The antidote to rip-off Britain - please add

[Justin Case]

No need to get ripped off at motorway service stations, there are still places within sight of motorway junctions where you can save ££££££ and Autoshiters would feel quite at home

 

So to start it off:

 

Morrison's Bescot, (Walsall) just off junction 9 of the M6 (first junction North past where the M5 joins). Cheap petrol (and points on their card), cafe serving meals and snacks, spotless loos and milk chocolate at 31p a bar if you don't mind the bright yellow wrapper showing you up as a cheapskate when you put it on the conveyor to pay The car park is big and normally half-empty so you could probably get away with anything up to 7.5 tonnes.

 

Also just the other side of the junction Ikea (the one you can see from the motorway) will do you a full(ish) English breakfast IN THE WEEK for 99p if you can bear the shame of carrying a card that says YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE IKEA FAMILY but I've never seen anything bigger than a hired transit in the car park.

 

So, anything else for the weary Autoshiter. Feel free to add

[eddyramrod]

Bamber Bridge, Preston; I think it's J29 of the M6 (used to know them all by heart, it's frightening how fast you forget), take A6 Preston and very swiftly you come to a nice big Sainsbury store. I've eaten in their cafe, so it's good enough, but not sure where you would put a wagon. IIRC the car park is a bit restricted, and you can bet you'll be unwelcome in anything bigger than a Volvo 740 anyway. I got my Buick in though....

[sporty-shite]

Tesco Horwich (Nr Bolton) just off J6 of M61, couple of miles south of the worst motorway services in Britain (allegedly). Decently priced fuel, and acceptable scran.

 

Likewise, Tesco Prestwich, just off J17 M60.

 

Oh, and I've got an IKEA Family Card. Cheap meatballs FTW!

[CreepingJesus]

^Ikea ftw! I used to drive for the Edinburgh branch - the staff prices are ludicrously cheap, and they don't mind handing out seconds. You wouldn't get a truck in the car park, but there's an industrial estate beside it, half of which is vacant, so no probs there.

I'm going to put in a massive shout for three of the independent service areas, here in Scotland. Stracathro, just north of Brechin on the A90: Ballinluig, between Dunkeld and Pitlochry on the A9: and the one on the A96, in the middle of nowhere - I think it's called 'The Birchwood', but I could be wrong. All truck,bus and caravan friendly; fuel/fags/sweets not the cheapest, but then where is? Good fresh food, from local suppliers, at very reasonable prices. At the first two, at least, you can actually buy fuses, bulbs and bodging supplies!

Scotland's small towns don't let us down with their municipal car parks either: there are truck and bus spaces (with overnight parking allowed) in Huntly and Dunkeld that I've used. Ideal, both 'cos they have toilets, and 'cos their respective High Streets are only a short stagger away. The towns themselves aren't particularly cheap, but they're waaaay better than MSA's. The one in Kirkcaldy has a toilet and shower block, and a fairly ok-ish snack hut. Pity it's on the shitty end of the prom. Lock your locks...

Where else? Hmmm... Asda in Kingstown industrial estate, Carlisle. The industrial estate's signposted off J44 (iirc) M6, Asda's just up the main road on the right. King of the 'sneaky ones', has to be the Showcase Cinema, just by Coatbridge. I've never had to use it myself, but there's a bit of unused access road that no-one seems to mind being used as a park-up. When you see it from the A8, get off at the junction, drive up towards Coatbridge, in the roundabout, and back toward the A8. Up to the end, turn about...bingo! A cinema, pizza, curry, Mexican; what more do you want?

[CreepingJesus]

Where's The Birchwood on the A96?

 

That's what I was trying to remember! I checked it up, and it's actually the Ashgrove (easy mistake to make ), up near Huntly. I remember being there, due to trying to get some kip and finding the 1/4" thick mattress was both crunchy and soggy. That and the autoshite round the back of the garage.

Sadly, I don't get up that stretch much anymore: that gig was rounded off by filling the rancid EuroCargo full of red, and not going back. None of the supermarkets give me much work up that way either.

Oh, and I forgot Skiach, up at Alness on the A9, and Adderstone/Purdy Lodge near Scremerston on the A1. Top stops.

As for 'Birchwood'...I'm really wondering where I'm getting that from!

[Cavcraft]

Birchwood is the truck stop 'twixt M6 and M56 isn't it? Big place with cafe/s, fuel and a CB shop.

[AnthonyG]

I use the Asda at Junction 30 of the M4 (cardiff gate) quite a lot, instead of the Cardiff Gate or West services.

 

Get off Mway and get on the A4232 Pentwyn Link road, turn right at the next roundabout up a hill into a housing estate and there is a Asda, with cafe and petrol station, and a McD's in the same retail park.

 

There's a Sainsbury's with cafe/petrol and a McD's just off Junction 12 of the M4 just west of Reading, take the A4 into Calcot, can't miss it because it's behind Porsche UK's HQ.

[CreepingJesus]

Birchwood is the truck stop 'twixt M6 and M56 isn't it? Big place with cafe/s, fuel and a CB shop.

