A55 westbound between J33A and J33B
Signposted from the road.
CH7 6HB
map and directions
Two sites staggered between junctions, with no public connection between them.
This is the service area on the A55 in Wales. For the one on the M1 near London, see London Gateway. For the one on the A16 at Lincs Gateway, see Spalding. For the one on the A82 near Glasgow, see Dumbarton Gateway.
A welcome to Wales for westbound motorists, with a variety of facilities spread out over a hill.
Facilities
Catering: McDonald's Drive Thru, OK Diner, Starbucks Drive Thru Amenities: Holiday Inn Outdoor Space: Grass bank behind McDonald's Charging Points: InstaVolt 120kW CCS & 50kW CHAdeMO Forecourt: Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, Free Cash Machine
Parking Prices
Short stay customer parking is available for cars at all facilities and each parking area is subject to its own restrictions. OK Diner customers must enter the registration in the restaurant.
Short stay HGV parking is only available in a lay-by on the exit slip.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Westbound A55 Expressway
Northop Hall
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 6HB
Trivia and Design
Shell call this service area 'Northop', as opposed to Northop Hall on the other side of the road. However the road signs are clear that it is called 'Gateway services', and this is the name that has been used ever since it was developed.
There are a number of facilities spread out across the hill, with the former Costa and Subway building previously claiming to be the main public facility (the one meeting the contractual obligation to provide free toilets). This is no longer the case following the closure of the Costa store in early 2023.
Despite being part of the service area, the OK Diner has always distanced itself from this responsibility, instead taking issue with people using their car park and toilets. On 1 May 2024, they began instructing 'Smart Parking' to charge anybody who uses their car park without leaving their vehicle registration in the restaurant. This policy attracted considerable criticism from customers who forgot or weren't aware of this.
History
The service area was developed by Autolodge Hotels Limited in the late 1980s, with construction commencing in Spring 1990 on a Shell forecourt and an Autolodge hotel, leaving space in the middle of the site for more restaurants. The hotel and forecourt opened in October 1990 and was branded Northop Hall Autolodge, later becoming a partner of Pavilion Lodge. A Little Chef was envisaged, so it could be a partner to Northop Hall, but this didn't happen.
The gap in the middle of the site was soon filled a few years later, with a McDonald's Drive Thru restaurant opening on 17 December 1993. OK Diner then added a diner here in around 1995.
The final parcel of land behind the hotel was used in 2007 to construct a new unit, opening as Subway and Costa in 2008, with space in the middle for a Visit Wales tourist information centre that was never used. This building was built by Mold Developments Ltd, who took over from Autolodge. The Subway unit closed in 2018, with the Costa store following in early 2023.
Works later commenced in May 2024 on converting the former Costa and Subway unit into a Starbucks store, with a drive-thru lane being added around the back of the building. The store later opened in June 2024.
Two InstaVolt chargers were installed in the westbound McDonald's car park in summer 2022.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Northop Hall (eastbound only, ½ mile) Kinmel Park (21 miles) | Services on the A55 | Saughall (A494, 7 miles) |
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