Leicester Forest East: Difference between revisions
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{{Services | {{Services | ||
|type = motorway | |type = motorway | ||
|image = Leicester Forest East South | |image = Leicester Forest East South 2025.jpg | ||
|operator = Welcome Break | |operator = Welcome Break | ||
|road = [[M1]] between J21 and J21A | |road = [[M1]] between J21 and J21A | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
==Facilities== | ==Facilities== | ||
{{facilities| | {{facilities| Catering | {{Burger King}}, {{Chopstix Noodle Bar}}, {{KFC}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Subway}}, {{Taco Bell}}, {{The Good Breakfast}}, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, {{Starbucks Drive Thru}} }} | ||
{{facilities| Shops | {{Top Gift}}, {{Waitrose}}, {{WHSmith}} }} | {{facilities| Shops | {{Top Gift}}, {{Waitrose}}, {{WHSmith}} }} | ||
{{facilities| Amenities | {{Days Inn}}, {{Game Zone}}, Showers }} | {{facilities| Amenities | {{Days Inn}}, {{Game Zone}}, Showers }} | ||
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | Tiny amount of grass space at back of car parks }} | {{facilities| Outdoor Space | Tiny amount of grass space at back of car parks }} | ||
{{facilities| Charging Points | none }} | {{facilities| Charging Points | none }} | ||
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Welcome Break}}, {{ | {{facilities| Forecourt | {{Welcome Break}}, {{Phat Pasty}}, f'real Milkshakes, {{Rollover}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}} }} | ||
==Parking Prices== | ==Parking Prices== | ||
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay | 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 £32 (or £34 to include a £12 meal voucher). | ||
Prices can be paid in the shop | Prices can be paid in the shop or by using [https://evologyparking.com/app/ Evology Parking]. The location code is 79390. | ||
The fees are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]]. | |||
{{Parking Disclaimer}} | |||
==Contact Details== | ==Contact Details== | ||
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LE3 3GB | LE3 3GB | ||
|telephone = 0116 238 6801 | |telephone = 0116 238 6801 | ||
|website = https:// | |website = https://welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/leicester-forest-east/ Official Welcome Break/Leicester Forest East website | ||
|facebook = welcomebreaklfe | |facebook = welcomebreaklfe | ||
|foursquare = 511e6e4945b029c63ba63431 | |foursquare = 511e6e4945b029c63ba63431 | ||
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==Trivia and Design== | ==Trivia and Design== | ||
[[File:LFE bridge 2006.jpg|250px|thumb|right| | [[File:LFE bridge 2006.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The well-known view of the bridge straddling the motorway, pictured in 2006.|alt=Grey bridge across a wet motorway.]] | ||
When it opened, Leicester Forest East called itself "Europe's most advanced motorway dining spot". More recently, the local press have described it as "Leicestershire's best known landmark". | When it opened, Leicester Forest East called itself "Europe's most advanced motorway dining spot". More recently, the local press have described it as "Leicestershire's best known landmark". | ||
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There is a National Highways works depot by the northbound exit, as with many old service areas. | There is a National Highways works depot by the northbound exit, as with many old service areas. | ||
The GRIDSERVE chargers were upgraded in late 2022, but this caused them to drain power from the main building, so they were soon decommissioned and remain out of action. Works are {{current|set to}} commence in Summer 2025 on adding two new substations, one on each side, to combat this issue. Applegreen Electric chargers and Tesla Superchargers are also planned to be installed as part of the works. | |||
The Chopstix Noodle Bar and The Good Breakfast units were combined into a hybrid unit in October 2024 to make way for Welcome Break's second [[Taco Bell]] unit, which opened on 13 November 2024. | |||
===Bridge Design and Ross Foods=== | ===Bridge Design and Ross Foods=== | ||
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Ross took their role very seriously, creating a [[History:Leicester Forest East#Opening a Legend|unique cruise-themed restaurant]] that called itself "a real place to celebrate". | Ross took their role very seriously, creating a [[History:Leicester Forest East#Opening a Legend|unique cruise-themed restaurant]] that called itself "a real place to celebrate". | ||
[https:// | [https://motorwayservices.uk/download/RossMenuJune1977.pdf View the Leicester Forest East restaurant menu (June 1977, remastered)] | ||
===Future=== | ===Future=== | ||
The service area is | [[File:Leicester Forest East 1967.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=The blue bridge with a car park in front of it.|The entry to the southbound area in 1967, already looking tight.]] | ||
{{fulldetails|History:Leicester Forest East#The Ongoing Fight|The Ongoing Fight}} | |||
The service area is in a challenging position, with busy junctions either side. The service area withstood a widening scheme which was planned in 1989, but this left little room for any further improvements. | |||
It was announced in 2007 that the motorway would be upgraded, with plans drawn up showing Leicester Forest East needing to be rebuilt, if not closed entirely. The work was due to begin in 2010, but was then pushed back to 2017 before being postponed indefinitely. | |||
It is always difficult to predict the UK's infrastructure plans, but the idea of widening the M1 remains on the back-burner. One report in September 2017 said the service area was the barrier to improvements, and that the option of moving it to another site had been considered. Separate to that, the draft vision for Whetstone Pastures suggests a new motorway service area could be built a few miles south of here. It's not impossible that one day the two concepts will combine. | |||
==Alternatives== | ==Alternatives== | ||
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{{bottomnav}} | {{bottomnav}} | ||
[[Category:1960s]][[Category:M1]][[Category:M1 (England)]][[Category:A46]] | [[Category:1960s]][[Category:M1]][[Category:M1 (England)]][[Category:A46]][[Category:Services on TV]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:10, 11 March 2025
M1 between J21 and J21A
Signposted from the road.
