Motorway Services
Roadchef logo
Roadchef website

Roadchef operates 21 sites

Typical brands

  • Costa Coffee
  • McDonald's
  • WHSmith
  • Krispy Kreme
  • Phone Tech
  • Days Inn

Other brands

  • LEON
  • Chozen
  • Pret A Manger
  • Fresh Food Café
  • Co-op
  • Super 8 Hotel
  • Chozen Noodle
  • Skwishee Iced Drinks
  • Coco di Mama
  • The Breakfast Kitchen
  • Chaiiwala
  • Cornish Bakery
  • The Garden Square Deli

Typical brands are those found at the majority of Roadchef service areas. Other brands are less common, and may only be at one or two sites.

Note that where a service area comprises two separate inline facilities on opposite sides of the road, a brand may only be available on one side rather than both.

Service areas run by Roadchef

Roadchef: A Familiar Name on the Motorway

Roadchef is the smallest of the UK's "Big Three" motorway service operators. The company was founded in 1973 and has its headquarters in Cannock, Staffordshire. It runs service areas that give drivers somewhere to eat, refuel, rest and recharge during a long journey. It currently operates 31 locations across the UK, serving over 46 million customers a year.

Ownership

The business has changed hands several times over the decades. It was acquired by Macquarie Asset Management in March 2022. Many of its sites sit on land leased from the public sector, so its long-term plans depend on agreements with the government.

A big vote of confidence

In April 2026 Roadchef announced a deal with National Highways and the Department for Transport. It extended the leases on five of its sites for a further 75 years, which Roadchef said would unlock more than £300 million of investment over the next five years.

Food and shopping

Like most operators, Roadchef relies on well-known brands rather than only its own catering. McDonald's is a major partner. The new drive-thru at Clacket Lane Eastbound on the M25 is Roadchef's eighth, and it has 30 McDonald's restaurants across its sites. Pret A Manger is a growing presence too. Two more Pret shops opened in July 2026, at Taunton Deane Southbound on the M5 and Clacket Lane Westbound on the M25. The mix is rounded out by names such as Costa and WHSmith.

Charging up

The most visible change is probably electric vehicle charging. In June 2026, Roadchef added six new EV charging bays at Sandbach North on the M6 in Cheshire. A larger deal followed in October. From 2027, bp pulse's ultra-fast charging will be available at more than 30 Roadchef motorway service areas. As part of the agreement, Roadchef will also operate 12 bp forecourts.

Sources

Motorway Services is a Good Stuff website.

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