 

This has slightly annoyed me since last night, y'know like an itch you can't reach! The more I thought about it, the more 'Stafford' came into mind. It's probly that I've stopped there, as it's about as far south as I can do in 4 1/2 hours. The place at the M6/56 junction is Lymm isn't it? On the Altrincham side of the road, IIRC.

Checking a little more, Birch services is up the M62, used to be called 'Manchester North', and it's one of the rubbish Moto types. Still no nearer finding out what the hell I'm on about... I'll claim a belief in alternative universes...that'll sort it out.

In a parallel universe, Birchwood services is somewhere between Huntly and Manchester, and is bloody fantastic. People are nice and helpful, the cash machine gives you a bonus tenner every time, and the fags'n'fuel are at 1982 prices. There, sorted.

[M'coli]

M6, junction 43; Carlisle Tesco - food and drink, café, toilets, fuel, dog walk nearby. Perfect for avoiding Tebay services.

[Richard]

I have to say I'd consider a visit to Tesco or Ikea just as bad as using a service station.

[Pillock]

Tesco Express near me.

Hit them between 7pm and 8pm and thy mark down all the sarnies that are out of date to insane levels - f'rexample a nice wholemeal chicken and bacon, was £2.15 now 16p. Perfectly fine, even the next day at work.

[Father Ted]

Bamber Bridge, Preston; I think it's J29 of the M6 (used to know them all by heart, it's frightening how fast you forget), take A6 Preston and very swiftly you come to a nice big Sainsbury store. I've eaten in their cafe, so it's good enough, but not sure where you would put a wagon. IIRC the car park is a bit restricted, and you can bet you'll be unwelcome in anything bigger than a Volvo 740 anyway. I got my Buick in though....

B & Q at South Rings across the road would get a big truck on the trade side of their car park, or park it in the back lane at the back of B & Q (Old Lostock Lane). B&Q also do a nice cooked breakfast - dont bother with the Burger King breakfast though because its shite.

Alternatively, go past Sainsburys and Aldi (turn as if you were going to Sainsdogs) and there is a big long road to an industrial estate that you can park up a rig on.

[RedSparrow]

Emigrate.

[eddyramrod]

Forgot about that B&Q! In fact I don't think I've ever been inside, which is why I failed to realise it had a cafe. That's my excuse anyway. Big Tesco just off the A9 at Inverness too (my stepdaughter lives nearby ); head for the airport and you can't miss it. Supermarket grub is always cheaper than so-called services, they will have toilets (and when I was the cleaner, always clean toilets! Tesco Formby, 1996 ) and whatever you need to stock up on will be cheaper. As long as you can get your motor in, you're laughing.

[M'coli]

I have to say I'd consider a visit to Tesco or Ikea just as bad as using a service station.

Then - northbound only, as southbound isn't so cheap - the Todhills service station is usually the same price for fuel as Tesco.

[ashmicro]

Sainsburys, Carrickfergus. They too knock out cheap sarnies after 18:00, security in the car park, (which is gritted with white salt in cold weather), cheap booze and they don't keep moving stuff around, unlike those Tesco fuckdogs just up the road.

[pogweasel]

^ that ^ would necessitate a trip to Carrickfergus. I have no wish to go there again. Ever.

(though it was the scene of my comprehensive trashing of a brand new hire car)

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mannheim Auctions at M1 J28 (A38). Look at some overpriced cars and get a superb fry up for 3-4 quid.

 

Off at J28, A38 towards mansfield for about 1.5 miles. Not the first 'slip road' type exit but the second one with traffic lights, left hand lane, down the hill (Common Road) and it's about 1/4 mile on the left.

[barefoot]

I have to say I'd consider a visit to Tesco or Ikea just as bad as using a service station.

 

We replaced a small book called, 'Just Off (the motorway)' with a nationwide to Tesco stores,

but then I was asked to leave, googling - barefoot man tesco - still gets over 10,000 hits.

 

M1 Junction 23a / 24 - do not use MOTO services, drive an extra half mile to East Midlands Airport.

In at the traffic lights / passenger terminal entrance, straight over the roundabout.

The petrol station here does a range of hot food 24 hours and is surprisingly cheap because it is well used by the airport staff.

[Cavcraft]

Don't pull off the M56 at Chester Services and buy fuel from the petrol station about 3/4 mile down the A5117 by the traffic lights. Unless you have a gold plated credit card or more money than sense.

[AnthonyG]

I have to say I'd consider a visit to Tesco or Ikea just as bad as using a service station.

 

Undoubtably, but your'e not shopping in them, just grabbing a sandwich and a cup of tea. McDonalds also do good tea/coffee, I rarely ate their food these days.

 

Car auctions do surprising good fry - ups. Brightwells in Leominster has good cafe, albeit a bit small.

[chaseracer]

(though it was the scene of my comprehensive trashing of a brand new hire car)

You cannot leave a statement like that just dangling... we need details, man!

[ashmicro]

^I remember that^. Pog crashed when he caught sight of one of the locals. 23 fingers and three eyes. And that's one of the good looking ones.

[Andrew353w]

M25 just off junction 22 (St.Albans) is a Sainsburys superstore, complete with a petrol station; MUCH cheaper than the B.P. services at junction 23 (South Mimms) and the supermarket serves a mean breakfast, too!

