It is often said variety is the spice of life - and that is certainly the case at one Southampton petrol station.

Although unassuming at first glance, BP Sholing is an Aladdin’s Cave of unconventional treats and utilities. Italian Style Pizza Vending Machine

The Bursledon Road petrol station boasts several fuel pumps and a car wash, but what really drives people towards it is what the shop offers

From a pizza vending machine, to a 24/7 laundrette, and an ample food to go section, it can easily be likened to an American petrol station.

Ben Lawrence outside BP Sholing (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

The station was ripped apart by a devastating fire in June 2021 - but the refurbishment following the blaze gave the station a new lease of life.

READ MORE: Petrol station reopens after it was destroyed by fire

For Ben Lawrence, director of Lawrences Garages, the company which runs the petrol station, it’s all about standing out.

The 37-year-old said: “We took this site on about seven years ago and we have been going along nicely since then.

“But Covid came, and fuel sales dropped dramatically, while the shop picked up.

“We started looking at ways to diversify our offering.

“We have people who just want to fill up their vehicle and go, while we also have customers who pick up a basket to shop, and we want them to stay and look around.”

Inside BP Sholing (Image: Ben Lawrence)

Ben is conscious of the fact electric vehicles are on the rise and fuel is “going to go one way, and that’s down.”

Plus, with competitors such as Aldi and Costa on his doorstep, he’s keen to be more than a place to fill your tank.

He said: “We have got to create hubs for people to come to, and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“Aldi is opposite us, so we need to stand out from the crowd.

Inside BP Sholing (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

“You can go to any petrol station and buy a Coke or a Mars bar, but we have food to go, from hot dogs to Tango Ice Blasts, and three metres of American food.

“In this day and age you can’t be a normal petrol station or convenience store. We are always looking out for that next big thing that will draw people to our store.”

The pizza vending machine at BP Sholing (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

Two of the next big things include Pizza Rebellion’s pizza vending machine and a 24/7 laundrette from Photo-Me.

Following its launch in the summer of last year, the vending machine has encouraged pizza lovers and the curious alike to visit the station.

READ NEXT: Pizza vending machine opens in Southampton (and we tried and tested it)

And with an average of 20 pizza sales each day, it’s a valuable investment for Ben.

He said: “The pizza vending machine has gone really well, and it’s extra income for us too.

“Hopefully when we close at 10pm we are getting sales we don’t normally get thanks to the vending machine.

“The outdoor, self-service laundrette is something else we offer as part of our hub.

“And it’s 24 hours a day, the same as the pizza vending machine.

“People can come here to wash their clothes and wait for a coffee or do some shopping inside.”

He is grateful for his team of 17 staff members who help keep the petrol station and store afloat.

Ben added: “We have got to diversify our offering and sell something that’s unique.

“We decided to look into the categories supermarkets struggle with, and we have definitely seen a new type of customer come here.”

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