Redwings: Difference between revisions
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|type = non primary | |type = non primary | ||
|operator = Certas Energy | |operator = Certas Energy | ||
|image = Pace Redwings | |image = Pace Redwings 2023.jpg | ||
|road = B1043 Old Great North Road between Sawtry and Alconbury | |road = B1043 Old Great North Road between Sawtry and Alconbury | ||
|postcode = PE28 5XP | |postcode = PE28 5XP | ||
|signposted = Southbound only | |signposted = Southbound only | ||
|stype = Single site located at the side of the road | |stype = Single site located at the side of the road | ||
|coords = 52. | |coords = 52.408769, -0.26379526 | ||
|briefroad = B1043 between Sawtry and Alconbury | |briefroad = B1043 between Sawtry and Alconbury | ||
|night = no | |night = no | ||
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Redwings is a historical anomaly: it is Britain's only official B-road service station. | Redwings is a historical anomaly: it is Britain's only official B-road service station. | ||
'''Very limited facilities are available''' as the site is largely automated. | |||
==Facilities== | ==Facilities== | ||
{{facilities| | {{facilities| Catering | The Royal Spiceland |nonprimary }} | ||
{{facilities| Amenities | Redwings Lodge |nonprimary }} | {{facilities| Amenities | Redwings Lodge |nonprimary }} | ||
{{facilities| Outdoor | Grass patches around site |nonprimary }} | {{facilities| Outdoor | Grass patches around site |nonprimary }} | ||
{{facilities| Forecourt | [[Pace]] | {{facilities| Forecourt | [[Pace]] Pay at Pump |nonprimary }} | ||
==Contact Details== | ==Contact Details== | ||
| Line 28: | Line 29: | ||
Huntingdon{{newline}} | Huntingdon{{newline}} | ||
PE28 5XP | PE28 5XP | ||
|foursquare = 4bd7bc88304fce7258f633ab | |foursquare = 4bd7bc88304fce7258f633ab | ||
|websites = | |websites = | ||
* [https:// | * [https://theroyalspiceland.co.uk/ Official The Royal Spiceland website] | ||
* [https://www.redwingslodge.co.uk/peterborough-huntingdon | * [https://www.redwingslodge.co.uk/peterborough-huntingdon Official Redwings Lodge website] | ||
* [https://certasenergy.co.uk/ Forecourt operated by Certas Energy] | * [https://certasenergy.co.uk/ Forecourt operated by Certas Energy] | ||
|3words = | |3words = dumplings.targeted.embers | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Trivia and History== | ==Trivia and History== | ||
{{fulldetails|History:A1#Private Proposals|A1(M) Planning Applications}} | {{fulldetails|History:A1#Private Proposals|A1(M) Planning Applications}} | ||
[[File:Mobil Redwings 1989.png|250px|thumb|right|alt=Low-resolution Mobil filling station with 'Redwings Service Area' on the canopy.|The Mobil filling station, pictured in 1989.]] | |||
Redwings was one of many small petrol stations on the historic alignment of the Great North Road. It served southbound traffic and was named after the ''Red Wings Bungalow'' at the back of the site. Although this part of the A1 was poorly aligned in modern terms, it was still built for high speeds, and the petrol station had a long run-in and a wide entrance. | Redwings was one of many small petrol stations on the historic alignment of the Great North Road. It served southbound traffic and was named after the ''Red Wings Bungalow'' at the back of the site. Although this part of the A1 was poorly aligned in modern terms, it was still built for high speeds, and the petrol station had a long run-in and a wide entrance. | ||
The petrol station became an early candidate to gain a restaurant with planning for this starting in 1977. The restaurant opened in the early 1980s as the '''Sawtry South''' branch of [[Happy Eater]]. The site was managed by Kamper Services. | The petrol station became an early candidate to gain a restaurant, with planning for this starting in 1977. The restaurant opened in the early 1980s as the '''Sawtry South''' branch of [[Happy Eater]]. The site was managed by M Kamper Services, with the forecourt under [[Mobil]] branding during the 1980s. | ||
The restaurant was later converted to a [[Little Chef]]. The petrol station was branded Q8. The hotel, the Redwings Lodge, opened here in the 1980s. It was briefly partnered with motorway operator [[Pavilion]] in 1994. The Redwings brand has since been [https://www.redwingslodge.co.uk/ turned into a chain]. | The restaurant was later converted to a [[Little Chef]]. The petrol station was branded Q8. The hotel, the Redwings Lodge, opened here in the 1980s. It was briefly partnered with motorway operator [[Pavilion]] in 1994. The Redwings brand has since been [https://www.redwingslodge.co.uk/ turned into a chain]. | ||
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===Downgrading=== | ===Downgrading=== | ||
[[File:Redwings | [[File:Redwings sliproad 2023.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Green road sign saying Services - not 24 hours, on a wide, single carriageway road.|Redwings still retains its old A1 signage, despite now being on a B-road.]] | ||
The new A1(M) opened in 1998, replacing the old A1. The old southbound carriageway of the A1 was repurposed as a local road, the B1043. Responsibility for the road and its service stations transferred from the Highways Agency to Cambridgeshire County Council. Road layouts and signs were updated to reflect the new status, and the two-way traffic arrangement. | The new A1(M) opened in 1998, replacing the old A1. The old southbound carriageway of the A1 was repurposed as a local road, the B1043. Responsibility for the road and its service stations transferred from the Highways Agency to Cambridgeshire County Council. Road layouts and signs were updated to reflect the new status, and the two-way traffic arrangement. | ||
