Motorway service stations are rarely hotspot destinations in themselves, but they do offer a vital pit stop for food and fuel, as well as a much-needed break for tired travellers. However, not all rest areas are created equal, as the latest Which? survey of nearly reveals.

Based on the experiences of thousands of drivers, the poll highlights a stark divide between the best and worst stops on the road. At the very bottom of the rankings, one site stands out for all the wrong reasons — , which has been named the UK’s worst motorway service station.

Located on the M5 at junction 24 and operated by Moto, Bridgwater Services received a customer score of just 23%, reflecting a service station that is failing to meet the most basic standards expected by modern travellers.

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Feedback from drivers who stopped at Bridgwater was brutally honest, with one describing the station's cramped facilities as as looking and feeling "filthy", while another said the toilets "smelt of stale urine".

The limited range of shops and food outlets was also heavily criticised, with customers finding the available options overpriced and underwhelming.

Bridgewater Services is run by Moto, the UK's largest service area operator — the company runs nine of the 10 service stations to be found at the very bottom of Which?'s list.

To put Bridgwater’s score in perspective, the best-rated service station in the UK, on the M5, achieved an impressive 85% customer score and was praised for its cleanliness, facilities and locally sourced food options.

Moto told : "We have invested £55m refurbishing our service stations and building new sites over the past two years. "A Transport Focus study, conducted in the summer of 2023, revealed that 94% of respondents were either satisfied or fairly satisfied with their experience at Moto’s sites. This study had seven times more respondents than Which?.

"Our refurbishment programme is extensive and focused on older MSAs, and has achieved some key targets such as 75% of our toilets being revamped in the last five years. Bridgwater scored 88% in the Transport Focus study, and has been upgraded in the past two years, since the Which? panel respondents started visiting our sites."

If you are heading in that direction but wish to avoid the UK's 'worst motorway service station, Which? suggests going to: "Gloucester Services, the UK’s best service station is an hour’s drive north of Bridgwater.

"If you are not going that way, Sedgemoor South Services, 15 minutes north of Bridgwater — scored 52% overall, and where Bridgwater scored just one star for cleanliness, facilities, convenience and the range and quality of food and drink and shops on offer, Sedgemoor South scored three. A significantly better services."