Motorway service areas have remained open throughout the coronavirus lockdown, but often with reduced facilities and shorter opening hours. Now many are increasing the services available, with fast-food and coffee outlets serving takeaway orders
Motorways and major roads provide crucial links for key workers, even as many others continue to work at home. Highways England is committed to keeping motorway service areas open, albeit still with a reduced service.
As this table shows, all services are open 24/7, with a partial site closure in a minority of cases.
Transport Focus said ‘lorry drivers delivering goods, NHS volunteers taking medical supplies around the country and others making essential journeys will still need to rest, refuel, go to the toilet and have something to eat and drink.
‘Without [motorways] open there would be very little on the supermarket shelves.’
In these extraordinary times, hauliers must be able to access roadside facilities to continue transporting essential items to supermarkets & our #NHS. I’ve asked motorway service stations to remain open (with special precautions in place) to ensure these vital journeys continue.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 26, 2020
Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, also asked motorway services to remain open during the lockdown period.
How are motorway service operators helping?
There are four major motorway service operators: Moto, Roadchef, Welcome Break and Extra, plus the smaller operators Westmorland, Stop24 and Euro Garages.
At the time of writing (1 June 2020), this is their position on the coronavirus outbreak.
Moto
We’re delighted to have given 10,000 free meals to HGV drivers as part of #HotMealsMatter ?
Find out more about how we’re working to get hot meals for HGV drivers who are keeping Britain moving, here: https://t.co/fR1wqdiNU6 pic.twitter.com/sqmZjUFbh3
— Moto Services (@motoway) May 25, 2020
As the tweet above states, Moto has donated 10,000 free hot meals to HGV drivers during the lockdown period. Many of its food and drink outlets, including Costa Coffee and Burger King, are now open for takeaway orders.
Free fuel is also available to all emergency services at the 46 BP forecourts in the Moto network. The offer began on 21 March and runs to 7 June, and is open to NHS emergency ambulance services, NHS Trust non-emergency vehicles, local police and fire authorities. Click here for full terms and conditions.
Roadchef
They’re back! Our @CostaCoffee Drive-Thrus at Clacket Lane, Strensham and Rownhams have reopened, so you can grab a delicious, barista crafted coffee from the comfort of your car Hot beverage #M25 #M5 #M27 pic.twitter.com/Zz1pT08XXk
— @roadchef (@Roadchef) May 27, 2020
Roadchef showers, toilets and retail stores remain open, with hot drinks, food and other essentials available. The operator has increased the frequency of contact surface sanitising in its dining, retail and toilet facilities.
Free parking has doubled to four hours and the 24-hour parking rate is reduced to £15. Also, drive-thru Costa Coffee sites have reopened at Clacket Lane (M25), Strensham (M5) and Rownhams (M27).
Welcome Break
We’ve OPENED some of our #BK‘s at selected #WelcomeBreak locations ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? with #SafeDistance measures ? ? in place. We look forward to giving you a #SafelyServed welcome back! Find out more here https://t.co/0cSFsWwznc pic.twitter.com/CP3p92vgdU
— Welcome Break (@welcomebreak) May 31, 2020
Welcome Break CEO John Diviney said: “In these uncertain times some of us still need to be on the move. I wanted you to know that all our locations are still open, clean and continuing to serve the nation’s motorists. Please be assured we are following government guidance to keep you and all our team members safe and well.”
Blue Light & Defence discount card holders and NHS staff get 50 percent off at Welcome Break’s Waitrose and WHSmith stores. Burger King, KFC and Starbucks have also reopened for takeaway orders.
Extra
A limited amount of food outlets are open for takeaway only. All Extra filling stations and toilet/washroom facilities remain open 24/7.
Westmorland
We’ve OPENED some of our #BK‘s at selected #WelcomeBreak locations ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? with #SafeDistance measures ? ? in place. We look forward to giving you a #SafelyServed welcome back! Find out more here https://t.co/0cSFsWwznc pic.twitter.com/CP3p92vgdU
— Welcome Break (@welcomebreak) May 31, 2020
Westmorland, which operates motorway services areas at Tebay and Gloucester, is operating a reduced service. The filling stations remain open 24/7 and will offer an increased range of products from the farm shop.
Toilets in the main building are open 10am until 3pm, while the kitchens, farm shops and butcheries are closed. Fast-food outlets such as Burger King have reopened, however.
Euro Garages
We want to thank our NHS and Emergency Services for everything they're doing in this uncertain time. Please have a coffee on us. pic.twitter.com/K2JurXgqOX
— Euro Garages Ltd (@EuroGaragesLtd) March 27, 2020
Euro Garages is offering a free Starbucks hot drink to all NHS staff and the emergency services.
Stop24
Stop24 Folkestone Services is located at junction 11 of the M20 and is the closest motorway service area to the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover.
The filling station and main building remain open, but a limited range of food and drink is available. The convenience store is open, but seating areas are shut. All toilet, washroom and shower facilities are open for lorry, car and motorhome drivers.
For the latest information, visit the Traffic England website.