Motorway Services Online

Revision as of 19:15, 6 August 2022

Location:

A55 between J33A and J33B

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

Access/Layout:

Two sites staggered between junctions, with no public connection between them..

This is the services on the A55 in Wales. For the services on the M1 near London, see London Gateway. For the services on the A16 at Lincs Gateway, see Spalding. For the services on the A82 near Glasgow, see Dumbarton Gateway.

Better known as Northop Hall services, this site offers array of different facilities spread out over a hill.

Facilities

Westbound

Catering: Costa Coffee, McDonald's Drive Thru, OK Diner Amenities: Holiday Inn Charging Points: InstaVolt 120kW CCS & 50kW CHAdeMO Forecourt: Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, Air1 AdBlue, Free Cash Machine

Eastbound

Catering: Greggs, Starbucks Amenities: Travelodge Forecourt: Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, AdBlue Containers

Parking Prices

Short stay customer parking is available for cars at all facilities on both sides and each parking area is subject to their own restrictions.

Short stay HGV parking is only available on the north-westbound side 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:
A55 Expressway
Northop Hall
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 6HB

🌍 Operators & Official Websites:

Trivia and Design

When driving westbound, the road signs are very clear that the site is called Gateway services, referring to its position just beyond the Welsh border. The eastbound side doesn't have a name but its facilities refer to themselves as Northop Hall.

On the westbound side there are a number of facilities spread out across the hill, but the Costa building claims to be the main public facility (the one meeting the contractual obligation to provide free toilets).

Shell installed 4 Shell Recharge electric vehicle charging points on the eastbound side in 2021. These aren't expected to be switched on until late 2022. 2 InstaVolt chargers were also installed in the westbound McDonald's car park in summer 2022.

History

The two service areas here were originally planned as a pair of Little Chefs, but what opened was completely different.

The westbound side opened in the late 1980s, and had a forecourt and a hotel with space in the middle left for more restaurants. The hotel and land around it was owned by Autolodge Hotels Ltd, with the hotel branded Northop Hall Autolodge. It gave its address as "Gateway services", and became a partner of Pavilion Lodge.

Meanwhile, the eastbound side opened in 1990 with a Happy Eater, a Travelodge and a forecourt. Forte changed the Happy Eater to the more profitable Little ChefHistory brand in 1996, and this branch received additional attention with a thorough refurbishment providing with air conditioning, new furniture and a blue colour scheme, in order to attract more evening diners.

Under Granada, a Burger King was opened, but the 'blue' changes were later undone and the Burger King itself closed. This became a Coffee Tempo! and later Little Chef Express. When Little Chef and Travelodge became separate companies, Travelodge kept the land here The restaurant was closed by Euro Garages in April 2017 and re-opened two months later as a Starbucks. A Greggs store then joined the Starbucks in late 2018.

The westbound Subway and Costa opened 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 and the unit is currently vacant.

The eastbound forecourt was a Total site, with Total calling it 'Expressway Service Station'. It became Shell in 2012, and was re-built in 2016.

Alternatives

Previous:		Next:
Kinmel Park (21 miles)	Services on the A55	Saughall (A494, 7 miles)

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 ===History===
-Both sides of the service area opened in the late 1980s. It was originally planned as a pair of Little Chefs, but what opened was completely different.
+The two service areas here were originally planned as a pair of Little Chefs, but what opened was completely different.
-The westbound side had a forecourt and a hotel, with space in the middle left for more restaurants. The hotel and land around it was owned by Autolodge Hotels Ltd, with the hotel branded '''Northop Hall Autolodge'''. It gave its address as "Gateway services", and became a partner of [[Pavilion Lodge]].
+The westbound side opened in the late 1980s, and had a forecourt and a hotel with space in the middle left for more restaurants. The hotel and land around it was owned by Autolodge Hotels Ltd, with the hotel branded '''Northop Hall Autolodge'''. It gave its address as "Gateway services", and became a partner of [[Pavilion|Pavilion Lodge]].
-Meanwhile, the eastbound side opened with a [[Happy Eater]], a [[Travelodge]] and a forecourt. Forte changed the Happy Eater to the more profitable {{Little Chef|Northop Hall}} brand in 1996, and this branch received additional attention with a thorough refurbishment providing with air conditioning, new furniture and a blue colour scheme, in order to attract more evening diners.
+Meanwhile, the eastbound side opened in 1990 with a [[Happy Eater]], a [[Travelodge]] and a forecourt. Forte changed the Happy Eater to the more profitable {{Little Chef|Northop Hall}} brand in 1996, and this branch received additional attention with a thorough refurbishment providing with air conditioning, new furniture and a blue colour scheme, in order to attract more evening diners.
 Under [[Granada]], a [[Burger King]] was opened, but the 'blue' changes were later undone and the Burger King itself closed. This became a [[Coffee Tempo!]] and later [[Little Chef Express]]. When Little Chef and Travelodge became separate companies, Travelodge kept the land here The restaurant was closed by [[Euro Garages]] in April 2017 and re-opened two months later as a [[Starbucks]]. A Greggs store then joined the Starbucks in late 2018.