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Hopwood Park: Difference between revisions

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{{Services
{{Services
|type = motorway
|type = motorway
|image = Hopwood Park 2020.jpg
|image = Hopwood Park 2024.jpg
|operator = Welcome Break
|operator = Welcome Break
|road = [[M42]] at J2{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A441)
|road = [[M42]] at J2{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A441)
|postcode = B48 7AU
|postcode = B48 7AU
|signposted = Yes
|signposted = Yes
|stype = Single site located at a junction.
|stype = Single site located at a junction
|rating = Hopwood
|rating = Hopwood
|coords = 52.363644, -1.94591
|coords = 52.363644, -1.94591
Line 12: Line 12:
|markerpost = 0009 }}
|markerpost = 0009 }}


A service area with its own picnic tables, play area, walking path and a small field. The toilets are on the second storey (except disabled).
One of Britain's two-storey service areas; Hopwood Park shows off with its upper levels, large windows and garden space.


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
{{Coronavirus|10 June 2020}}
{{facilities| Catering | {{Burger King}}, {{Chopstix Noodle Bar}}, {{KFC}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Subway}}, {{The Good Breakfast}}, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Phat Pasty}}, {{Rollover}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, {{Starbucks|drivethru=yes}} }}
{{facilities| Restaurants | {{Burger King}}, {{KFC}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Costa Express}}, {{Starbucks Drive Thru}} }}
{{facilities| Shops | {{Little Waitrose}}, {{WHSmith}} }}
{{facilities| Shops | {{WHSmith}} }}
{{facilities| Amenities | {{Changing Places}}, {{Game Zone}}, Showers }}
{{facilities| Amenities | {{Changing Places}}, {{Children's Play Area}}, Nature Reserve, Showers }}
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | Nature reserve and grass space at back of car park; {{Children's Play Area}}; public footpath connections }}
{{facilities| Hotel | none }}
{{facilities| Charging Points | Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 150kW CCS }}
{{charging points| Ecotricity, Tesla Supercharger }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Welcome Break}}, {{Phat Pasty}}, f'real Milkshakes, {{Rollover}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}} }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | [[Welcome Break]], {{Costa Express}}, Air1 AdBlue }}


==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 £30 (or £32 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 £34 (or £36 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 79400.
 
The fees are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].
 
{{Parking Disclaimer}}


==Contact Details==
==Contact Details==
Line 38: Line 41:
B48 7AU
B48 7AU
|telephone = 01214 474000
|telephone = 01214 474000
|gridref = SP037739
|website = https://welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/hopwood-park/ Official Welcome Break/Hopwood Park website
|website = http://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/hopwood-park/ Official Welcome Break Website
|facebook = wbhopwoodpark
|facebook = wbhopwoodpark
|foursquare = 511e6a3945b029c63b9dd78b
|foursquare = 511e6a3945b029c63b9dd78b
|3words = cared.photo.spoon
|3words = idea.lines.improving
}}
}}


==Trivia and History==
==Trivia and Design==
{{Gallery
[[File:Hopwood Park model.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Service station model.|A model of the service area was built and displayed inside it.]]
|image = Hopwood Park model.jpg
{{fulldetails|History:Hopwood Park}}
|size = 250
Hopwood Park became a poster child for modern service area design. While a few other service areas to open around this time had large windows, open dining areas, fountains and scenic walks, very few combined them all as well as Hopwood Park did. It's also one of the only service areas with two public storeys in its amenity building, as well as an extra shop unit that was designed to emulate the shopping centres being built by their competitors.
|duped = yes
|caption = The model of the services which is on display inside it.
|keydates = {{Key Date | 1999 | Services opened }} }}
There is a public footpath running through the service area, leading to Stonehouse Lane.
 
===Planning===
{{fulldetails|History:M42#Private Proposals|M42 Planning Applications}}
When the southern part of the M42 was planned, the first motorway service area was expected to be near Solihull. Very little was written about possible service areas on the southern section, but in the late 1970s some documents did suggest that one could be built at Portway, at M42 J3.
 
The M42 here didn't open until 1986, and in 1992 the Department of Transport ended their involvement in motorway service area planning. They published a list of projects they had completed "preliminary work" on, and while most of the items on that list were specific service area names, one of them merely said "M42 South". No detail of that preliminary work has been uncovered.
 
Individual developers were encouraged to pick up where the DoT had left off, and in 1994 Bryant Homes submitted a planning application for Hopwood Park services. There were local complaints and it was rejected. John Prescott overturned the rejection as Environment Secretary, allowing the plan to be developed by Welcome Break.
 
