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 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 ReviewToddington Services
Opened: 1965 Original owner: Granada Current Owner: Moto Then: Trivia: Granada’s First Site. Granada, up until then were a cinema chain, ITV contractors for the north west, and a bingo Hall chain. The security staff were dressed with Robin Hood Hats when the site opened. For a period, housed the groups offices (previously they had been at Heston services on the M4) This site was used by Granada to experiment with Self-Service restaurants at MSA’s. Obviously successful! Both sites currently has a 5 Star Loo of the year Award 2003 along with 33 others in the road transport category. (find best loos overall) The Travel lodge at Toddington was the first to offer 3 hour “power naps” for 5 pounds, including...
Full ReviewTibshelf Services
Opened: 1998Current Owner: RoadChef Then: Trivia: From Mike B: “On the M1 north of Junction 28 stubs were built for a service area when the road was first built. The present Tibshelf Services however were actually built just south of these stubs which can still be seen unused. I’m not sure why this is the case, but the present position does mean that the slip roads are sharply curved and entry and exits are at the same point rather than at the north and south ends of the site as they would have been.” Current: From Tony Lloyd “Northbound – the design is like a tunnel. It’s quite a small service area. The front door basically leads an open...
Full Review