Motorway Services Online

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Operators: Difference between revisions

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Visual
this might be a better way to display them. Tempted to move the A-road operators here too
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|title = Motorway Services Operators
|title = Motorway Services 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.
|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.]]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.
|image = HP WB.jpg }}
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 [[Brands|High Street Brands]] that many of these operators work with.
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.
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__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
==Current Operators==
==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.
Each motorway service area and motorway rest area can only have one main operator. These operators are listed here.


* [[Moto]] (44 services, 2001 - today) {{#result:Moto}}
The figures and dates shown here only count the motorway service areas and motorway rest areas that each brand is the main operator of. Many of these businesses have additional involvement in other service areas, or even something completely different, and this explained on each link.
* [[Welcome Break]] (26 services, 1983 - today) {{#result:WelcomeBreak}}
* [[Roadchef]] (21 services, 1972 - today) {{#result:RoadChef}}
* [[Extra]] (7 services, 2000 - today) {{#result:Extra}}
* [[Westmorland]] (3 services, 1972 - today) {{#result:Westmorland}}
* [[Applegreen]] (2 services, 2015 - today) {{#result:Applegreen}}
* [[EG Group]] (2011 - today) {{#result:EuroG}}


These operators only have one site:
<gallery>
* [[BP#BP Connect|BP Express - Heart of Scotland]] (2006 - today) {{#result:Heart}}
File:Rugby entrance 2021.jpg|alt=Moto branded service area.|link=Moto|<span class="center">'''[[Moto]]'''{{newline}}39 MSAs and MRAs{{newline}}2001 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:Moto}}</span>
* [[Folkestone|Stop 24 - Folkestone]] (2008 - today) {{#result:Folkestone}}
File:Warwick South 2020.jpg|alt=Welcome Break branded service area.|link=Welcome Break|<span class="center">'''[[Welcome Break]]'''{{newline}}23 MSAs{{newline}}1983 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:WelcomeBreak}}</span>
File:Magor 2021.jpg|alt=Roadchef branded service area.|link=Roadchef|<span class="center">'''[[Roadchef]]'''{{newline}}20 MSAs{{newline}}1972 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:RoadChef}}</span>
File:Cobham 2022.jpg|alt=Extra branded service area.|link=Extra|<span class="center">'''[[Extra]]'''{{newline}}7 MSAs{{newline}}2000 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:Extra}}</span>
File:Tebay South 2020.jpg|alt=Westmorland unbranded service area building.|link=Westmorland|<span class="center">'''[[Westmorland]]'''{{newline}}3 MSAs{{newline}}1972 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:Westmorland}}</span>
File:Lisburn northbound building 2.jpg|alt=Applegreen service area building.|link=Applegreen|<span class="center">'''[[Applegreen]]'''{{newline}}2 MSAs{{newline}}2015 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:Applegreen}}</span>
File:Folkestone Front.jpg|alt=Stop 24 branded service area.|link=Folkestone|<span class="center">'''[[Stop 24]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}2008 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:Folkestone}}</span>
File:Heart of Scotland West 2021.jpg|alt=BP forecourt.|link=BP#BP Connect|<span class="center">'''[[BP#BP Connect|BP Express]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}2006 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:Heart}}</span>
File:Rivington North 2022.jpg|alt=Euro Garages branded service area.|link=EG Group|<span class="center">'''[[EG Group]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}2011 - today{{newline}}{{newline}}{{#result:EuroG}}</span>
File:Shell Old Inns 2019.jpg|alt=Shell forecourt.|link=Shell#As a Leaseholder|<span class="center">'''[[Shell#As a Leaseholder|Shell]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}2011 - today</span>
</gallery>


===A-roads and Forecourts===
===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.
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]].
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 by the public. [[A-road Operators|We've summarised the main A-road operators]] (other than those already listed above).


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.
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, these days including many of the motorway forecourts.


