Europcar Launches Roadside Gastro Guide

LONDON, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Europcar survey reveals 95% of motorists believe the choice, price and quality of roadside food is unacceptable - with 80% saying they have previously gone hungry rather than eat from the selection on offer.

To escape the tyranny of the motorway service food offering and celebrate the diversity of Britain's local, independently owned eateries, Europcar, the UK's leading car hire company,  has teamed up with The Guild of Food Writers to produce a free-to-download Roadside Gastro Guide.

Instead of offering yet another list of renowned, Michelin-starred, celebrity chef restaurants, The Roadside Gastro Guide tapped into the knowledge of some of the UKs finest food writers and broadcasters - including Anthony Worrall Thompson and Valentine Warner - to reveal 20 of Britain's hidden culinary gems.

Stretching from the Scottish Highlands to the Dorset coast, the Europcar guide includes everything from country inns, to tea shops and stately homes, and all specialise in offering locally sourced, fresh, home-cooked fare.

A far cry yet a short distance from the motorway services, the guide reveals a foodie world of individual character, spectacular views, friendly service, converted barns, quirky decor, old-fashioned bone china and quirkily named dishes such as the Wortley Wedge - 'a beast of a sandwich made from the roast of the day'.

According to Richard Ehrlich of the Guild of Food Writers; "Motorway catering may mostly be the pits for pit stops, but outstanding food can be found just a short detour from many main roads.

"The establishments here cover a fantastic range. They cover much of the country, and include both celebrated restaurants and little gems known largely to locals. I hope they convey the message that being in the car doesn't mean giving up on good food. You just need to know where to look - and downloading a free copy of the Roadside Gastro Guide is the perfect place to start."

Catriona Kempston of Europcar added: "Whether it's delivering a car to their door or simply helping them to avoid soggy chips and overpriced pies, we're always looking for new ways for motorists to get maximum pleasure out of their driving experience."

The full version of the Roadside Gastro Guide contains detailed, individual recommendations by Guild of Food Writers members, including background information, personal insights, recommended dishes, contact details, opening times and, most importantly, directions from major roads.

Notes to editors:

One Poll surveyed 1,246 UK adults in August, 2010

About the Europcar:

Europcar is the European leader in passenger car hire and light utility vehicle rentals. The company serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Excluding franchise operations, in 2009 Europcar signed 9.5 million rental contracts, with 7,000 employees and a fleet exceeding 190,000 vehicles. In September 2008, Europcar and U.S. market leader Enterprise Holdings joined forces in a strategic commercial alliance to form the world's largest car rental network, with more than 1.2 million vehicles and 13,000 locations around the world. Europcar is owned by the French investment company Eurazeo.

Europcar is the European market leader and is also leading in its environmental approach to car rental. It opened its first 'environmental agency' in Paris in 1999, and in 2008 it was the first company in Europe to have its 'Environmental Charter' - which formalizes its commitments in favour of sustainable development - certified by Bureau Veritas.

SOURCE Europcar