Birch services
M62 between J18 and J19
Signposted from the road.
OL10 2RB
map and directions
Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.
Two different services close to Manchester on the busy M62. The eastbound side is the older and smaller of the two, while westbound is a lot more airy.
Facilities
Catering: on both sides: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme
and eastbound only: Costa Drive Thru
Shops: M&S Simply Food, WHSmith
Main Amenities: on both sides: Full Hou$e, Showers
and eastbound only: &Play, Lucky Coin
Hotel: Travelodgebook west | book east
Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2
Forecourt: BP, Shop, Costa Express, Air1 AdBlue
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £27.50. HGVs can pay £29.50 to include a £10 food voucher.
Prices are paid using PayByPhone. The location code is 2427 (westbound) and 2426 (eastbound).
The fees are strictly enforced by CP Plus.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Moto Hospitality Ltd
Whittle Lane
Heywood
Lancashire
OL10 2RB
- 📞 Telephone number: 0161 643 0911
- 🗺 Grid reference: SD847079
Trivia and History
The parking prices used to have an unusual (and rather expensive) tier system, but it has now reverted back to the standard 2-or-24 hours system.
The original contract to operate the services states it is the westernmost on the M62. At the time it was written, the M62 was expected to end at Manchester, but the road was extended to Liverpool.
A Costa Drive Thru was planned to open on the westbound side too to join the eastbound one however the permission for this has now expired.
Moto currently hold planning permission to install an electric vehicle charging hub at the back of the westbound car park which is set to include 6 GRIDSERVE charging points and 10 Tesla Superchargers. They are also seeking to build two new Changing Places facilities, one on each side.
Early History
See also: M62 Service Area Planning
The services were built by Taverna and opened with a long roof, which stretched to the ground, much like Woolley Edge. The bridge wasn't directly connected to either building.
When Granada took the place over, they painted it brightly in red and white. Inside, the tall roof had a beamed ceiling with differing levels and tables with high skylights throwing light inside. The large café had an area for lorries designated within it. The TV and pin ball machines created a lot of background noise. They trialled a holiday-booking service here, but were quickly told to remove it.
In September 1975 there was a clash between Leeds United and Chelsea fans who stopped on either side of the road and met on the bridge. This resulted in smashed windows, uprooted trees and a total of £3,000 worth of damage. Hooliganism like this was a common threat at service stations in the 1970s.
A 1978 government review described the services as "pleasant, well managed, but not wildly exciting".
The service area was unfortunately the scene of a brutal murder on the morning of 14 September 1989. Inspector Raymond Codling was a police officer investigating a suspicious vehicle when he was attacked. A memorial to him is placed beside the hotel, and memorial events are held here.
In 1990 it was expected that plans to build a new motorway alongside the M62 would see Birch services be demolished. The Department for Transport suggested they would be allowing Granada to build a new service area five miles to the east. This motorway was never built but it was considered again in 2016.
Westbound Reconstruction
The westbound amenity building was destroyed in a large fire on the 9 October 2003. After losing large sums of cash in a slot machine, Jason New started kicking it. He then went to the shop and bought a lighter, promptly setting fire to the machine. By 1am, the whole westbound side of the services were alight and evacuated. It took 70 fire-fighters four hours to bring the blaze under control.
Whilst the site was being rebuilt, temporary facilities were provided. The petrol station, hotel and eastbound services were not affected but were initially evacuated.
The new building opened in December 2004 and caters for 242 cars, 120 lorries and 30 coaches. Upon opening, Moto described the new building as being "the most modern on the motorway network". The bridge over to the other side is not connected to the new building; you have to walk outside to reach it.
Eastbound Work
Granada extended the front of the eastbound services by adding a series of shops for customers to pass on the way in. This hides the original low-hanging roof, which was designed to look good in a snowdrift. A second entrance, leading straight to the toilets, has been closed.
In November 2011, the front of the services was damaged in another serious fire.
In 2013, an Ernie's Fish and Chips takeaway was trialled here alongside a second unit at Moto's neighbouring service area Ferrybridge. However, these were both removed in 2015 following an unsuccessful trial.
On 23 March 2017, a refurbished Costa opened. A M&S Simply Food also opened to join its westbound counterpart.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Burtonwood (20 miles) Rivington (M61, 13 miles) Lymm (M6 south, 23 miles) | Services on the M62 | Hartshead Moor (22 miles) |
| Lancaster (M6 north, 40 miles) | Moto services | Ferrybridge (43 miles) Woolley Edge (M1 south, 42 miles) |
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