Northampton Services
Opened: 1978? Original owner: Blue Boar Current Owner: Roadchef Original Name: Rothersthorpe Then: Originally named Rothersthorpe For many years a Truck-only stop Northampton Services Southbound, 2008. Honest I haven’t just used a Norton Cannes picture, theres no fountains. Trivia: In the old building (now demolished) crossing the footbridge would lead directly into the MSA building. Offline-ish services- the site is accessable from the A43 without touching the M1. The M1 slip for the services is shared with the A43 slip. (multimap) If you buy food here on a credit card, your bill will read BLUE BOAR MSA – a touch of its past! Blue Boar – Rothersthorpe under construction. This building has been demolished, as it was rather too...
Full ReviewNewport Pagnell Services
Opened: 15 August 1960 Original owner: Forte Current Owner: Welcome Break Location: Between J14-15 Trivia: Originally to be Cars only- with Watford Gap services being for Lorries only. The pair of services being the only services on the M1 at the time. Fortes Motorway services were managed for many years from offices at Newport Pagnell Had to open two hours early as queues of curious public had formed! On opening day it took a while to get a table as many people had come out to see the services and experience the novelty. Egon Ronay was not complimentary during his survey of services in 2000. He said of the all the All-Day Breakfast: “One of my three colleagues remarked...
Full ReviewLeicester Forest Services
Opened: 1966 Original owner: Ross / Motoross Current Owner: Welcome Break Then: Trivia: Originally owned and built by Ross – The same company that produces Fresh and Frozen Fish. The Ross Logo used to be on the top of the distinctive water tower. Originally built with Restaurant on the bridge (at most services a bridge is just a bridge). The restaurant is still located on the Bridge today. It was the last service area built like this. Whilst originally they were viewed as giving a wonderful view, later thinking considered that they gave little relief from the motorway! When it opened, it was the furthest MSA north. Opened with a Terrance Conran designed restaurant called the Captains Table, served...
Full ReviewDonington Park Services
Opened: 8 July 1999 Original owner: Granada Current Owner: Moto Trivia: Penultimate new site opened by Granada before the demerger & rebranding to become Moto. When built it was very experimental. Appears to be based on Airport facilities, providing convienience shopping. (UK law prevents MSA’s being anything more than a stop off point- it must not be a place to drive to) The original application names this site as “Long Whatton” The Travelodge is built around the MSA. Neil Turner sent us some picutres and you can see below the Travelodge hotel is built around the main courtyard area with windows overlooking it. Handy if you are an insomniac- you can watch people in the MSA at 3am. Sleep...
Full ReviewLondon Gateway Services
Opened: 1969 as Scratchwood Services Original owner: Forte Renamed: 1999 as London Gateway Current Owner: Welcome Break Location: Between Junction 2 and Junction 4. Trivia: The guns of HMS Belfast are said to be trained on this MSA.HMS Belfast is permanently moored beside Tower Bridge and is open as a museum. And its 12.5 miles for a shell to travel from HMS Belfast to MSA. A one site services, located on the Northbound side but accessible by southbound traffic by a bridge. At the site of the non-existent Junction 3. Originally, J3 was to be a link road between M1 and A1. This was never built. The bridge was then used for the services- allowing southbound traffic across the motorway...
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