 

Still on the M25 (I seem to live on it!) if you're low on fuel while going clock-wise on the western section, come off at junction 19 and head towards Watford for the cheapest fuel in the south east; unleaded at 124.9 this afternoon! Wanna re-join the motorway after re-fuelling? Nip along the A405 to the M1 junction 6; turn left for the north or right for the south and the M25.

[Polystratus]

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mannheim Auctions at M1 J28 (A38). Look at some overpriced cars and get a superb fry up for 3-4 quid.

 

Off at J28, A38 towards mansfield for about 1.5 miles. Not the first 'slip road' type exit but the second one with traffic lights, left hand lane, down the hill (Common Road) and it's about 1/4 mile on the left.

 

That runs through some sort of industrial estate, you know the sort of shit work places that pay minimum wages, and you have to work your arse off for it? Just down the A38 from there is a Total station, cheaper than Tibshelf services. Still has a jet wash which hasn't been turned into a East European hand car wash.

[Guest]

You can buy your food ridiculously cheap if you're really stuck for cash. You just have to go in there without having a firm opinion on what you're going to leave with. Any supermarket which has fresh food counters is worth hitting up at about 9pm onwards - best candidates for reduction are hot chicken and "baked in-store" bread. Some supermarkets will give away fresh bread for prices like 5p and it's lovely, loads better than all that sliced Hovis toss.

 

Going when things aren't reduced? Easy - just pick your choices carefully. Economy brand food is of a much higher standard than it was as little as 10 years ago - you used to be able to buy all sorts of inedible rubbish, now at worst it'll be "alright". The general rule of thumb is that the less complicated it is, the better it'll be. You'll generally get gipped a little bit on the quantity, but you can counteract that easily enough. Some tinned foods can be sub-10p (e.g. beans). Noodles can always be had ridiculously cheap - economy brand ones can be as absurd as 15p a pack, weird foreign brand ones can be about 30-40p and are actually better than the domestic equivalents. There's some good frozen meals in the region of 70p - lasagne and curry - don't bother with any mashed potato based ones, they still haven't figured out how to make good cheap mashed potato. Drinks can be alright - don't just go for the crappest economy Cola (which will be rubbish), some of the foreign fruit juices are dirt cheap and absolutely lovely. If there's a dedicated foreign foods aisle, scan it really carefully - some of the chocolates and fruit juices are a hell of a lot cheaper than the domestic equivalents and a lot better to boot - mad Jaffa cake ripoffs with raspberry inside, etc.

 

With a bit of forward planning, I reckon I could live on a food budget of about £3 a week and still mostly have quality stuff - most of it a bit unusual to boot. If I had a bit more free time I probably would. I've left supermarkets with a sub-20p receipt more times than I'd like to count.

[ashmicro]

We have a new Lidls a couple of miles from where I live, and it's a big hit with ex-forces types who served in Der Vaterland. They have some nice jarred wurst for 39p and some blow yer head off wine/glycol mix for a couple of quid. Mrs Ash (who drinks practically nowt) arrived home lately with a case of said OAT for less than £30. GR8 4 creating hangovers that make you feel as if you've been shot and run over.

[scooters]

I've been baking all our bread for the last 6 months.

 

This is very easy especially if you have a decent food processor with a dough hook -

 

buy the supermarket own brand flour - it is a lot cheaper than Hovis or Allison flour....I also use dried yeast rather than easy bake but you can use the easy bake to start off with.

 

Firstly go to lakeland plastics and get yourself 4 of the best quality bread tins you can afford - the steel should be thick and non stick.

 

next - you need the following:

 

500 g granary flour

1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons easy bake yeast

300 mls warm water (t1 part boiling to 2 parts cold)

1 tlbspoon sunflower oil

 

stick all in a food processor and mix for 1 minute - it should form into a ball of dough that should be doughy in consistency and not too sticky

 

form it into 3 equal balls and put the balls in a row in a loaf tim - cover with a damp tea towel and leave for a couple of hours - then bake in a hot oven (350 degrees GM6) with a dish of boiling water in the bottom of the oven (this allows the inside to bake without the crust burning. - about 25-45 minutes depending on your oven - when ready the beread will fall out of the tin easily - if it doesn't it's not ready yet

 

you can try different flours and yeasts etc ith practice

 

bake 4 loaves at a time to save money - I recon this ends up costing about 50p a loaf for superb bread which will freeze for 3 months - much better for you and tasty to boot

 

once you get used to it it takes no time at all - I usually prepare 3 loaves and a dozen rolls at breakfast on Saturday mornings - they get baked late morning and this gives us enough bread for the week - takes me about 15 mins prep these days

[CortinaDave]

I can't believe Stracathro services got a shout as an antidote to rip off britain! Its a decent shop but VIOLENTLY expensive - over £1.50/litre of unleaded at the mo! Its the ultimate ripoff.

[scooters]

The Shell garage on Holloway Road in London was 6p a lt cheaper than the Esso 1/2 a mile away. Tip being to follow the black cabs....they know where the cheap juice is