After surveying thousands of motorists, Which? named Gloucester Services the best in the UK. Located on the M5 motorway between junctions 11A and 12, there are two services, and I’ve visited both of them. Gloucester Services prides itself on the fresh food made in its kitchen, as well as working with 130 producers within 30 miles.
They said they make their own food as people make it at home, and I have to say, this is evident throughout the kitchen and farmshop. The website also states that everything they sell is the best they can find, which includes bakers, brewers, growers, farmers, cakemakers, cheesemakers, coffee roasters and craftspeolpe.
Although it looked good, I wasn’t a fan of bread and pastries left in the open at the front of the services. The pastries looked dry, and the bread had seen better days, but everything else seemed to be covered.
It was also quite an overwhelming experience, as there was food, fresh goods, homeware, clothing everywhere you looked, and there wasn’t a lot of space, and it was very busy.
The services is home to a fresh cheese counter, deli and meat counter, which looked great but a little inconvenient if you were not going straight home after.
I do love a proper butcher’s, and if I were on my way home, I definitely would’ve picked up some fresh meat. There was everything from hand-pressed burgers to sausages and plenty of sausage rolls, quiches and samosas.
The cheese counter was impressive, with a range of handmade cheeses from Gloucestershire and the South West as well as speciality cheeses from across the UK and Europe.
The gift section is endless, with a children’s area, foodie section, clothing and more. It was impressive, and I could’ve spent a fortune, but the majority of items can be found online for cheaper.
As much as I love Gloucester Services, and have been there a few times now, there are two words which sum it up: very expensive.
It was nearly £4 for a small homemade brownie or blondie, which, in my opinion, is very expensive. Did it taste homemade? Absolutely, and it was delicious, but I’d never pay that price again. Similarly, in the to-go range, a chicken Caesar wrap set me back nearly £8. Again, it tasted delicious, but nothing really seemed to be affordable.
At the patisserie counter, a macaron was also £3.85, which I would never pay. If you wanted a chocolate lolly, it would set you back £5.95.
Around the services, there are also small stands of various chocolates, including tea cakes, lollies and seasonal goods. A chocolate teacake, although homemade, cost £3.85.
If you’re after a sit-down meal, their kitchen is where you can find an array of dishes, with everything from full English breakfasts in the morning to lasagne and pies until late.
The services also say its in-house bakers use traditional recipes and cupboard ingredients to bake cakes, scones and traybakes you find in the kitchen.
However, taking into account that it is a service station, so prices are steeper anyway, and the fact that they work with producers locally, I was more than happy to pay some of the prices.
Plus, the services also have a partnership with Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, and up to 3p in every £1 spent in the farmshop and kitchen is invested in local communities.
It was also a lovely experience and helped stretch the legs on a long journey to North Wales, and I’d recommend it to anyone if you’re prepared to spend a small fortune.