Hilton Park Services
Opened: 1970 Original owner: Toprank Subsequently: Granada Current Owner: Moto Location: M6 J10a/11 Hilton Park – possibly inspired by the design for Forton? Then: Trivia: For a short while was renamed “Birmingham North” in the 1990’s. Has since reverted back to its original name. Buildings were completed but the services did not open for business for another couple of years. The last services to have a separate Truckers cafe (a regulatory requirement for many years, now replaced by the voucher system) A short 10-minute drama was filmed named after and set at these services (more) The first Cyber-Cafe on an UK motorway opened here in 1999 5 companies were fined £181,000 becuase of abestos found and incorrectly dealt with during...
Full ReviewCorley Services
Opened: 1972 Original owner: Forte Current Owner: Welcome Break Then: Trivia: Bridge was built by Government with the motorway before development, was clad in fibreglass paneling to match the main buildings. First Motorway Service Station to have a permanent Police Community Support Officer (more) In 2001 received 2 stars from Egon Ronay, who in the previous year had dismissed all motorway food as “rubbish”. Only 5 MSA’s gained a two star award from Mr Ronay. In 1989, a lorry containing explosives broke down nearby and was moved to the service area to await repair, attended to by a fire engine. One side of the services was closed until the vehicle was repaired. Has approximately 2 million Visitors per year...
Full ReviewCharnock Richard Services
Opened: 1963 Original owner: Forte Current Owner: Welcome Break Location: J27-28 Trivia: The First Motorway Service Area to open on the M6 One of the few services with a bridge restaurant A Government study in 2000 found that traffic after J26 eased in volume, but the pressure on the road was immence and that the stretch of the M6 that includes the M6 is a black spot for accidents. 1997 Guiness book of records records the “worst UK traffic Jam” (in terms of volume) on April 17 1987 which ran between Charnock Richard and Carnforth involving about 200,000 people in 50,000 vehicles. Do you agree with this Amazon.co.uk review comparing Starsailor and Charnock Richard? When Charnock richard opened in 1963 the...
Full ReviewBurton In Kendal Services
Opened: 1970 Original owner: Mobil Subsequent Owner: Granada (in 1973?) Current Owner: Moto Location: M6 Northbound J 35/36 Then: Originally opened as Burton West Trivia: A Single sided, inter junction site, or, in other words, it serves the northbound side of the motorway. Killington Lake serves the Southbound side about 7 miles north of this site. One of the few sites where the Head Lease is owned by a petrol company. The services are by arrangement. Votes an comments on our old system: People who prefer this MSA 14 People happy to visit 3 People who avoid this MSA 3 Selection of comments received sinde the early eighties when i first started driving and going to the lakes or scotland,my friends...
Full ReviewWoodall Services
Opened: 1968 Original owner: Forte Current Owner: Welcome Break Then: Trivia: Originally had different building designs on either side of the Motorway. This was very unusual at the time. Each facility was housed in its own unique building Phil Reynolds remembers: ” I remember stopping at Woodall in about 1980 (allow a year either side) to find that the price lists for food and drink were different on the two carriageways, with the cheaper one closed. This was probably a year when there was a major refurbishment at this site.” Has a “secret” exit Current: Popular with coaches, and currently has a Coach Haven – a separate area for coach drivers. However, an earlier coach Haven at a different...
Full Review