Best petrol stations in Ireland (not price related)

blue5

I'm really interested to know what are the best petrol stations you've experienced in Ireland?

Petrol stations are fast becoming an 'experience'. I'm not a road warrior and wouldn't travel the country as much as some of you but I've found that the pitt-stop can sometimes turn out to be a pleasant surprise. It's like walking into an upmarket shopping centre sometimes.

Any thoughts on the life and death of the petrol stations in Ireland? They went from selling sweets and papers to expanding (< boom) into Dunkin Donuts. Then they collapsed and shut down and now it's fast becoming an event going into a petrol station.

bazz26

I honestly don't share the enthusiasm for them. I usually just want to get in, fill up and get on my way again. I don't pay much attention to their attire or much else they offer other than fuel in the same way I wouldn't get excited about a Tesco supermarket. The only exception being if I on a very long trip and just need to stretch my legs and/or have a snack.

PixelTrawler

OSI wrote: »

My favourite petrol station is any one with pay at pump :pac:

The white whale! Its a pleasure driving in countries that have them everywhere.

quadrifoglio verde

PixelTrawler wrote: »

The white whale! Its a pleasure driving in countries that have them everywhere.

Except when they preauthorise your visa debit for 3x the amount that you want.
Perfect with credit cards but with debits they were a pain in the ass

OldMrBrennan83

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Del2005

PixelTrawler wrote: »

The white whale! Its a pleasure driving in countries that have them everywhere.

Not really when you're nearly out of fuel and the only place available is automated and it doesn't accept any cards from 3 separate groups of people.

technics_1210

always texaco,
petrol

n97 mini

OSI wrote: »

My favourite petrol station is any one with pay at pump :pac:

Every petrol station in the US!

Voodoomelon

Pumps handles that have a lock feature win my vote.

mikeecho

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Pumps handles that have a lock feature win my vote.

Just bring a paper clip with you, the large ones work well.

Even the ink stick in a pen will work.

Plopli

n97 mini wrote: »

Every petrol station in the US!

Or in Belgium and most probably France and Germany.

Only problem with some of the US one (I've only ever driven in California) is their stupid request for your postcode that never work with your foreign credit card (and yes, I tried the recommend 00000 or 12345 or any valid one).
That kill the magic as you have to go to the attendant and all.

biko

Topaz and Sweeney's for the coffee.

OldMrBrennan83

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Pops_20

J14 Mayfield

stimpson

I read the OP in the voice of Alan Partridge

Mycroft H

n97 mini wrote: »

Every petrol station in the US!

And Iceland. Go out into the sticks and it's just a pump with a card terminal, no building. You might be the only person there

MetzgerMeister

When I first travelled across France in 2001 we stopped at quite a few of them. They're called "airs" or something to that effect. Back then in Ireland you'd be used to a dinky shop selling cigarettes, sweets, newspapers etc. but in France they are huge. The massive fridges full of sandwiches, mountains of snacks, sweets and the thing that surprised me the most was shower facilities. Even today some Topaz stations don't even have customer toilet facilities.

Here the nicest ones I've been in are Topaz/McDonalds Cashel, Mayfield, Lusk and although it's not too big, there's a very nice one on the left as you come into Fermoy.

sjb25

blue5 wrote: »

I'm really interested to know what are the best petrol stations you've experienced in Ireland?

Petrol stations are fast becoming an 'experience'. I'm not a road warrior and wouldn't travel the country as much as some of you but I've found that the pitt-stop can sometimes turn out to be a pleasant surprise. It's like walking into an upmarket shopping centre sometimes.

Any thoughts on the life and death of the petrol stations in Ireland? They went from selling sweets and papers to expanding (< boom) into Dunkin Donuts. Then they collapsed and shut down and now it's fast becoming an event going into a petrol station.

Any petrol station that has enough pumps to avoid all these people having an "experience" in the shop while leaving the car at the fcuking pumps

mgbgt1978

http://www.dailyedge.ie/barack-obama-plaza-moneygall-3173044-Jan2017/

redcup342

IMO Irish Petrol stations are great.

They aren't horrendously expensive and often have a Spar/Centra attached to them with decent hot food and an offie.

In Holland all stations are pretty much the same, they don't have offies (it's forbidden) the food is f*cking manky as well.

Germany is alright, not great though.

Belgium is ok, you can get decent food in some places, some of the stations are crazy expensive though.

France is pretty much the same as Belgium

blue5

Pops_20 wrote: »

J14 Mayfield

Just looked up Mayfield on the M7, looks nice allright and plenty of charging posts which is interesting.

My favourites so far are:

M1 Stations at Lusk - They're expensive for fuel but good rest areas.

Swords Rd - Heading towards Malahide there's a kind of hidden but busy fuel station at the small roundabout but it has an off license and two coffee/lunch shops

In Baldoyle there's a good Applegreen as well

TrailerBob

A lot of the bigger motorway services in France have the pumps and shop totally separate, so there's a little kiosk at the pumps where you pay for fuel and then clear off over to the shop or toilets or whatever. Works very well at busy times.