One alternative plan, drawn up in early 1998, took up a similar area, but with a less contemporary design. The access would have been off a new roundabout on the A441, with a petrol station at the north end. The cross-shaped building would have been in the centre with a fan-shaped, landscaped car park facing east, by a motel and balancing pond.
 
===Opening===
{{Quote|Judging by the comments, we are probably among the best in the country.|Manager Neil Austin, 2000}}
Hopwood Park was opened on 23 August 1999 by TV chef James Martin, and it cost £25 million to build. Its design is very similar to that of [[Oxford]], which was opened at roughly the same time, and [[South Mimms]] which was rebuilt at this time following a large fire.
 
However, Hopwood Park was a little different: boosted by an on-site nature reserve and an enthusiastic manager, it became one of the first services to really challenge the negative perception of motorway services. The manager invited critic [[Egon Ronay]], and welcomed Central TV when they wanted to produce a fly-on-the-wall documentary. The service in [[Red Hen]] was praised particularly.
 
When built, the seating area had 750 seats and the car park 500 car spaces, 36 HGV spaces and 14 coach spaces. It was built on 85 acres of farmland, and cost £40 million to develop.
 
The facilities it had from opening included a McCoys shop, and another shop called Lifestyle. The drainage system, known as SuDS, was one of the first of its kind in the UK, and a sign in the car park explains how it works.
 
===Later Facilities===
Hopwood Park was the first service area to get live traffic information, as part of a joint trial between the Highways Agency and Welcome Break.
 
In 2005, Hopwood Park won Best Provision of Group Facilities, the first time a motorway service area has ever won such an award. The Coffee Primo unit was also been nominated for 'Best Beverage Experience'. The next year, [[Which%3F Magazine|Holiday Which?]] rated the services as 5/5. They said it had helpful staff and a good variety of food in a smart café, but it didn't win, Tebay on the M6 did.
 
When the [[Waitrose]] store opened here, it replaced the Petroleum Menswear store. Hopwood was one of few services to have an individual outlet operating within it. The filling station also used to have a Waitrose store within it (the only forecourt Waitrose store on the motorway network), but this was later replaced by the standard [[Select]]/[[Deli2go]] combination.


The [[Starbucks Drive Thru]] here was planned to open in late 2015 but eventually opened in August 2016.
Over the following decade, the rate of motorway service area construction slowed down considerably. As a result, Hopwood Park stood out for a long time, although there are now a fair number of service areas with a similar 'windows and fountains' design.


In July 2015, Hopwood Park was one of the first three services to gain a Tesla Supercharger.
There is a public footpath running through the service area, leading to Stonehouse Lane. Some drivers use this route as a dog walk.


===Petrol Station Changes===
A [[Ben & Jerry's]] kiosk was trialled here, opening on 13 July 2021, but was removed later in the year. An Ice Cream Treats kiosk was later added for the 2024 summer season following this trial, positioned in the same location next to the retail stores.
[[File:Fuelgood Hopwood Park 2020.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Welcome Break petrol.|The new-look petrol station, in 2020.]]
In January 2019, petrol station operator [[Applegreen]] took control of Welcome Break. Applegreen's business strategy is to attract customers with cheap fuel, and there had been rumours that the takeover could cause a motorway price crash.


The following July, Applegreen removed Shell and its associated brands from the petrol station at Hopwood Park only. It was replaced with colours and slogans very similar to Applegreen's, but with Welcome Break's name instead of Applegreen. This became one of the only times in the last 30 years where a motorway petrol station has been prominently displaying the operator's name, rather than a supplier like Shell's.
The Good Breakfast unit was refurbished in March 2023, reopening on 30 March with an additional [[Chopstix Noodle Bar]] offering.


The change was backed up by a large sign promoting "lowest motorway fuel prices": not as cheap as local petrol stations like some had expected, but still cheaper than what it had been. This was followed by a large online campaign focusing on the prices and the quality of the fuel.
Eight Applegreen Electric chargers were installed at the site in October 2023, adding a third charging option for EV drivers here. An additional twelve Tesla Superchargers were also later added in early 2024, bringing the total EV chargers on site to 52.


In January 2020, Hopwood Park's rival, [[Frankley]], was granted permission for some bespoke road signs on the motorway advertising the price of its fuel. It's not yet clear who requested this, or whether it means Frankley is intending to lower its prices too.
A 2022 study found that the service area had a [[turn-in rate]] of around 3%; a tiny figure that would suggest many people don't want to stop.


