Motorway Services Online

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Burtonwood: Difference between revisions

Rich (message wall | contribs)
m Facilities: WB Gaming closed
m all the other old signs are Motos
 
(62 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
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|type = motorway
|type = motorway
|operator = Welcome Break
|operator = Welcome Break
|image = Burtonwood 2019.jpg
|image = Burtonwood 2024.jpg
|road = [[M62]] at J8{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A5280, A5281 and the A5282)
|road = [[M62]] at J8{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A5280, A5281 and the A5282)
|postcode = WA5 3AX
|postcode = WA5 3AX
|signposted = As [[Starbucks]]/[[KFC]]
|signposted = Yes (as [[Starbucks]]/[[KFC]])
|stype = Single site located at a junction.
|stype = Single site located at a junction
|rating = Burtonwood
|rating = Burtonwood
|coords = 53.417238, -2.637942
|coords = 53.417238, -2.637942
Line 12: Line 12:
|markerpost = 024 }}
|markerpost = 024 }}


Now just a shadow of the two buildings it once was, this has made Burtonwood more manageable and more pleasant, if not a little harder to find.
After two buildings became one, Burtonwood has become more manageable and more pleasant, albeit a little harder to find.


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
{{facilities| Restaurants | {{KFC}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, {{Yorkshire Tea}} |covid = 7 November 2020 }}
{{facilities| Catering | {{KFC}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, {{Yorkshire Tea}} }}
{{facilities| Shops | {{WHSmith}} }}
{{facilities| Shops | {{WHSmith}} }}
{{facilities| Amenities | Showers }}
{{facilities| Amenities | {{Game Zone}}, {{Revolution Laundry}}, Showers }}
{{facilities| Hotel | none }}
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | Grass area around building }}
{{charging points| Ecotricity, Tesla Supercharger }}
{{facilities| Charging Points | GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 150kW CCS }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Shell}}, [[Select]], {{The Deli}}, {{Costa Express}}, {{Yorkshire Tea}}, Air1 AdBlue }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Welcome Break}}, {{Phat Pasty}}, {{Rollover}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}} }}


==Parking Prices==
==Parking Prices==
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £26 (or £28 to include a £10 meal voucher).
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £30 (or £32 to include a £12 meal voucher).


Prices can be paid in the shop, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].
Prices can be paid in the shop or by using [https://evologyparking.com/app/ Evology Parking]. The location code is 79389.


This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.  
The fees are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].
 
{{Parking Disclaimer}}


==Contact Details==
==Contact Details==
Line 39: Line 41:
WA5 3AX
WA5 3AX
|telephone = 01925 651656
|telephone = 01925 651656
|gridref = SJ576913
|facebook = welcomebreakburtonwood
|facebook = welcomebreakburtonwood
|website = https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/burtonwood/ Official Welcome Break Website
|website = https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/burtonwood/ Official Welcome Break/Burtonwood website
|foursquare = 511e5941f31c112a51eb11e8
|foursquare = 511e5941f31c112a51eb11e8
|3words = resettle.circular.overt
|3words = ownership.owners.majority
}}
}}


==Trivia and Design==
==Trivia and Design==
{{Gallery
[[File:Burtonwood westbound 8.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=A cardboard road sign saying: Services with access to M62 Liverpool.|A sign tries to help lost customers in the closed westbound car park.]]
|image = Burtonwood 1983.jpg
{{fulldetails|History:Burtonwood}}
|size = 250
Burtonwood is an odd experience, partly down to the fact that a whole new interchange has been built across its entrance, and also strange because half of it has been demolished. What's left is a very compact building with a distinctive tall roof, and only limited facilities.
|duped = yes
 
|caption = The eastbound side in 1983.
For westbound traffic, the route to get in the service area involves U-turning at the complicated J8 roundabout. When exiting, a long road back to the roundabout is used; it's a strange old emergency access that feels cut off from its urban surroundings and sometimes gets taken over by rabbits. An old direction sign can be seen from the rear of the Bombay 8 restaurant which is on the site of the old westbound complex.
|keydates = {{Key Date | 1974 | Opened by [[Trusthouse Forte]] }}
{{Key Date | 1974 | Re-branded [[Motor Chef]] }}
{{Key Date | 1988 | Re-branded [[Welcome Break]] }}
{{Key Date | 2008 | Westbound abandoned }} }}
For westbound traffic, the route to get in the service area involves U-turning at the complicated J8 roundabout. When exiting, a long road back to the roundabout is used, which at night is extremely popular with rabbits.


