Motorway Services Online

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Operators: Difference between revisions

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|description = A list of the companies which own and operate motorway service stations in the UK, including some forgotten names which built early services but can't be found any more, as well as all the major service station operators.
|description = A list of the companies which own and operate motorway service stations in the UK, including some forgotten names which built early services but can't be found any more, as well as all the major service station operators.
|country = UK }}
|country = UK }}
[[File:{{#setmainimage:HP WB.jpg}}|250px|right|Some flamboyant Welcome Break branding|alt=Welcome Break logo sign.]]Over time Motorway Services Online has managed to build-up pretty accurate information on the antics of the various operators of motorway services, both past and present. Tap on one of the following for more information, including photos, news and a list of sites and reviews.
[[File:{{#setmainimage:HP WB.jpg}}|250px|right|Some flamboyant Welcome Break branding|alt=Welcome Break logo sign.]]Almost all of Britain's motorway service areas have a visible "operator". This is the brand name used by the company who maintain the service area and run the majority, if not all, of the facilities.


Within this section you can find out more about each operator, what they're doing and which services they run. The basic details are consolidated on [[Help:Contacting an Operator]].
The UK is unusual in running its service areas in this way. Most of the current operators are brand names that you will only ever find in a transport environment. This makes them peculiar creations that only motorists ever really encounter - very different to the [[Brands|High Street Brands]] that many of these operators work with.
 
This page lists all of the motorway service area operators and what they've been up to. An operator may not own necessarily own all the land they operate on outright, but they are usually responsible for all the aspects that the general public are likely to have any queries about. [[Help:Contacting an Operator|See each operator's contact details]].
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__NOTOC__
==Current Operators==
==Current Operators==
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* [[Folkestone|Stop 24 - Folkestone]] (2008 - today) {{#result:Folkestone}}
* [[Folkestone|Stop 24 - Folkestone]] (2008 - today) {{#result:Folkestone}}


For the purpose of this list, only [[Operator (definition)|operators]] who have their name on standard motorway signs are counted. A summary of the larger forecourt-based operators, some of whom dominate A-road service areas, can be found at [[A-road Operators]].
===A-roads and Forecourts===
The planning of A-road service areas has generally been much less organised than it was on motorways. This means that you are far more likely to find that an A-road service area is not managed by one individual company, but by a mish-mash of different operators, held together by a landowner or agency who may or may not get involved too.
 
This, plus the fact that operators have never been allowed to advertise their name on A-roads, means that A-road operators are much less prominent and tend to get overlooked. [[A-road Operators|We've summarised the main A-road operators]].
 
In the 21st century, a new generation of "forecourt operators" emerged. These are companies like [[MFG]] and [[EG Group]] who now run forecourts across the country, as well as branching out into running stand-alone restaurants and electric vehicle charging facilities. They have developed and operate some A-road service areas on their own, as well as running a section of many others.


==Former Operators==
==Former Operators==
[[File:Granada services sign.jpg|250px|right|An old Granada road sign from 1983.|alt=Granada Exeter motorway services ahead.|alt=Granada Exeter motorway services sign.]]
[[File:Granada services sign.jpg|250px|right|An old Granada road sign from 1983.|alt=Granada Exeter motorway services ahead.|alt=Granada Exeter motorway services sign.]]
{{fulldetails|History:Operators|Why motorways have operators}}
These are the operator names that have previously been found on the motorways. Many of these were the names of established companies who already worked in the hospitality or vehicle servicing industries.
* [[Blue Boar]] (1959 - 1995)
* [[Blue Boar]] (1959 - 1995)
* [[Fortes|Motorway Services Ltd, Fortes, Trusthouse Forte]] (1959 - 1988)
* [[Fortes|Motorway Services Ltd, Fortes, Trusthouse Forte and Motor Chef]] (1959 - 1988)
* [[Kenning Motor Group|Kenning Motor Group (Kenning)]] (1962 - 1994)
* [[Kenning Motor Group|Kenning Motor Group (Kenning)]] (1962 - 1994)
* [[Top Rank|Top Rank (Rank)]] (1963 - 1992)
* [[Top Rank|Top Rank (Rank)]] (1963 - 1992)
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The following operators only owned one site:
The following operators only owned one site:


* [[Happendon#Trivia and History|Cairn Lodge - Happendon]] (1993 - 2014)  
* [[Cairn Lodge#Trivia and History|Cairn Lodge - Happendon]] (1993 - 2014)  
* [[History:Heart of Scotland#Highway Restaurants Limited and Alan Pond|Alan Pond Group/Highway Restaurants (Blue Star) - Harthill]] (1971 - 1986)  
* [[History:Heart of Scotland#Highway Restaurants Limited and Alan Pond|Alan Pond Group/Highway Restaurants (Blue Star) - Harthill]] (1971 - 1986)  
* [[Lymm#Trivia|Poplar 2000 - Lymm]] (1994 - 2001)
* [[Lymm#Trivia and Design|Poplar 2000 - Lymm]] (1994 - 2001)
* [[History:Strensham#Changes|Take a Break - Strensham]] (1994 - 1998)
* [[History:Strensham#Changes|Take a Break - Strensham]] (1994 - 1998)
* [[History:Trowell#Mecca Leisure|Mecca Leisure - Trowell]] (1967 - 1977)
* [[History:Trowell#Mecca Leisure|Mecca Leisure - Trowell]] (1967 - 1977)


Developers who never completed any of their planned services are listed at [[Unsuccessful Developers]].{{newline}}
Developers who never completed any of their planned service areas are listed at [[Unsuccessful Developers]].{{newline}}
 
<small>See also:{{newline}}
[[Operator (definition)|What is an operator?]]{{newline}}
[[Help:Operators' Guide|Information for MSA operators]]</small>


[[Category:Contents]]
[[Category:Contents]]

Revision as of 20:57, 9 July 2022

Welcome Break logo sign.
Some flamboyant Welcome Break branding

Almost all of Britain's motorway service areas have a visible "operator". This is the brand name used by the company who maintain the service area and run the majority, if not all, of the facilities.

The UK is unusual in running its service areas in this way. Most of the current operators are brand names that you will only ever find in a transport environment. This makes them peculiar creations that only motorists ever really encounter - very different to the High Street Brands that many of these operators work with.

This page lists all of the motorway service area operators and what they've been up to. An operator may not own necessarily own all the land they operate on outright, but they are usually responsible for all the aspects that the general public are likely to have any queries about. See each operator's contact details.

Current Operators

Note that the figures in this section refer to motorway service areas only, even though many of these operators have facilities on A-roads too. The dates refer to when they were active on the motorways.

These operators only have one site:

A-roads and Forecourts

The planning of A-road service areas has generally been much less organised than it was on motorways. This means that you are far more likely to find that an A-road service area is not managed by one individual company, but by a mish-mash of different operators, held together by a landowner or agency who may or may not get involved too.

This, plus the fact that operators have never been allowed to advertise their name on A-roads, means that A-road operators are much less prominent and tend to get overlooked. We've summarised the main A-road operators.

In the 21st century, a new generation of "forecourt operators" emerged. These are companies like MFG and EG Group who now run forecourts across the country, as well as branching out into running stand-alone restaurants and electric vehicle charging facilities. They have developed and operate some A-road service areas on their own, as well as running a section of many others.

Former Operators

Granada Exeter motorway services sign.
An old Granada road sign from 1983.

See also: Why motorways have operators

These are the operator names that have previously been found on the motorways. Many of these were the names of established companies who already worked in the hospitality or vehicle servicing industries.

The following operators only owned one site:

Developers who never completed any of their planned service areas are listed at Unsuccessful Developers.