==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.]]
When motorway service areas were first created, it was agreed that each site would be leased to one company, who would be responsible for the entire operation. That developer, usually an established hospitality or motoring company or a combination of the two, would be known as "the operator", and would need to work closely with the Ministry of Transport.
When motorway service areas were first created, it was agreed that each site would be leased to one company, who would be responsible for the entire operation. That developer, usually an established hospitality or motoring company or a combination of the two, would be known as "the operator", and would need to work closely with the Ministry of Transport.


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The focus of the competition turned to being mainly about who was working with the best [[brands|brand partners]]. Briefly, in the early 2000s, the established operators suggested that they may hide their names entirely, because the high street brand names were more powerful. Partly following the change to the road sign rules in 2012, the operators began to actively promote their names again.
The focus of the competition turned to being mainly about who was working with the best [[brands|brand partners]]. Briefly, in the early 2000s, the established operators suggested that they may hide their names entirely, because the high street brand names were more powerful. Partly following the change to the road sign rules in 2012, the operators began to actively promote their names again.


These are the different operator names that have been used over the course of that history:
These are the different operator names that have been used on the motorways over the course of that history:


* [[Blue Boar]] (1959 - 1995)
<gallery>
* [[Fortes|Motorway Services Ltd, Fortes, Trusthouse Forte and Motor Chef]] (1959 - 1988)
File:Rothersthorpe North.jpg|alt=Blue Boar branded service area.|link=Blue Boar|<span class="center">'''[[Blue Boar]]'''{{newline}}3 MSAs{{newline}}1959 - 1995</span>
* [[Kenning Motor Group|Kenning Motor Group (Kenning)]] (1962 - 1994)
File:Newport Pagnell THF sign.jpg|alt=Trusthouse Forte branded service area.|link=Fortes|<span class="center">'''[[Fortes|Motorway Services Ltd, Fortes, Trusthouse Forte and Motor Chef]]'''{{newline}}12 MSAs{{newline}}1959/60 - 1988</span>
* [[Top Rank|Top Rank (Rank)]] (1963 - 1992)
File:Kenning Motor Group example.jpg|alt=Kenning branded service area.|link=Kenning Motor Group|<span class="center">'''[[Kenning Motor Group|Kenning Motor Group (Kenning)]]'''{{newline}}2 MSAs{{newline}}1962-1994</span>
* [[Granada]] (1964 - 2001)
File:Rank sign.jpg|alt=Rank branded road sign.|link=Top Rank|<span class="center">'''[[Top Rank|Top Rank (Rank)]]'''{{newline}}8 MSAs{{newline}}1963 - 1992</span>
* [[Ross|Ross (Motoross)]] (1966 - 1983)
File:Forton Granada southbound.jpg|alt=Granada branded service area.|link=Granada|<span class="center">'''[[Granada]]'''{{newline}}3 MSAs{{newline}}1964 - 2001</span>
* [[Taverna]] (1970 - 1973)
File:Motoross logo.jpg|alt=Ross branded road sign.|link=Ross|<span class="center">'''[[Ross|Ross (Motoross)]]'''{{newline}}4 MSAs{{newline}}1966 - 1983</span>
* [[Mobil]] (1970 - 1987)
File:Trowell entrance hallway.jpg|alt=Robin Hood branded service area.|link=History:Trowell#Mecca Leisure|<span class="center">'''[[History:Trowell#Mecca Leisure|Mecca Leisure]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}1967 - 1977</span>
* [[Pavilion]] (1992 - 1995)
File:Leigh Delamere 70s 2.jpg|alt=Old motorway service area.|link=Taverna|<span class="center">'''[[Taverna]]'''{{newline}}5 MSAs{{newline}}1970 - 1973</span>
* [[First]] (1996 - 2011)
File:Burton West forecourt roof.jpg|alt=Old fuel forecourt.|link=Mobil|<span class="center">'''[[Mobil]]'''{{newline}}2 MSAs{{newline}}1970 - 1987</span>
* [[McDonald's]] was the brand name used by [[Margram]] (1999 - 2003)
File:Harthill old bridge.jpg|alt=Brutalist motorway bridge.|link=History:Heart of Scotland#Highway Restaurants Limited and Alan Pond|<span class="center">'''[[History:Heart of Scotland#Highway Restaurants Limited and Alan Pond|Alan Pond Group/Highway Restaurants (Blue Star)]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}1971 - 1986</span>
 