The road between the roundabout and the service area, despite only being a few hundred yards and not touching the main M62, is under motorway regulations. This creates a curious legal situation where traffic has to leave the motorway, rejoin it, and then leave it again, while non-motorway traffic is unable to use the service area purely because of that short road.
The road between the roundabout and the service area, despite only being a few hundred yards and not touching the main M62, is under motorway regulations. This creates a curious legal situation where traffic has to leave the motorway, rejoin it, and then leave it again, while non-motorway traffic is unable to use the service area purely because of that short road.


The then-Prime Minister David Cameron visited Burtonwood in July 2014.
Burtonwood remains the only Welcome Break site to offer a [[Yorkshire Tea]] machine within its WHSmith store, with the coach interchange on site apparently supplying the clientele.
 
A [[Starbucks Drive Thru]] is planned to be built at the back of the car park.
 
===History===
{{fulldetails|History:M62|M62 Service Area Planning}}
The service area originally consisted of two small, octagonal, pagoda-style buildings which were both clearly visible from the motorway. Both were connected by a pedestrian subway, and both had their entry and exit feed directly onto the M62, with no junctions involved.
 
The design was supposed to make the most of the simple landscape at this large and exposed location, allowing the buildings to be clearly visible from the road. The roof would have been red, as an early attempt to advertise the owner's branding, but planning permission was refused and instead it was copper - soon colouring to its distinctive green.
 
Forte should not have been allowed the contract to build Burtonwood as they already owned [[Charnock Richard]]. However, due to the low traffic levels forecast, an exception was made to that [[Adjacency rule|rule]].
 
In 1977, [[Egon Ronay]] called it "pleasantly decorated", "comfortable" and "clean".
 
A hotel was built on the westbound side in 1987, branded [[Travelodge]]. At the time each building had a [[The Granary]] restaurant and The Shop.
 
====Partial Closure====
[[File:Burtonwood westbound 1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Abandoned service area.|The abandoned westbound services before it was demolished.]]
Burtonwood had slowly become a very neglected service area. From day one its trade was described as "disappointing". During the winter, the westbound building would be closed and pedestrians would be directed through the subway under the road.
 
It suffered a decline in quality like any service station, but the disappointing custom meant improvements didn't follow. Burtonwood was further hurt when M62 J8 was built right next door in 2003. J8 was built to serve the upcoming Omega development and Gemini Retail Park, which both provided customers with alternative places to visit.
 
Welcome Break took the position that the new junction would be bad for their business, unless they were allowed to use it to close one half of Burtonwood. They made this suggestion to the Highways Agency as early as 2000, but it didn't take place until 2008; in the meantime, the westbound exit was modified to feed into the new junction. The quieter westbound side, with its valuable land that was close to the retail parks, was the obvious candidate for closure.
 
As the buildings at Burtonwood are relatively small - they hadn't been extended like most other service areas - halving the site meant only limited facilities could be provided. Initially, and unusually for a Welcome Break at the time, there was no [[Burger King]] or [[Coffee Primo]] coffee lounge. Closing the westbound side also meant there was no hotel, which had been rebranded [[Days Inn]].
 
The old westbound side was demolished in 2009 by Marshall and proposed for development. This included a [[Travelodge]], [[Starbucks]] and a [[Harvester]] pub/restaurant, but the majority of it was set to become offices. The shape of Charon Way still shows us where the old service area boundary was.
 
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Welcome Break were under pressure to respond quickly, and accidentally published several documents which referred to the only remaining Burtonwood building as "Burtonwood North". In some cases they would even list the non-existent "Burtonwood South", prompting one to wonder just how out of date their internal records are.


====Eastbound Refurbishment====
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Welcome Break were under pressure to respond quickly, and accidentally published several documents which referred to the only remaining Burtonwood building as "Burtonwood North". In some cases they would even list the non-existent "Burtonwood South", prompting one to wonder just how out of date their internal records are. New stickers appeared on the entrance doors in 2023, now labelling the site as "Burtonwood East".
After the eastbound building became the only surviving side, it was thoroughly refurbished and its condition has been considerably better ever since. It doubles-up as a coach interchange too.


The [[Starbucks]] and [[KFC]] operate from the centre of the round building, with seating all around the side and toilets and [[WHSmith]] at the back.
Another forgotten element is that Burtonwood remains the only Welcome Break service area to use the old-style motorway signs (with symbols). Welcome Break had updated all the others in the early 2010s, but opted to leave Burtonwood out.


