Guide to Lancaster services

Quite possibly the most iconic service station of all, Lancaster is famous for its large tower sticking out of the northbound building (see trivia). Today, Lancaster has been moved around quite a bit, with the toilets now at the back. The tower is closed to the public.

Facilities

Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, KFC, Pret A Manger, West Cornwall Pasty Co., Costa Express, f'real Milkshakes, Krispy Kreme, M&S Coffee to Go, Tango Ice Blast Shops: M&S Simply Food, Top Gift, WHSmith Amenities: Travelodge, &Play, Changing Places, Lucky Coin, Multi Faith & Special Needs Room, Revolution Laundry, Showers Outdoor Space: northbound only: Children's Play Area; Small grass area by hotel
and southbound only: Small grass area at far back of car park (care needed) Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway HPC 350kW CCS, 100kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 Forecourt: BP, Shop, Greggs, Costa Express

Parking Prices

First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £27. HGVs can pay £30 to include a £10 food voucher.

Prices are paid in the shop or by using JustPark. The location code is 625138 (northbound) and 625139 (southbound).

HGVs can also pay by using SNAP. The location code is 13458 (northbound) and 13459 (southbound).

The fees are strictly enforced by GroupNexus.

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

Contact Details

Trivia and Design

See also: History:Lancaster

The service area opened as 'Forton services'. For many years this name was used on all example diagrams of road signs, including drawings of non-motorway signs.

The land is owned by The Crown Estate, making this the King's motorway service area. This is mostly an administrative title which has little practical impact, and the reigning King is probably unaware of and uninterested in his association with the service station.

Between July 2020 and 2022, Lancaster was taking part in the "fuel price drop", where Moto pledged to compete with local petrol stations. They said they would only continue the project if they could advertise the new price from the motorway, so the prices returned to normal. The installation of new signs was delayed by bureaucratic and then power supply issues, which Moto hit out at. The signs were eventually installed in February 2024.

Moto added a Changing Places facility to both sides in external pre-fabricated extensions in early 2023. Works then commenced in April 2023 on six new high-powered GRIDSERVE chargers on each side. Works also commenced in September 2023 on a new KFC restaurant in the former Arlo's restaurant area, and a new Pret A Manger store in the former northbound Costa kiosk. The Pret A Manger store opened on 30 October 2023 and its kitchen is situated within the former Cotton Traders unit. KFC later followed on 12 December, with new EV chargers going live on each side later that month. The northbound seating area is also set to be overhauled with new flooring, seating and colour scheme throughout, completing the £2million refurbishment scheme here in 2023.

Pennine Tower

See also: The Pennine Tower

The service station is known almost entirely for the 65-foot (20 metre) tower attached to the northbound building, visible from afar on the north side and described in one publicity leaflet as being "a luxury observation platform". It closed in 1989. Full details are given on its own page.

Contrary to a baseless rumour that a few individuals are keen to spread in discussion groups, there is no proposal to demolish The Pennine Tower, and neither will Lancaster services be moving to Hampson Green. If it was being built from scratch now then that is probably where it would be built, but the fact is it already exists and it would be extremely difficult to move it.

In Popular Culture

Moto are adamant the tower qualifies Lancaster as the country's most famous service station, and that The Beatles were one of its first customers. Indie-rock band Half Man Half Biscuit filmed the music video for 'Dickie Davies Eyes' there in 1986. The 1993 film 'Soft Top Hard Shoulder' had scenes filmed in the restaurant and the car park.

A 2008 exhibition in Lancaster city which celebrated 50 years of the M6 featured a replica of the restaurant inside the Pennine Tower as it would be if it were still trading. At the same time Top Gear Magazine used the view from the tower to create a mocked-up image of the car park in the 1960s.

The 1970s sign for 'Forton services' was used as an example motorway sign in many documents. As a result, it now often appears as an example of a sign from that era.

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