London 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 to the services. Built on a disused railway yard. A study by University College in London found that the first services outside a city gained 50% more trade than others. so Fortes went to town in designing this site, as both an advertisment for other Fortes services, and also learning by the mistakes of the other sites that had been developed in the 1960s. In 2002 opened a 202-bedroom Days Inn hotel costing 10 Million pounds.

HMS Belfast: "What do you mean you want to cancel our free breakfast "arrangement". Especially as my finger is dangerously near the fire button..."

Martin writes: (2018)

They can rebrand it as many times as they like, but I will always call it “Scratchwood”…always have done…always will do.

Robbie wrote in 2015:

I remember stopping at Scratchwood Services when I drove to Northampton from East Sussex during the 1970,s and early 1980,s. Had to drive through London in those days as M25 was not completed. Being close to the start of the M1 in London, Scratchwood was a welcome stop for a comfort break and cup of tea.

Current:
recently redeveloped as part of the re-branding and renamed as London Gateway

The site currently has a 5 Star Loo of the year Award 2003 along with 33 others in the road transport category. (find best loos overall)

Still has a Sheerings Coaches interchange

Scratchwood- as first built. Today you won't see all this beautiful architecture, its all been covered or replaced.
Its just too good so lets have a closer look. No sharp edges here, even on the walls.
This part of scratchwood looks a little Spanish in influence. A world away from the typical boxes of the 1960s.
The Grill Room, in 1969
Entrance today (2006)

Thanks:
Phil Reynolds