Norton Canes services
M6 Toll between JT6 and JT7
Signposted from the road.
WS11 9UX
map and directions
Single site located between junctions with access to both sides..
An exclusive treat for drivers on England's only tolled motorway, Norton Canes has come top of satisfaction surveys in 2018 and 2019. Its fountains, picnic areas and choice of food draws in remarkable crowds for such a quiet road.
Facilities
Template:Coronavirus Catering: Costa Coffee, Chozen Noodle, Fresh Food Café, McDonald's, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme, Costa Drive Thru Shops: WHSmith, SPAR Amenities: Changing Places, Showers : Days Inn Template:Charging points Forecourt: BP, BP Connect, Wild Bean Café, Air1 AdBlue
Parking Prices
First 4 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £12 and HGVs, caravans and coaches £28, or £30 to include a £10 food voucher.
Prices are paid using PayByPhone - more details or in the shop or restaurant. The location code is 5263.
The fees are strictly enforced by GroupNexus.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Road Chef
Norton Canes M S A
Bettys Lane
Norton Canes
Cannock
Staffordshire
- Amenity building and motel operated by Roadchef
- Forecourt operated by BP Express
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 01543 272540
- 📌 what3words: ///tries.armed.legend
- more map options
Trivia and History
Despite the M6 Toll being one of the quieter motorways, Norton Canes is one of Roadchef's busiest and most profitable sites. This contrast was noticeable during the COVID-19 lockdown, where traffic on the main M6 disappeared, leaving the M6 Toll with very little trade at all.
In Spring 2018, Transport Focus calculated a 100% satisfaction score for the services, making it the top-performing site in the country. In 2019 the score fell to 'merely' 99%, but it was still top in the country.
When BP first opened the filling station here, it was one of their largest forecourts in the country.
Planning
The site occupies 68 acres. The parking areas can accommodate 350 cars, 52 lorries, 25 coaches and 6 caravans, in addition to a 110-space overflow car park.
What's now the M6 Toll was first confirmed as a new motorway in 1991, with the contract to operate it won by Midlands Expressway Ltd. The path which had been reserved included provision for a service area which was officially registered in 1993 (sometimes erroneously called Chasewater services), when its planning application was rejected on environmental grounds.
Another site to the east of here was also examined, which became JT6.
In 1992 the government published a statement on service stations on "concession roads" (toll roads), explaining that motorists wouldn't expect them to have the same facilities as free motorways, and that they should have the freedom to become distinctive. They went as far as suggesting that in the future, privately owned motorways could compete on the quality of their service stations.
The Norton Canes site was taken to a public inquiry, and in 1997 permission was granted. Like the motorway itself, the new services would be owned by Highways England but the responsibility of Midlands Expressway Ltd. In 2002, they awarded a 25-year contract to design and operate the services to Roadchef, having also received bids from Moto and Welcome Break.
Opening
The services opened on 9 March 2004, shortly after the motorway itself. Roadchef described the site as "a new era in motorway services" with the site including a Costa coffee shop, Wimpy fast food unit, a ReStore shop, 40 bedroom Travel Inn hotel and a BP filling station which included BP's third motorway Wild Bean Cafe at the time. The site also became home to Roadchef's flagship onRoute restaurant, allowing customers to watch their food being cooked in front of them in what they called "a spectacular food theatre". The restaurant had table clothes, and provided table service after 6pm.
The restaurant initially received positive feedback, although concerns were raised about the prices that came with it.
Special attention was paid to the landscaping, with a short trail and a viewpoint being provided, as well as a series of fountains at the entrance.
When it opened it had a separate car park for local traffic, with a barrier separating the two (without that cars would be able to escape the toll by changing car parks). This meant it technically functioned as a local service area as well as a major motorway service area, even if it was never really used as such. By 2010 the local car park had been fenced off with only authorised traffic able to access it.
Extension and Refurbishments
The Bread Kitchen was trialled here in 2012.
During Spring 2015, the WHSmith store underwent a refurbishment.
Roadchef's final The Burger Company closed here on 4 January 2016, and was replaced by McDonald's in March 2016.
In 2017 the site was extended and reorganised, providing a Spar store, additional indoor seating, a larger outdoor seating area and a Leon store.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| none on M6 Toll Stafford (North) (M6 northbound, 20 miles) Stafford (South) (M6 southbound, 19 miles) Telford (M54, 21 miles) | Services on the M6 Toll | none on M6 Toll Corley (M6, 29 miles) Warwick (M40, 47 miles) Tamworth (M42 north, 16 miles) |
| Sandbach (M6, 41 miles) Stafford (South) (M6 southbound, 19 miles) | Roadchef services | Watford Gap (M1 south, 50 miles) |
Visitor Feedback
Visitors can leave public feedback on their experience by logging into the CommentBox app. You can do so quickly below:
Views expressed in these comments are those of the individual contributor. User accounts are managed by CommentBox.io. Registration helps prevent automated spam.
We ask the companies named to check here, but we can't force them to do so.