Handcross: Difference between revisions
Rich (message wall | contribs) m Updates following today's visit |
Rich (message wall | contribs) AJ's didn't just build the restaurant... they also built the sports pavilion behind too! |
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The famous road to Brighton kicks off with a small service area hidden in the trees. | The famous road to Brighton kicks off with a small service area hidden in the trees at the back of Handcross Recreation Ground. | ||
==Facilities== | ==Facilities== | ||
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==Trivia and History== | ==Trivia and History== | ||
[[File:Cherries Cafe Handcross.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Inside the restaurant building, serving as Cherries Cafe in 2011.|alt=Restaurant interior with wooden dividers.]] | [[File:Cherries Cafe Handcross.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Inside the restaurant building, serving as Cherries Cafe in 2011.|alt=Restaurant interior with wooden dividers.]] | ||
Plans for a service area here were first put forward by [[Mobil]] in 1986. These plans included a filling station and motorists' restaurant. The | Plans for a service area here were first put forward by [[Mobil]] in 1986. These plans included a filling station and motorists' restaurant. The Mobil filling station opened in late 1987 next to the original A23 London Road, despite fierce opposition from locals. | ||
As part of the planning permission conditions, a deal was made between Mobil and Slaugham Parish Council that the sports pavilion within Handcross Recreational Ground would be renovated in exchange for a parcel of land at the edge of the recreational ground to build the restaurant on. This responsibility was later passed to [[AJ's]], who built their 16th restaurant on the edge of the recreational ground. | |||
The [[AJ's]] restaurant opened here on Monday 30 July 1990, with the £160,000 renovated sports pavilion opening a few days before on Thursday 26 July 1990. | |||
In 1993, the A23 was shifted west, which meant the old service area was still accessible - albeit with a long entry slip road. | |||
The AJ's went onto become the '''Handcross South''' branch of [[Little Chef]] in 1997 before closing in 2005. The restaurant later became Cherries Cafe and then Crama Romaneasca, which stopped trading in 2020 and currently lies abandoned. | The AJ's went onto become the '''Handcross South''' branch of [[Little Chef]] in 1997 before closing in 2005. The restaurant later became Cherries Cafe and then Crama Romaneasca, which stopped trading in 2020 and currently lies abandoned. | ||
Revision as of 16:33, 15 October 2024
A23 southbound between Crawley and Brighton
Signposted from the road.
RH17 6BL
map and directions
Single site located between junctions on one side of the road.
The famous road to Brighton kicks off with a small service area hidden in the trees at the back of Handcross Recreation Ground.
Facilities
Outdoor Space: Grass lawn next to forecourt Forecourt: BP, Londis, Costa Express, Rollover, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine
Parking Prices
Short stay customer parking is available for all vehicles. No overnight parking is available.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Handcross Services
Handcross
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6BL
- 🌍 Official MFG/Handcross website
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 01293 214578
- 📌 what3words: ///foreheads.mailing.reliving
- more map options
Trivia and History
Plans for a service area here were first put forward by Mobil in 1986. These plans included a filling station and motorists' restaurant. The Mobil filling station opened in late 1987 next to the original A23 London Road, despite fierce opposition from locals.
As part of the planning permission conditions, a deal was made between Mobil and Slaugham Parish Council that the sports pavilion within Handcross Recreational Ground would be renovated in exchange for a parcel of land at the edge of the recreational ground to build the restaurant on. This responsibility was later passed to AJ's, who built their 16th restaurant on the edge of the recreational ground.
The AJ's restaurant opened here on Monday 30 July 1990, with the £160,000 renovated sports pavilion opening a few days before on Thursday 26 July 1990.
In 1993, the A23 was shifted west, which meant the old service area was still accessible - albeit with a long entry slip road.
The AJ's went onto become the Handcross South branch of Little Chef in 1997 before closing in 2005. The restaurant later became Cherries Cafe and then Crama Romaneasca, which stopped trading in 2020 and currently lies abandoned.
The filling station was rebranded to BP in 1997, and in the mid-2010s gained a Costcutter store following its acquisition by MFG. This was later rebranded to Londis in 2018.
MFG hold planning permission to build a Starbucks Drive Thru on the existing HGV parking area to the rear of the sales building. As part of the works, the HGV parking area would be relocated, the existing jet wash removed, and a charging hub could be created with eight electric vehicle charging points.
The GeniePoint charger was switched off in 2023 due to power supply issues.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Pease Pottage (3 miles) | Services on the A23 | Jeremy's Corner (northbound, 3 miles) Hickstead (6 miles) |