LE3 3GB
map and directions
Single site built upon the motorway.
An old and crowded service area with all the restaurants on the bridge, packed in between two junctions. Its age is hidden by the many face-lifts it has received. It forms a gateway to The National Forest.
Facilities
Catering: Burger King, Chopstix Noodle Bar, KFC, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, The Good Breakfast, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks on the Go, Starbucks Drive Thru Shops: Top Gift, Waitrose & Partners, WHSmith Amenities: Days Inn, Game Zone, Showers Outdoor Space: Tiny amount of grass space at back of car parks Charging Points: none 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 £32 (or £34 to include a £12 meal voucher).
Prices can be paid in the shop or by using Evology Parking. The location code is 79390.
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
Leicester Forest East Motorway Services Area
Hinckley Road
Leicester Forest East
Leicester
Leicestershire
LE3 3GB
- 🌍 Official Welcome Break/Leicester Forest East website
- Facebook Page
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 0116 238 6801
Trivia and Design
When it opened, Leicester Forest East called itself "Europe's most advanced motorway dining spot". More recently, the local press have described it as "Leicestershire's best known landmark".
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, additional restrictions were placed on activity in Leicester. The official boundary for this was the M1. This meant that half of the service station building was in the boundary, and half of it wasn't. In practice motorway service areas were exempt from most COVID-19 restrictions, but some of the finer details did matter.
The service area received media attention in 2009 after the adjacent hotel was used as overflow accommodation by Leicester University. On Christmas Eve in 1997, Arthur Smith broadcast his evening Radio 4 show live from the service area.
On 1 May 2017, the filling stations were handed over to Welcome Break by previous operator BP Express. They were re-branded to Shell, and rebranded again to Welcome Break fuel in May 2022.
The mouthful of a name that is 'Leicester Forest East' causes some confusion. It is not actually named directly after the city of Leicester, but a suburb explicitly called 'Leicester Forest East'. This was itself named after the former Leicester Forest, and there is a corresponding area further from the M1 which is known as 'Leicester Forest West'.
There is a National Highways works depot by the northbound exit, as with many old service areas.
The GRIDSERVE chargers were upgraded in late 2022, but this caused them to drain power from the main building, so they were soon decommissioned and remain out of action. Works are set to commence in Summer 2025 on adding two new substations, one on each side, to combat this issue. Applegreen Electric chargers and Tesla Superchargers are also planned to be installed as part of the works.
The Chopstix Noodle Bar and The Good Breakfast units were combined into a hybrid unit in October 2024 to make way for Welcome Break's second Taco Bell unit, which opened on 13 November 2024.
Bridge Design and Ross Foods
See also: History:Leicester Forest East
During the early days of the service area, you would have been able to walk along the promenade and terrace alongside the bridge, but these have both been closed. It would be difficult to maintain the area to an acceptable safety standard, with no commercial return.
The service area was built just as the concept of building above the motorway was falling out of favour with the government. They weren't too pleased with the plans, but Ross were welcomed to the network in the hope the new name would bring some variety to the motorway.
Ross took their role very seriously, creating a unique cruise-themed restaurant that called itself "a real place to celebrate".
View the Leicester Forest East restaurant menu (June 1977, remastered)
Future
See also: The Ongoing Fight
The service area is in a challenging position, with busy junctions either side. The service area withstood a widening scheme which was planned in 1989, but this left little room for any further improvements.
It was announced in 2007 that the motorway would be upgraded, with plans drawn up showing Leicester Forest East needing to be rebuilt, if not closed entirely. The work was due to begin in 2010, but was then pushed back to 2017 before being postponed indefinitely.
It is always difficult to predict the UK's infrastructure plans, but the idea of widening the M1 remains on the back-burner. One report in September 2017 said the service area was the barrier to improvements, and that the option of moving it to another site had been considered. Separate to that, the draft vision for Whetstone Pastures suggests a new motorway service area could be built a few miles south of here. It's not impossible that one day the two concepts will combine.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Watford Gap (22 miles) Warwick (M40 south, 39 miles) Rugby (M6, 9 miles) Rothwell Truckstop (A14, 32 miles) Rothwell (A14 eastbound, 33 miles) Kettering (A14, 37 miles) | Services on the M1 | Donington (16 miles) Leicester (A46, 7 miles) |
| Newport Pagnell (45 miles) Warwick (M40 south, 39 miles) Corley (M6 west, 26 miles) Rothwell Truckstop (A14, 33 miles) | Welcome Break services | Woodall (56 miles) Derby (A50 west, 21 miles) |
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