A couple who met at a petrol station have commemorated their unusual first encounter by getting matching Shell logo tattoos. Heidi Montague, 23, and Jack Ellison, 26, say their romance began when Jack complimented Heidi's car while she was using a jet wash at a Shell garage in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
A Chance Meeting at the Forecourt
Heidi, a customer operations team leader from Worthing, West Sussex, had popped out during her lunch break to wash her Volkswagen Polo BlueGT. As she pulled up to the jet wash, she found Jack already using the machine. Instead of waiting, the pair struck up a conversation about their shared passion for cars. Jack, a car company parts advisor, was driving his Volkswagen Golf R32 at the time.
Heidi described the moment as "like something out of a movie." She said: "He was cleaning his car and came over to me and said he really liked my car. It was a talking point and we were just complimenting each other's cars, it was a really nice conversation." They exchanged Instagram details before parting ways.
From Acquaintances to Partners
At the time, both were in other relationships, so they only occasionally checked in with each other. However, in August 2024, two years after their first meeting, both found themselves single. Heidi messaged Jack, and he asked her for coffee. The rest, as they say, is history.
Heidi admitted that dating app experiences had been awful, but meeting Jack felt natural. "With Jack, I was nervous, of course, but it didn't feel like a boring way of meeting somebody. I feel proud of telling our story," she said.
Inking Their Love
In July 2025, the couple decided to immortalise their meeting by getting matching £50 Shell logo tattoos on their forearms. The tattooist was delighted by the story behind the design. Heidi said: "We told the tattooist about how we met at a Shell garage, and they thought it was a really sweet story."
Jack, who first spotted Heidi at the petrol station and thought she was "stunning," said: "I loved the tattoos so much. I was super excited to have something matching with my girlfriend. It brings me so much joy that people talk about it, and I can share our amazing story."
A Shared Passion for Cars
The couple's love for cars extends beyond their meeting. Both are self-confessed "car crazy" Volkswagen fans who attend car shows together. Jack added: "Most girls aren't into cars, or if they are, they have very little knowledge. But Heidi has both. It's nice having someone to share my passion with."
Social media users were quick to comment on the couple's unique story. One user said: "The cute version of the Shell logo." Another added: "Shell should give you a discount." A third commented: "V power running through your veins."
