Poll shames Rownhams Services on M27 as among worst in UK

But one service station in Hampshire is hardly feeling flushed with success, having been voted one of the worst in the country.

A poll has rated Rownhams Services, between junctions three and four on the M27, among Britain’s worst.

Families, salesmen, truckers and delivery drivers were asked to give their views of service stations and whether they would recommend them to others.

Bolton West, on the M61 in Lancashire, was shamed as the worst in the country, whereas Beaconsfield services on the M40 came out as favourite for those taking a break.

But the reviews of Rownhams weren’t entirely complimentary.

One motorist said: “We saw three or four flies on the food in the serving trays and, along with another family, walked out.”

Another reviewer reported dirty toilets, saying: “The basins had thick black grime over them and couldn’t have been cleaned for days.

“They were so bad I went and washed my hands in my caravan in the car park.”

But it wasn’t all bad news for the b e l e a g u e r e d motorway stop.

One customer commented: “I’ve found the food and service very good and parking has always been available.”

R o w n h a m s Services, which opened in 1985, is on both sides of the M27 and is operated by RoadChef.

F a c i l i t i e s include free wireless Internet, toilets, a children’s play area and a display showing live traffic information.

Diners can choose between Wimpy, Costa Coffee and RoadChef ’s own café RestBite. But travellers between Portsmouth and the New Forest have few options apart from Rownhams Services, as it’s the only motorway stop on the M27.

RoadChef said that it was keen to learn from the comments customers had made.

Site director Mark Densley said: “Thousands of people pass through the doors here at Rownhams every day and our team works extremely hard to create a positive experience for all visiting customers.

“While we are very proud of the site, we are always on the lookout for new ways to improve different areas of the business, be it catering, retail or general operations.”

Rownhams Review

Daily Echo reporter Bethan Phillips came off the M27 and sampled the delights of Rownhams Services

IT didn’t bode well. I’d been given the assignment of eating lunch at one of the worst motorway stops in the country and on my way down a matrix sign flashed the message ‘No fuel at next services’.

If you’re like me and generally leave refuelling until the petrol light comes on, that announcement could cause considerable panic.

With some trepidation, I negotiated my way into Rownhams Services, avoiding the odd large pothole, and began my quest to find out why this was one of Britain’s worst.

Following the well-trodden path of many travellers on a much-needed loo break, I headed straight for the toilets.

Judging by reviews I’d read, I was expecting an unpleasant smell or two, but they actually rated pretty highly on the service station scale.

OK, I’d been to flashier loos, but they were clean and had impressively powerful hand dryers.

Next stop – food.

Secretly relishing the chance to eat mushy peas, I ordered fish and chips from a friendly member of staff.

As service station grub goes, it was a decent portion and pretty tasty.

And in the two-for-£10 deal, it seemed like good value.

Talking to manager Steve White, he assured me that the lack of fuel on the eastbound side was down to a power cut, which was being sorted out urgently.

So the food’s fine, the toilets are clean and no one stole my car.

Can you really hope for more from a service station?

Britain’s worst rated service stations:

1. Bolton West Services
2. Toddington Services
3. Knutsford Services
4. Birch Services
5. Clacket Lane Services
6. Hilton Park Services
7. Maidstone Services
8. Rownhams Services
9. Charnock Richard Services
10. Sandbach Services