Toddington Services

Then:

Trivia:
Granada's First Site. Granada, up until then were a cinema chain, ITV contractors for the north west (and makers of Coronation Street), 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 coffee. It was an attempt to offer some rest for tired travellers in conjuntion with the department of transport. We believe the scheme has been discontinued. (link)

In 1978 a Government report stated that Toddington had the largest restarant seating capacity of all MSAs -if you count public and transport (i.e. Lorry/coach drivers) seating together. Aust had the largest public restaurant seating



Current:
Has Harry Ramsdens, Little Chef, Burger King, Fresh Express (cafe), Upper Crust and a Nescafe Coffee shop. Northbound has the first Marks and Spencers food outlet on a MSA- quite large, all to-go products.
For non-food items, you'll find a typical shop, T2 (phone accessories) (northbound is just a cabinet in the shop, southbound is a full shop), Birthdays Card, Thorntons (southbound)
Southbound site has a Hairdressers (reasonably priced too, 9 pounds a cut) - You don't find many of these about (there is another at Leigh Delamere )(although not the first, some MSA's in the 60's had hairdressers.)
Larger than average parking area for lorries.
Apr 2003; northbound was being re-painted and new landscaping being placed outside.
Fuel is by BP, Hotel by Travel Lodge

Photos:
2004, Southbound site