The four flagpoles next to the car park are the remains of a Welcome Break idea from 1991. These were originally intended to carry the Union Flag, the Welcome Break logo, the Queen's Award For Export and the Forte logo. The poles are currently bare; Welcome Break is no longer part of the Forte Group, which held the Queen's Award.
Planning permission was held for a [[Starbucks Drive Thru]] to be built at the back of the car park in the late 2010s, but this has since expired.


==Alternatives==
==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M62| ''none'' |
{{Succession|1|M62| none |
[[Birch]] (20 miles){{newline}}[[Lymm]] (M6 south, 10 miles){{newline}}[[Knutsford]] (M6 south, 15 miles){{newline}}[[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles) }}
[[Birch]] (20 miles){{newline}}[[Lymm]] (M6 south, 10 miles){{newline}}[[Knutsford]] (M6 south, 15 miles){{newline}}[[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles){{newline}}[[Rising Bridge]] (A56 north, 34 miles) }}
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break| ''none'' |
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break| none |
[[Hartshead Moor]] (44 miles){{newline}}[[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles) }}
[[Hartshead Moor]] (44 miles){{newline}}[[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles) }}
</table>
</table>


{{bottomnav|version=new}}
{{bottomnav|version=new}}
[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M62]]
[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M62]][[Category:Major Changes]]

Latest revision as of 21:45, 10 March 2025

Location:

M62 at J8
(also accessible to traffic on the A5280, A5281 and the A5282)

Signposted from the road? Yes (as Starbucks/KFC)

Postcode:

WA5 3AX

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located at a junction.

Rating: See the reviews


After two buildings became one, Burtonwood has become more manageable and more pleasant, albeit a little harder to find.

Facilities

Catering: KFC, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks on the Go, Yorkshire Tea Shops: WHSmith Amenities: Game Zone, Revolution Laundry, Showers Outdoor Space: Grass area around building Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 150kW CCS Forecourt: Welcome Break, The Phat Pasty Co., Rollover, Starbucks on the Go

Parking Prices

First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £30 (or £32 to include a £12 meal voucher).

Prices can be paid in the shop or by using Evology Parking. The location code is 79389.

The fees are strictly enforced by ParkingEye.

This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Welcome Break Group Ltd
Burtonwood Motorway Services Area
M62
Great Sankey
Warrington
Cheshire
WA5 3AX


Trivia and Design

A cardboard road sign saying: Services with access to M62 Liverpool.
A sign tries to help lost customers in the closed westbound car park.

See also: History:Burtonwood

Burtonwood is an odd experience, partly down to the fact that a whole new interchange has been built across its entrance, and also strange because half of it has been demolished. What's left is a very compact building with a distinctive tall roof, and only limited facilities.

For westbound traffic, the route to get in the service area involves U-turning at the complicated J8 roundabout. When exiting, a long road back to the roundabout is used; it's a strange old emergency access that feels cut off from its urban surroundings and sometimes gets taken over by rabbits. An old direction sign can be seen from the rear of the Bombay 8 restaurant which is on the site of the old westbound complex.

The road between the roundabout and the service area, despite only being a few hundred yards and not touching the main M62, is under motorway regulations. This creates a curious legal situation where traffic has to leave the motorway, rejoin it, and then leave it again, while non-motorway traffic is unable to use the service area purely because of that short road.

Burtonwood remains the only Welcome Break site to offer a Yorkshire Tea machine within its WHSmith store, with the coach interchange on site apparently supplying the clientele.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Welcome Break were under pressure to respond quickly, and accidentally published several documents which referred to the only remaining Burtonwood building as "Burtonwood North". In some cases they would even list the non-existent "Burtonwood South", prompting one to wonder just how out of date their internal records are. New stickers appeared on the entrance doors in 2023, now labelling the site as "Burtonwood East".

Another forgotten element is that Burtonwood remains the only Welcome Break service area to use the old-style motorway signs (with symbols). Welcome Break had updated all the others in the early 2010s, but opted to leave Burtonwood out.

Planning permission was held for a Starbucks Drive Thru to be built at the back of the car park in the late 2010s, but this has since expired.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
noneServices on the M62Birch (20 miles)
Lymm (M6 south, 10 miles)
Knutsford (M6 south, 15 miles)
Charnock Richard (M6 north, 20 miles)
Rising Bridge (A56 north, 34 miles)
noneWelcome Break servicesHartshead Moor (44 miles)
Charnock Richard (M6 north, 20 miles)

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