James Byard, Business Director on All you need to know about Motorway Service Stations, ahead of the 16.5m leisure trips this Bank Holiday

“We’re going to Grandpa’s this weekend.” I say to Phoebe, my 6-year-old daughter.

“What, on the motorway? Can we get pancakes at McDonald’s? Pleeeaase!”

My kids love travelling on the motorway. Or motorwave as they still insist on calling it. It means we’re going somewhere exciting, and they are set for fun and treats.

For me, a morning trip up north to see the in-laws always sees me change my routine. I won’t have a coffee or breakfast, saving myself for a big feast at the services.

It is always a toss-up between Northampton and Watford Gap. Both have a McDonald’s. It’s purely a question of how hungry I get as to whether I can push on that bit further to Watford Gap.

I love the amusing stories a conversation about motorway service stations bring. The negotiations over how soon it’s acceptable to stop, the conflicting needs of Starbucks and Costa lovers, the debate over whether there’s enough petrol to keep going a bit more.

People love talking about them because they’re the fun part of any long road trip.

Satisfaction rates of all who visit them average 94%, surprisingly high you might think. But motorway service areas (or MSAs) have undergone a transformation in recent years, benefitting from sustained investment, and this is set to continue in the years to come. There are several factors at play in this renaissance:

More people are driving long distances more often. Audiences are up 6% vs 2019, and people are staying for longer, and spending more while they’re there. Last year saw £3bn of non-fuel sales as people enjoyed everything from a Nando’s, to a Greggs, to a Leon, to an ice cream, and of course, a coffee.

Pret are one of the latest to seek retail space following a trial which showed sales 25% higher than some of their town centre stores.

Beyond satisfying our tummies, there are play areas for the kids, business centres, dog walking areas, hotels and even, in a few places, picnic areas by serene lakes.

So much to help us recharge our batteries that we now stay in excess of 20 minutes.

There’s another question too, amongst electric vehicle drivers. Which has the fastest charging hubs? MSAs offer the most used charging hubs in the country. £1bn has been invested by the government and more from car manufacturers like Tesla, to make worry free journeys the length and breadth of the country possible by EV.

For the MSA’s, their critical role in the charging infrastructure of the country has been a further catalyst for investment in the ever-broadening facilities they offer. Such is the long-term planning that even in 2020, £200m was invested in brand new service areas.

Ahead of this weekend’s Bank Holiday, and an expected 16.5m leisure trips being made, where will you stop and why?

And finally, some advice for all parents out there. Some new research from Dr James Hind of Nottingham Trent University has calculated the time it takes for toddlers to throw a tantrum in a long car journey at 70 minutes.

So, get ready to offer some pancakes!

Have a great bank holiday.