File:Pavilion sign Hilton Park.jpg|alt=Pavilion branded road sign.|link=Pavilion|<span class="center">'''[[Pavilion]]'''{{newline}}8 MSAs{{newline}}1992 - 1995</span>
The following operators only owned one site:
File:Happendon 2015.jpg|alt=Cairn Lodge branded service area.|link=Cairn Lodge#Trivia and History|<span class="center">'''[[Cairn Lodge#Trivia and History|Cairn Lodge]]'''{{newline}}1 MSAs{{newline}}1993 - 2014</span>
 
File:Take A Break logo.jpg|alt=Take A Break logo.|link=History:Strensham#Changes|<span class="center">'''[[History:Strensham#Changes|Take a Break]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}1994 - 1998</span>
* [[Cairn Lodge#Trivia and History|Cairn Lodge - Happendon]] (1993 - 2014)
File:Poplar 2000 road sign.jpg|alt=Poplar 2000 branded road sign.|link=Lymm#Trivia and Design|<span class="center">'''[[Lymm#Trivia and Design|Poplar 2000]]'''{{newline}}1 MSA{{newline}}1994 - 2001</span>
* [[History:Heart of Scotland#Highway Restaurants Limited and Alan Pond|Alan Pond Group/Highway Restaurants (Blue Star) - Harthill]] (1971 - 1986)
File:Bolton West First sign.jpg|alt=First branded service area.|link=First|<span class="center">'''[[First]]'''{{newline}}3 MSAs{{newline}}1996 - 2011</span>
* [[Lymm#Trivia and Design|Poplar 2000 - Lymm]] (1994 - 2001)
File:McDoanlds service area branding.png|alt=McDonald's branded road sign.|link=McDonald's|<span class="center">'''[[McDonald's]]'''{{newline}}2 MSAs{{newline}}1999 - 2007</span>
* [[History:Strensham#Changes|Take a Break - Strensham]] (1994 - 1998)
</gallery>
* [[History:Trowell#Mecca Leisure|Mecca Leisure - Trowell]] (1967 - 1977)


Developers who never completed any of their planned service areas are listed at [[Unsuccessful Developers]].{{newline}}
Developers who never completed any of their planned service areas are listed at [[Unsuccessful Developers]].{{newline}}


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

Revision as of 00:20, 10 July 2022

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

Each motorway service area and motorway rest area can only have one main operator. These operators are listed here.

The figures and dates shown here only count the motorway service areas and motorway rest areas that each brand is the main operator of. Many of these businesses have additional involvement in other service areas, or even something completely different, and this explained on each link.

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 by the public. We've summarised the main A-road operators (other than those already listed above).

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, these days including many of the motorway forecourts.

Former Operators

When motorway service areas were first created, it was agreed that each site would be leased to one company, who would be responsible for the entire operation. That developer, usually an established hospitality or motoring company or a combination of the two, would be known as "the operator", and would need to work closely with the Ministry of Transport.

As the motorway network grew, many operators found that their motorway service area business was a business in its own right, which would eventually be sold off or turned into a new brand name. These operators were able to compete more after 1982, when they were permitted to display their brand name on the motorway signs. Even though the government stopped being involved in motorway service areas in 1992, the advertised operator name remained important information for motorists.

The focus of the competition turned to being mainly about who was working with the best brand partners. Briefly, in the early 2000s, the established operators suggested that they may hide their names entirely, because the high street brand names were more powerful. Partly following the change to the road sign rules in 2012, the operators began to actively promote their names again.

These are the different operator names that have been used on the motorways over the course of that history:

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