Lancaster services on M6 named among the UK's 10 worst-rated
Lancaster services on the M6 has been named the sixth-lowest rated motorway services in the UK, in a new ranking built from what drivers say about service areas on Google.
The Moto site at Forton, between junctions 32 and 33, averages 3.65 stars from 12,798 reviews across both sides of the motorway. Its latest 100 reviews are a little kinder, averaging 4.06 stars.
The ranking comes from family holiday specialists at Ski Famille, who analysed Google ratings for 97 motorway service areas across the UK this month, ahead of the October half-term getaway.
Each service area was ranked by its average score, worked out from its full star breakdown, with both sides of the motorway combined where Google lists them separately.
Further north on the M6, Tebay services in Cumbria is the fourth highest-rated in the UK with 4.34 stars from 39,070 reviews, and Killington Lake is ninth.
Bridgwater services on the M5 in Somerset is the UK's worst-rated with 3.05 stars.
Alex Dyer, managing director at Ski Famille, said: “Most families will stop at least once on a long half-term drive, and the gap between a good service station and a poor one can be a single junction.
"It's worth looking up the next couple of stops before you set off, rather than pulling in wherever the fuel light comes on.
"For parents, clean toilets and somewhere for the kids to stretch their legs matter far more than a big food court, and that's what the top-rated sites get right.”
The UK's 10 lowest-rated motorway services on Google
Bridgwater (Moto), M5, Somerset: 3.05 stars from 9,994 reviews
Leeming Bar (Moto), A1(M), North Yorkshire: 3.26 stars from 2,151 reviews
Severn View (Moto), M48, South Gloucestershire: 3.60 stars from 2,252 reviews
Bothwell (Roadchef), M74, South Lanarkshire: 3.63 stars from 1,257 reviews
Frankley (Moto), M5, Worcestershire: 3.64 stars from 9,466 reviews
Lancaster (Moto), M6, Lancashire: 3.65 stars from 12,798 reviews
Gordano (Welcome Break), M5, North Somerset: 3.66 stars from 9,218 reviews
Sedgemoor Northbound (Welcome Break), M5, Somerset: 3.68 stars from 4,994 reviews
Scotch Corner (Moto), A1(M), North Yorkshire: 3.71 stars from 6,599 reviews
Knutsford (Moto), M6, Cheshire: 3.71 stars from 10,500 reviews
The UK's 10 highest-rated motorway services on Google
Rotherham (Welcome Break), M1, South Yorkshire: 4.81 stars from 2,909 reviews
Rugby (Moto), M6, Warwickshire: 4.52 stars from 8,743 reviews
Gloucester (Westmorland Family), M5, Gloucestershire: 4.45 stars from 41,924 reviews
Tebay (Westmorland Family), M6, Cumbria: 4.34 stars from 39,070 reviews
Templepatrick (Applegreen), M2, County Antrim: 4.27 stars from 2,430 reviews
Leeds Skelton Lake (Extra), M1, West Yorkshire: 4.26 stars from 1,913 reviews
Cairn Lodge (Westmorland Family), M74, South Lanarkshire: 4.23 stars from 6,951 reviews
Lisburn (Applegreen), M1, County Antrim: 4.22 stars from 3,416 reviews
Killington Lake (Roadchef), M6, Cumbria: 4.22 stars from 4,640 reviews
Beaconsfield (Extra), M40, Buckinghamshire: 4.16 stars from 24,167 reviews
Where two service areas show the same rating, the exact average decides the order. Service areas with fewer than 500 Google reviews, and one site whose main building is currently closed, were not included.
A Moto spokesperson said: “A great customer experience is hugely important to us and we continually listen to feedback to understand where we can make improvements across our sites.
“While this particular ranking is based on publicly submitted Google reviews, which can vary considerably in volume and over time between individual locations, broader independent customer research provides a different picture.
"The in-depth Transport Focus Motorway Services User Survey found that 94% of respondents were either satisfied or fairly satisfied with their experience at Moto sites.
“We nevertheless take every piece of customer feedback seriously and will continue investing in our facilities and working with our teams to give motorists the best possible experience when they stop with us.”