Costa Coffee

In the UK, there are areas off the freeway called service stations. This is not something that I have seen in the US. While the US has freeway exits, with food, gas, and coffee, this UK concept is a bit different.
At these pit stops, you can get everything in one enclosed location. They have gas, coffee, and food. There are several food stations indoors. To give a comparison, it’s similar to the US concept of a food court at a shopping mall. Fast food with a variety of options. The food options are better than usual «fast food» and the coffee shop is fantasitic (Costa is like an Italian Starbucks).
At Costa, they have great high end coffee drinks and pastries. I had my first «flat white,» which is more delciois tham a regular latte.
I also went to the Pasty shop and had my first «pasty.» A pasty is a savory turnover. They have many flavor choices and I had the mixed vegetable. Very yummy… possibly not the most healthy item but it is still a better option than usual fast food or junk food available on a US freeway exit.
Not giving 5 stars for the following reasons:
1. Super busy with lines of people everywhere
2. It is still only a food court.

Found at the Roadchef Motorway Service Station off the M5 Northbound, a stand-​alone building to the right of the others, and a pleasant stop-​off point for me recently. OK, these Costa branches are far from cheap but I don’t go to one every day. On a long journey it’s a nice relaxing place to stop for a while and the staff at this branch (like most of the others I’ve been in) were very pleasant. It wasn’t too busy so not too long to wait to be served. I was with my husband and aunt-​in-​law and we all enjoyed our different coffees and cakes. My husband just loves the poppy seed muffins and (another reason why I like Costa) I appreciate their new gluten-​free cakes, especially the small fruit slice which comes wrapped.