Opening of Wetherspoon's at M40 services alarms campaigners but chain says: 'We do not live in a nanny state'

England's first motorway service station pub will open on Tuesday, prompting a storm of criticism from road safety and health campaigners who have warned that it will encourage drink-driving.

The two-storey premises, called the Hope and Champion and operated by the JD Wetherspoon chain, is at services next to junction two of the M40 near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. It will be open from 4am until 1am seven days a week, and be licensed from 9am. The development, which cost £1.2m, will create 120 new jobs.

The road safety charity Brake said it was disappointed Wetherspoon's had pressed ahead with the pub – and is planning more outlets – after warnings against it on safety grounds. Brake spokesman Richard Coteau said: "The opening of a pub on a motorway is a serious concern, presenting a potentially deadly temptation to drivers. Drink-driving remains one of the biggest killers on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities every day.

"It is vitally important that messages about the dangers of drink-driving are as strong and obvious as possible, so drivers know it's not okay to stop off for a quick drink on their way home. Our advice is not to have a drop if you are driving."

Sir Ian Gilmore, the Royal College of Physicians' special adviser on alcohol and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said the development sent out the wrong message.

"The appearance of bars on our motorway network adds greater urgency to the Alcohol Health Alliance's call for a fundamental review of licensing laws, focusing on the availability of alcohol and reducing alcohol-related harm. Public health should be a core licensing objective, and the impact on the health of local people must be a key consideration."

JD Wetherspoon said the Hope and Champion would also serve a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, plus tea and coffee with free refills (until 2pm). In addition to the usual selection of beers, wines and spirits it will sell real ale from local and regional brewers.

Beaconsfield is 25 miles north-west of London and was the first stop on the coaching route to Oxford (now the A40, parallel with the M40).

A Wetherspoon's spokesman said it expected most of the sales for alcoholic drinks to come from passengers or those in organised coach parties: "But we are not naive. We know that giving drivers the chance to have a pint off the motorway is an unusual offer.

"But equally we do not live in a nanny state. We expect drivers to act responsibly."



Wetherspoon's said it was taking numerous steps to promote sensible behaviour among its customers. It has included the national Drink Drive Awareness logos on its menus, which will be on every table, redesigning them to exclude any alcohol promotions.

"It will display additional Drink Drive Awareness point-of-sale material around the premises. In addition, it has made soft drinks significantly cheaper than in its traditional pubs – and elsewhere in the service area.

The new venture is being seen as the latest move in the commercialisation of motorway service areas – originally set up by the Department for Transport to provide essential fuel, break and toilet facilities for drivers on the motorway network but now notorious for their sky-high charges for food and drink.

Motorway services must provide free short-term parking, free 24-hour toilet facilities and adequate provision for the sale of food and fuel 24 hours a day. But many services now have videogame and gambling areas with fruit machines and other electronic devices.

While government-owned service stations are excluded from selling alcohol, privately owned service areas – in this case, Extra motorway services – can persuade the local licensing authority (South Buckinghamshire district council) to grant the appropriate licence.

JD Wetherspoon's founder and chairman, Tim Martin, said: "We are looking forward to opening our first licensed bar and restaurant on the motorway network. The company has always been innovative and this is an exciting new development for us. Hopefully it will be the first of many Wetherspoon's on the motorway."