==Alternatives==
==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M42| ''none on M42''{{newline}}[[Frankley]] (M5 north, 10 miles){{newline}}[[Strensham]] (M5 south, 31 miles) |
{{Succession|1|M42| [[Frankley]] (M5 north, 10 miles){{newline}}[[Strensham]] (M5 south, 31 miles) |
[[Tamworth]] (27 miles){{newline}}[[Warwick]] (M40, 22 miles){{newline}}[[Corley]] (M6 east, 25 miles) }}
[[Tamworth]] (27 miles){{newline}}[[Warwick]] (M40, 22 miles){{newline}}[[Corley]] (M6 east, 25 miles) }}
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break| ''none on M42''{{newline}}[[Keele]] (M6 north, 54 miles){{newline}}[[Telford]] (M54, 42 miles) |
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break| [[Keele]] (M6 north, 54 miles){{newline}}[[Telford]] (M54, 42 miles) |
''none on M42''{{newline}}[[Warwick]] (M40, 22 miles){{newline}}[[Corley]] (M6 east, 25 miles) }}
[[Warwick]] (M40, 22 miles){{newline}}[[Corley]] (M6 east, 25 miles) }}
</table>
</table>


{{bottomnav}}
{{bottomnav}}
[[Category:1990s]][[Category:M42]]
[[Category:1990s]][[Category:M42]][[Category:Pilot Services]][[Category:Services on TV]]

Latest revision as of 12:42, 4 February 2025

Hopwood Park
Hopwood Park services
Camera icon
Camera icon
Many more photos in the gallery
Location:

M42 at J2
(also accessible to traffic on the A441)

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

B48 7AU

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located at a junction.

Rating: See the reviews


One of Britain's two-storey service areas; Hopwood Park shows off with its upper levels, large windows and garden space.

Facilities

Catering: Burger King, Chopstix Noodle Bar, KFC, Starbucks, Subway, The Good Breakfast, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, Krispy Kreme, The Phat Pasty Co., Rollover, Starbucks on the Go, Starbucks Drive Thru Shops: Little Waitrose & Partners, WHSmith Amenities: Changing Places, Game Zone, Showers Outdoor Space: Nature reserve and grass space at back of car park; Children's Play Area; public footpath connections Charging Points: Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 150kW CCS Forecourt: Welcome Break, The Phat Pasty Co., f'real Milkshakes, 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 £34 (or £36 to include a £12 meal voucher).

Prices can be paid in the shop or by using Evology Parking. The location code is 79400.

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 Service Area
Junction 2 M42
Redditch Road
Alvechurch
Birmingham
Worcestershire
B48 7AU


Trivia and Design

Service station model.
A model of the service area was built and displayed inside it.

See also: History:Hopwood Park

Hopwood Park became a poster child for modern service area design. While a few other service areas to open around this time had large windows, open dining areas, fountains and scenic walks, very few combined them all as well as Hopwood Park did. It's also one of the only service areas with two public storeys in its amenity building, as well as an extra shop unit that was designed to emulate the shopping centres being built by their competitors.

Over the following decade, the rate of motorway service area construction slowed down considerably. As a result, Hopwood Park stood out for a long time, although there are now a fair number of service areas with a similar 'windows and fountains' design.

There is a public footpath running through the service area, leading to Stonehouse Lane. Some drivers use this route as a dog walk.

A Ben & Jerry's kiosk was trialled here, opening on 13 July 2021, but was removed later in the year. An Ice Cream Treats kiosk was later added for the 2024 summer season following this trial, positioned in the same location next to the retail stores.

The Good Breakfast unit was refurbished in March 2023, reopening on 30 March with an additional Chopstix Noodle Bar offering.

Eight Applegreen Electric chargers were installed at the site in October 2023, adding a third charging option for EV drivers here. An additional twelve Tesla Superchargers were also later added in early 2024, bringing the total EV chargers on site to 52.

A 2022 study found that the service area had a turn-in rate of around 3%; a tiny figure that would suggest many people don't want to stop.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Frankley (M5 north, 10 miles)
Strensham (M5 south, 31 miles)		Services on the M42Tamworth (27 miles)
Warwick (M40, 22 miles)
Corley (M6 east, 25 miles)
Keele (M6 north, 54 miles)
Telford (M54, 42 miles)		Welcome Break servicesWarwick (M40, 22 miles)
Corley (M6 east, 25 miles)

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