Midway Food Court
M7 at exit 17
(also accessible to traffic on the N77 and the R922)
Not signposted in advance.
R32 V09W
map and directions
Online (
Before Ireland had any official motorway services, Midway Food Court was built at a busy junction to allow cars and coaches on the long M7 to "stop and revive". Amid plans for competing facilities, it is now gaining a petrol station.
Facilities
Catering: Dijon, Freshii, O'Briens, Subway, Chopstix, The Bakewell Shops: Applegreen Shop Amenities: Template:Electric Car : Template:Website Forecourt: under construction
Parking Prices
Free parking is provided for customers in cars and coaches. Further information is not available, please update this if you know.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Midway Food Court
Meelick
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Eircode: R32 V09W
- 🌍 Official Midway Food Court Website
- Facebook Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 057 8681766
Trivia and History
With the Irish government opposed to official, UK-style service stations, in 2004 Clontarf-based Meelick Partnership proposed their first food court next to the Togher Interchange. This had a retail area to the south, a hotel and gym to the east, a 623-space car park and the option of a second phase to the north. This proposal had planning permission but didn't happen.
The next plan had a landscaped car park with 290 spaces; this was then changed to a larger one with 347 spaces and space for a forecourt and drive thru to the west which weren't used, as well as space for the land to be sold. Another forecourt was proposed in 2011, in partnership with Topaz.
It opened with six catering units and a hotel, and stated that it was going to be the first of a nationwide chain. Early tenants were Little Caesars, Tapenade Bistro, O'Brien's and Subway. The hotel opened as a Comfort Inn and positioned itself as Ireland's first motorway hotel. It has a health club, a swimming pool and a buffet restaurant.
The owners' changed to Swords-based 'Midway Development Company' (later 'Midland Management'). In 2009 the existing brands were joined by Tapenade Healthy Bistro, Fresh and Noodle Bar. The latter two were replaced by Burger Shack and Shack Café. By 2013 Little Caesars had closed and Chicken Hut, Bagel Factory and The Happy Dragon opened, and in 2014 Dijon and Time To Eat joined. later joined by Real Gourmet Burger and Time To Eat.
Having become increasingly involved in hospitality, Applegreen acquired the site in 2017 and introduced some of their brands, such as The Bakewell. A Burger King was rumoured to be added but this didn't happen.
In 2018, Applegreen received planning permission to build a large petrol station to the north of the site, meaning it would resemble a larger version of their motorway service stations across Ireland. Construction started in April 2019 despite objections from local forecourt owners and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Applegreen also revealed that the Midway Food Court had been struggling to attract trade since it opened, and things were only just starting to pick up.
Rival Developments
M7 exit 17 has proven popular for development. In 2009, a landowner close to the junction was trying to gather interest from a developer wishing to build a motorway service area.
That interest never materialised, but in 2017 Supermac's revealed they were in talks to build a Portlaoise Plaza here, similar to the popular one down the road. They purchased a 109-acre plot of land for €3.25 million, but later sold 76 acres to the council.
A planning application was formally lodged in March 2018 for a two-storey building with a food court, a drive thru and a forecourt. Several objections have been raised by local businesses, arguing that the roundabout can't handle it, that the building design is poor and that it merely replicates the existing food court. Planning permission was granted, and a subsequent appeal from Applegreen claiming that two service stations on one roundabout would be confusing was overthrown. Transport Infrastructure Ireland are also thought to have concerns, but they did not formally appeal.
An Bord Pleanála argued that the Portlaoise Plaza would be larger than the Midway Food Court, and have better road access, while Applegreen argued that Midway Food Court may need to be scaled down if it loses any trade.
The Portlaoise Plaza would cost €10m to build, create 140 jobs and have parking spaces for 144 cars, 20 HGVs and 10 coaches.
Alternatives
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| Mayfield (27 km) | Services on the M7 (Ireland) | Moneygall (Barack Obama Plaza) (53 km) Manor Stone (M8, 26 km) |