds to run the length of the footbridge at Washington services. I would like this to be confirmed one day.

On this day 50 years ago (1976): a close call at Newport Pagnell, when AA patrolman Charlie Hough spotted a holdall filled with wires in the car park. He moved it to an open space shortly before it exploded. Service stations had to be on high alert during this difficult period for transport.

Sutterton Roadside Diner to close

Former Brechin roadside restaurant reopens today

Anybody have any contacts at Medway services to bring this offer back?

Statistically our followers are more likely to be Burger King drive thru users, so do make sure Burger King know how you feel about this

Everything gravitates to the centre: Roadchef to reinstate Pret A Manger units after success with Moto, Welcome Break and MFG

It's SRT Petroleum, a petrol station somewhere on the slow road between Dorchester and Bristol

Is it Half Term? Online newspapers are recycling an old story about Gloucester being the best service station. Here's the write-up they're referring to

This Valentines weekend, pull off at a service station

British infrastructure planning has claimed another victim, as the planned Catterick services for the A1(M) has had its planning permission revoked, following concern raised by rival Moto about its flood risk considerations.

My feed is just wall-to-wall service station influencers. Even I think you guys need a life.

The A4260 (old A43) still has a blue 'Services' sign at Peartree! Blue was the colour unofficially used by the Department of Transport for a select number of service areas on A-roads, before green signs were authorised in 1982.

The former Buckingham Little Chef, which became a Starbucks, has closed

Hello, England! (Pictured: England)

Indoor golf experience opens at Doddington services

OK Diner at Elwick services has been told to close down

First 'Electric Freightway' eHGV motorway charging points open at Exeter and Baldock services

⚠️ M1 northbound ⚠️ Lusk service area on the M1 northbound is CLOSED due to flooding at the roundabout.

The Comfort Café truckstop, which closed in 2018, is set to be turned into an industrial unit

It is officially the most barren "Services" sign (and yes it's also the wrong colour)

Since posting an anti-AI rant, this website has gone offline twice. First time was because of a complicated operational limit I don't understand. Second time was because I installed an update without reading the changelog and then went to lunch. That's how a website should be run.

ICYMI: The independent A-road service area called 'Cornwall' has been purchased by Welcome Break.

The Wetherspoon pub at Beaconsfield services, a subject of controversy when it opened, has quietly closed

Welcome Break have announced their purchase of Cornwall services. I was going to tell you to read our coverage (link: motorwayservices.uk/Cornwall#Sale ), but we can't get you a picture better than what Reach Plc are using for this story:

I can't find it because Google's a mess, but somebody once wrote that our website is "old fashioned", in a way "the web needs more of" As more and more websites feel broken, stick two fingers up at AI summaries, video, data tracking and trolling by reading a massive page about a service station

Aliens, innit?

How many of roads.org.uk 's references did you spot?

Was scrolling through waiting for a punchline and actually it makes a very good point

Things can disappear before you realise. How many of our former operators did you realise aren't named on the motorways any more?

If I happen to spot a cock-up on signs I *will* document it, even if you fix it...

Sometimes it can feel like you've seen all the historic evidence you're going to see, and other days you stumble into a picture of Welcome Break Pease Pottage

It's surprisingly rare, but the McDonald's at Hazelgrove services has closed following the opening of the new bypass

Why nobody knows what colour this road sign is

On a permanent sign?!

What happened to the UK's quirky independent operators? You won't any these days.

Basingstoke councillors raise concerns about "critical shortage of HGV parking" and then oppose planned Basingstoke services

Moto and Welcome Break have published their detailed Christmas opening hours, finally revealing what a good portion of the road network will be offering over the festive period

Rownhams services robbed as staff forced into toilets

I have read this trash so that you don't have to, and the only complaint I could find was that she wanted to eat all the cheese.

Used to think the longest thing in the world was the walk to the toilets at Rugby services, but after watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw I'm not so sure.

It appears that EG Group are installing these signs at all of their sites, seemingly without LHA approval given the flag signs are wrong sized, and placed well before a turn, and do not meet the requirements for non-motorway service area facility signs. @motorwayservices.uk Have you spotted any?

Moto begins removing West Cornwall Pasty Co. units from service stations

A lot of online newspapers are running a Christmas story about the best service station. It's based largely on our data with little attribution. So you can see the actual list of your top-rated service stations here:

Christmas advert idea. You stop driving because the weather is bad. Then you get snowed in at a service station. But it's OK because it's Beaconsfield services and there's actually loads to do.

We don't use Cloudflare, so while the internet is offline, why not read about service stations?

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