Controversial Wetherspoons pub opens on M40 motorway

The debut pint has just been served at Britain's first motorway services pub - but should it be allowed there in the first place? Here are some of your views:

Nick Chapman: "Guaranteed drinking and driving."

Andrew Hadfield: "Wetherspoons also do good cheap meals which is what you want at a sevice station. Will now go to Wetherspoons for a meal and a coke. It wouldn't make me drink and drive."

Matthew Agar Hutton: "Accident waiting to happen."

Claire Butler: "They'll be putting car parks in pubs next! Oh wait..."

Trudi Materna: "I think the M&S and Waitrose supermarkets at the service stations sell wine don't they? How's this any different/worse really?"

Deb's Withers: "Why do you have to go in a pub to drink alcohol? Thay serve really nice coffee and lovely food which makes a change from over-priced soggy sandwiches."

Amanda Andrews: "Booze is freely available at service stations, if people wanted to get drunk they will."

Nikki Williams: "Ridiculous if you ask me. If someone driving on a motorway wanted a drink and had to hunt to find a pub they wouldn't bother. And someone who is already tired and has a drink is just an accident waiting to happen. How this was allowed I don't know."

What do you think? Comment on our Facebook page.

Read: JD Wetherspoons chairman defends motorway services pub

The first pint has been bought at the Hope and Champion, a Wetherspoons pub located at the M40 services in Beaconsfield.

The controversial pub is Britain's first at a motorway service station, and will be open from 4am to 1am seven days a week.

A new Wetherspoons pub at the M40 services in Beaconsfield will open today, despite controversy over the availability of alcohol to drivers.

The company has spent more than £1.1 million on the Hope and Champion, which is at the Extra Motorway Service Area at junction 2 of the M40. It is the first pub to be opened at a motorway service station.

The pub will be open from 4am to 1am seven days a week, selling real ale from local and regional brewers as well as hot drinks.

Read: JD Wetherspoons chairman defends motorway services pub

The RAC said a survey of 2,000 people showed that only 12% supported putting pubs into motorway service stations.

Around two-thirds said they did not agree with the move, with older drivers more likely to oppose the sale of alcohol at motorway service areas.

Only 8% of over-55s were in favour, with 71% against, while almost one in five of those aged between 18 and 34 were in support.

Around one in four of everyone questioned were undecided on the issue.

A new pub being opened at a motorway service station today was "at odds" with public opinion which was firmly against the move, according to road safety campaigners.

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon said its Hope And Champion will be open from 4am to 1am, seven days a week, in the Extra Motorway Service Area at junction 2 of the M40 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

The company has spent more than £1.1 million on the pub - the first to be opened at a motorway service area - which will sell real ale from local and regional brewers as well as non-alcoholic and hot drinks.

Read: Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin defends motorway pub