Watford Gap
Opened: 2 November 1959 Original owner: Blue Boar Current Owner: RoadChef Trivia: Technically, the first Motorway Services in the UK. However, when it opened, the buildings were not ready so food was sold from temporary sheds!. Opened on the same day as the M1 Motorway Very popular with pop stars in the 1960’s. Urban story has it that Jimi Hendrix thought Blue Boar was the name of a London club, becuase so many of his contemporaries mentioned it. Blue Boar were offered the opportunity to develop the site to compensate the loss of business to thier existing facilities on the A5. They were offered Newport Pagnell too, but in the end that site was developed by Forte The...
Full ReviewTrowell
Opened: 1967 Original owner: Mecca Leisure Sold to: Granada in 1977 Current Owner: Moto Then: Trivia: Originally themed as a “village”, in Robin Hood/Sherrwood forest style. Restaurant area was called Sherrifs Restaurant, and another Marion’s Pantry. There were lots of Heraldic decorations. Possibly inspired by themed bars at Butlins? Featured in an episode of auf wiedersehn pet- A comedy about a group of North Eastern Builders. Any coincidence that the services name sounds like a builders tool? (trowell = trowel) Ones named as a crime hotspot by Nottinghamshire police (link) Originally the toilets were not accessible from inside the northbound complex, it being necessary to leave the building and move along the frontage to enter the toilet area. Recent re-development...
Full ReviewWooley Edge
Opened: 1972 Original owner: Taverna (Esso) Later owned by: Granada (mid 1980’s?) Current Owner: Moto Then: Trivia: Birch Services on the M62 are designed in a similar way (both have a distinctive roof structure from the outside) Orginally had a huge bank of Vending machines including microwaves to self-serve food Has a secret exit. It is possible to switch between the northbound and southbound sites by using nearby Bramley Lane. Users of the lodge need to do this to access the building, which is on the northbound only. The exit is controlled by a automatic bollard + intercom to prevent regular access The southbound site had a lodge built in 2001 Current: I usually stop off on the southbound services (the...
Full ReviewM74 Happendon Services
Opened: 1995 Original owner: Cairn Lodge Current Owner: Cairn Lodge Location: Current: Alan Simpson writes: “Happendon services is operated by Cairn Lodge, and can be found in Scotland on the M74 between J11 and 12. Cairn Lodge is an independent company and opened the services in 1993, when the first new part of the M74 extension was opened. At the time the distance between the planned Abington services at J13 was too far from Roadchef’s Hamilton and Bothwell, so Happendon filled the gap. However it lies only 10 miles north of Welcome Break’s Abington as a result. The name Cairn Lodge came about because of the old gatehouse which is still standing, and visible from the main restaurant. The...
Full ReviewM62 Hartshead Moor Services
Opened: 1973 Original owner: Ross Current Owner: Welcome Break Location: Then: Trivia: Plaque in entry hall in tribute to those who died in the M62 bomb Current: Loos old fasioned- brown / beige and looking very...
Full ReviewM27 Rownhams Services
Opened:1977 Original owner: Roadchef Current Owner: Roadchef Location: Between J3 and J4 Then: Trivia: Designed to be single story, and similar to a moon colony (later refurbishment has hidden this) there was at one time a plan to grass the roof to make it more invisible from the road- the aim with this msa was minimal distrubance of the natural area. Rownhams is not in the New Forest, but this is where the new forest feel starts (assuming you are heading West!) Is the only “proper” MSA on the South Coast Another services was planned for J9 but was never built Used to have an internal atrium -removed roughly 2001 to put in place a new coffee shop at the foot...
Full Review