23 September 2023 , 08:54
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A man who spends his spare time travelling to all of the UK's 95 service stations and rating them for his online blog has revealed the unusual hobby sets him back £10,000 a year.
Racking up 20,000 miles a year, 25-year old Rich James Cross spends alternate Tuesdays touring every motorway stop off as well as a further 400+ A-road services and truck stops.
The delivery driver said his love of road trips began as a youngster when he would spend numerous days as a passenger in his dad's truck. Rich, who first took up the hobby around five years ago, often gets recognised on his trips after making a name for himself in the service station world. The Bristol man explained: "All of my family and friends think I'm absolutely mad, but it's just something I've always loved doing."
He continued: "I came across Motorway Services Online way back in 2012 and became a big fan of the site, and when I finally had the chance to contribute, I knew had a chance to do something no one else has. I spend every Tuesday to Friday going county to county and visiting four to five services a day, although some days I'll spend it at one location if it stretches to both sides of the road. On average, it costs me £10,000 a year on fuel, accommodation, and food."
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Rich added that he believes service stations should cater for "everyone's needs" before admitting that his favourite is that of Rugby, Northamptonshire. "I always use the Moto service station in Rugby at junction one on the M6 as an example of what a service station needs," he declared. "It has everything from brands everyone loves to children's playing facilities indoors and outside - meaning the kids can blow off steam whatever the weather.
"There's a lot of people who go train spotting and plane spotting - I like to put myself in a similar category, only my hobby isn't as popular as theirs. Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to give service stations a negative image online. I thought if I could visit these places and give them a positive and honest review, I'd be doing my bit for the industry. I have a normal day-to-day life and work as a delivery driver for Tesco - then I just zoom off on my journeys around the UK. It's great!"
Rich lists his top five favourite stops (in no particular order) as: Rugby Services, M6; Stafford South Services, M6; Fleet Services, M3; Strensham Services, M5; Lancaster, M6.