Knutsford Services (M6)

Opened: 1963
Original owner: Toprank
Current Owner: Moto

Then:

Trivia:
New 54 Bed Travelodge built in 2001 (info)


Planning applications were applied for a new site at junction 22 about 14 miles north. Everyone acknowledged that the traffic levels (around 100,000 vehicles per day) was enough to justify further facilities, particularly given the long distance nature of much of that traffic and that the nearest existing services- Knutsford and Charnock Richard - were rather undersized and had no room to expand. However, the Secretary of state threw out the proposals, leaving plans in disarray

A UFO sighting near Knutsford services is described in detail on this web site- is it a UFO, or something else?

The Northbound 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)

Luxury Grill Room at Knutsford whilst owned by Top Rank

Gerry George wrote in 2012:

I first met and fell cap-over-the-bridge for Knutsford Service, in the autumn of 1964 when – having just landed a job as a young sales representative with a Birmingham hospital bed manufacturer – I found myself driving a brand new Vauxhall Viva, with £850pa salary and an expense account that funded £1.50 (then one pound, ten shillings), B&B on the Hagley Road, Dormy, Briars, or Norfolk Capital, plus – at nearby Old House At Home Inn, Edgbaston – a 12oz T-bone steak, with an inclusive prawn cocktail starter, the cheeseboard, dessert and coffee for 62.5 pence(then 12 shillings and sixpence. That aside, my biggest and most anticipated thrill then, was to visit the Top Rank Services – both coming and going – at Knutsford, which out-stripped any other such venue at the time. It was always clean, well-administered and the restaurants were of an exceptionally high standard, as were the cafes; all of which were not receptive to patrons who neither behaved nor dressed appropriately. Happy Days, and like the Esso sign at the time, and attendant commercial in which an oriental cartoon caricature sang *Esso Sign Means Happy Motoring* Knutsford Services epitomised just that ! God Bless and keep you Knutsford Services; my being nearly 74 now, and still retaining those happy vibes about the most delightful services venue on the motorway.