As for here I have a liking for the applegreen on the N4 at Enfield, more to do with journeys and friends than the station. The Texaco at Ballitore on the old N9 is also very good.. there years, and friendly staff.. they also have an attendant for fuel if you so desire.

OldMrBrennan83

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uck51js9zml2yt

Obama plaza is good. Decent food...And coffee. Loads of parking. Tiny shop but I fill up at the start of the trip so it doesn't matter.

JohnBoy26

Kiara Zealous Rattlesnake wrote: »

Obama plaza is good. Decent food...And coffee. Loads of parking. Tiny shop but I fill up at the start of the trip so it doesn't matter.

Never found the food any good there and it's expensive for what it is too(essentially deli food). I also found the place very busy and noisy the few times I've been there and surprisingly not all that clean for a relatively new building.

Maybe this was just because they were busy but I've also been to other stops that were very busy but significantly better than the obama plaza in my experience.

vkid

The one in birdhill on the M7 is good.
For smaller stations the apple green near St flanans in ennis is decent as is the texaco in shannon

chicorytip

Worst! Tootenhill Services(Applegreen), Rathcoole. Filthy toilets.

ba_barabus

Any with good clean toilets, nice deli area, pay at pump facility, free air abd a lack of dopey kunts who park at the pump while they do the weekly shopping

Agricola

Generally like Applegreens if I'm going a long way. Plenty of room for parking / toilets, lots of options for food and a decent coffee too. Usually stop at the one in Lusk on the way to the north. When you don't want to get off the motorway and waste time in traffic, you can't beat it.

Commotion Ocean

OSI wrote: »

My favourite petrol station is any one with pay at pump :pac:

But when you do prepay it's hard to brim it to calculate mileage

OldMrBrennan83

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the_pen_turner

Patww79 wrote: »

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mayfield is pay at the pump only.
and its pre pay .
the only time i used it was an emergancy. i was driving my mothers new car and the light was a on while, ididnt know how much would fill it even roughly.
ended up putting in 20, then 10 then 10 again. i think.

how is any one with no card or ability do do such things supposed to use the machine.

Commotion Ocean

the_pen_turner wrote: »

mayfield is pay at the pump only.
and its pre pay .
the only time i used it was an emergancy. i was driving my mothers new car and the light was a on while, ididnt know how much would fill it even roughly.
ended up putting in 20, then 10 then 10 again. i think.

how is any one with no card or ability do do such things supposed to use the machine.

A better system for people who want to brim would be preauthorisation of 100 Euro or so, brim tank, and remainder is refunded back onto card 💳 💯

byhookorbycrook

O' Sullivans in Kildorrery is one I use a lot. Nice little shop and really clean bathrooms.

newcavanman

Agricola wrote: »

Generally like Applegreens if I'm going a long way. Plenty of room for parking / toilets, lots of options for food and a decent coffee too. Usually stop at the one in Lusk on the way to the north. When you don't want to get off the motorway and waste time in traffic, you can't beat it.

Actually, you can. Take the next exit northbound, J5, acroos the bridge is another Applegreen, always a cent or so a litre cheaper than the motorway sites. Never any delays at the pumps, and run by the coolest dutch guy in Ireland. Also the winner of the best Subway store in Ireland this year

harr

Patww79 wrote: »

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This...I am local enough to mayfield but avoid at weekends ,two bus loads and it's packed out the door a huge Q for both tills and food..

Ded_Zebra

Maxol Harolds Cross and Maxol Santry.

Both are well priced, I trust their fuel and neither have anything for sale other than petroleum distillate. Honestly you would be lucky to get anything more than a bag of jelly tots in the shop in either. This means people are quick once they finish pumping and the queue flows well.

georgefalls

Topaz, at Kill.

Decent sitting area, with TV (usually Sky News on). Toilets are next to seating area, and are kept well clean. A must, according to my missus.

The staff in there are very friendly.

I used to love going there a couple of years ago, as there was a very VERY nice Polish girl behind the counter.
I wanted her to bear my children, among other things :D

OldMrBrennan83

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quadrifoglio verde

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Maxol Harolds Cross and Maxol Santry.

Both are well priced, I trust their fuel and neither have anything for sale other than petroleum distillate. Honestly you would be lucky to get anything more than a bag of jelly tots in the shop in either. This means people are quick once they finish pumping and the queue flows well.

Don't forget the cheap milk in the Harold's cross one. And it's champion :cool:

Ubbquittious

Any petrol station that is just a pair of pumps on the pavement without a big silly branded metal roof thing above it. Preferably also with a dusty old independent shop beside it that also sells a good selection of oils and car parts. Even better if yer man in the shop fills the tank for you.

Ones like P. Herbert between Kildorrery and Mallow. There is also one out Mizen head direction that is just pumps beside the road but you have to go into the pub to pay. F**k all this pre-pay pump, pay at the pump and big glossy shiny Spar nonsense.

blue5

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

Don't forget the cheap milk in the Harold's cross one. And it's champion :cool:

Harold's Cross Maxol is so good at what it does. Small. Cheap. Quick!.