Starbucks Coffee - A34 South — Restaurant in Cherwell District

It's a smart, modern, large Starbucks on the Southbound carriageways from Oxford to the M40. There's enough parking and an outside eating area, set within a simple landscape. Located next to a petrol station, providing a place to stop and refuel the car and you. Overall, it should be a great but....

The staff. They were a very eclectic bunch of people ranging in ages and apparent intelligence. It's great that Starbucks hire to diversity, but I suggest they do more training with them to protect their brand.

The queue was enormous as 5-6 people scuttled around behind the bar producing incorrect orders and generally talking about the stress of the job. Their customer service etique with customers was, we'll let's just say, a little brash if not meant to offend.

Now to the drink. We'll, my little Espresso Machiato was blazingly hot. Silly, unpleasantly and dangerously hot. All that wait for a little drink that was ruined in the end by someone trigger happy with the steamer, or untrained on the espresso machine.

I used the toilets, which were fine and generally clean, although dark.

4 stars for facilities. 2 stars...

Stopped here with my elderly Mother in law, who was in a wheelchair on a Sunday afternoon. We were not impressed by the service or quality of food served.. We ordered one toasted cheese sandwich and two teas. The tea was OK although I asked for small cups and told no as they didn't have lids to the small cups, as we were eating in I didn't see a problem to having a small cup, we were given the next size up(fine!). The had to return to the counter to ask for sugar and stirrers. The sandwich was left on the counter in a bag as I was dealing with my Mother in lawno one called that the sandwich was ready. I eventually realised the bag was probably my order, I collected it only to find one full toasted sandwich in the bag. Up again to request a knife to cut it and a serviette as the container was empty. By the time I had got back to the table and cut the sandwich it was cold and impossible for my Mother in law to chew as the cold cheese on the top of the sandwich was rubbery. Very disappointed a waste of £10 and I won't be visiting...

Ended up here on Sunday the 2nd September whilst traveling from Edition38 in Northampton back home to Salisbury... wasnt a planned stop but more of a "i have no choice". With my rear brakes failing at 70mph hirtling towards a lorry it so happened i managed to stop at this place. I cannot thank the 3 guys working at the time enough for their efforts. Supplying me multiple jugs of water to cool my rear brake drums which were glowing red hot, even though they had no knowledge of what was really happening. I also like to thank them for putting my phone on charge and allowing me the use of the phone so i could sort and organise an emergency plan to get me back to home. I managed to get back safely and i cannot thankyou all enough for your efforts aswell as hospitality and understanding when i was clearly distressed

EDIT: Back here again on my way back from a work training weekend in Leicester, staff were friendly and my coffee was made quickly, this time i have all 4 brakes working. Will be back again...