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When a service station has official road signs, this indicates that an agreement is in place to ensure a certain standard of facility is provided, and it is used by this website to regard a service station as official. At Redwings, it is very unlikely that any such agreement exists. Given that Cambridgeshire County Council haven't touched these road signs more than 20 years after inheriting them, it is more likely that they have no record that the signs are there, or that they don't want to stir trouble by taking down signs which have been there for so long. | When a service station has official road signs, this indicates that an agreement is in place to ensure a certain standard of facility is provided, and it is used by this website to regard a service station as official. At Redwings, it is very unlikely that any such agreement exists. Given that Cambridgeshire County Council haven't touched these road signs more than 20 years after inheriting them, it is more likely that they have no record that the signs are there, or that they don't want to stir trouble by taking down signs which have been there for so long. | ||
While the physical layout of the site is still unchanged to this day, inevitably there have been many internal changes. The Little Chef closed in 1998, and is now a restaurant called Spiceworld. The petrol station is now branded [[Pace]]. | While the physical layout of the site is still unchanged to this day, inevitably there have been many internal changes. The Little Chef closed in 1998, and is now a restaurant called Spiceworld. The petrol station is now branded [[Pace]], Q8's successor, and went fully automated with pay at pump only in early 2023. | ||
InstaVolt intended to add two electric vehicle charging bays to the forecourt in 2017 but these weren't installed. | InstaVolt intended to add two electric vehicle charging bays to the forecourt in 2017 but these weren't installed. | ||
Spiceland became The Royal Spiceland on 1 December 2022, following a change of ownership. | |||
==Alternatives== | ==Alternatives== | ||
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</table> | </table> | ||
{{bottomnav|noreview=true}} | |||
[[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]][[Category:Little Chef]][[Category:Closed Services]] | [[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]][[Category:Little Chef]][[Category:Closed Services]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:50, 19 October 2023
B1043 Old Great North Road between Sawtry and Alconbury
Signposted from the road? Southbound only
PE28 5XP
map and directions
Single site located at the side of the road.
Redwings is a historical anomaly: it is Britain's only official B-road service station.
Very limited facilities are available as the site is largely automated.
Facilities
Catering: The Royal Spiceland Amenities: Redwings Lodge Outdoor Space: Grass patches around site Forecourt: Pace Pay at Pump
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Redwings Garage
Old Great North Road
Sawtry
Huntingdon
PE28 5XP
Trivia and History
See also: A1(M) Planning Applications
Redwings was one of many small petrol stations on the historic alignment of the Great North Road. It served southbound traffic and was named after the Red Wings Bungalow at the back of the site. Although this part of the A1 was poorly aligned in modern terms, it was still built for high speeds, and the petrol station had a long run-in and a wide entrance.
The petrol station became an early candidate to gain a restaurant, with planning for this starting in 1977. The restaurant opened in the early 1980s as the Sawtry South branch of Happy Eater. The site was managed by M Kamper Services, with the forecourt under Mobil branding during the 1980s.
The restaurant was later converted to a Little Chef. The petrol station was branded Q8. The hotel, the Redwings Lodge, opened here in the 1980s. It was briefly partnered with motorway operator Pavilion in 1994. The Redwings brand has since been turned into a chain.
Redwings was a southbound service area with no northbound partner. To the south were a pair of petrol stations known as Alconbury, serving both sides. To the north was a pair of petrol stations known as Toll Bar, but as the northbound side included the Sawtry North branch of Happy Eater, it is often perceived as the partner to Sawtry South at Redwings.
Forte proposed an upgrade to the entire Redwings site in 1993, which would prepare it for the opening of the new A1(M) motorway. Planning permission was refused in favour of Peterborough services.
Downgrading
The new A1(M) opened in 1998, replacing the old A1. The old southbound carriageway of the A1 was repurposed as a local road, the B1043. Responsibility for the road and its service stations transferred from the Highways Agency to Cambridgeshire County Council. Road layouts and signs were updated to reflect the new status, and the two-way traffic arrangement.
Despite all this, Redwings service station managed to make it through the whole process without any changes. It was still there, albeit now serving a local B-road rather than one of the country's most important A-roads. The road signs referring to Redwings (coloured green like the A1) were unchanged, and continue to only face southbound traffic. The lengthy run-in for traffic joining and leaving the road remained.
When a service station has official road signs, this indicates that an agreement is in place to ensure a certain standard of facility is provided, and it is used by this website to regard a service station as official. At Redwings, it is very unlikely that any such agreement exists. Given that Cambridgeshire County Council haven't touched these road signs more than 20 years after inheriting them, it is more likely that they have no record that the signs are there, or that they don't want to stir trouble by taking down signs which have been there for so long.
While the physical layout of the site is still unchanged to this day, inevitably there have been many internal changes. The Little Chef closed in 1998, and is now a restaurant called Spiceworld. The petrol station is now branded Pace, Q8's successor, and went fully automated with pay at pump only in early 2023.
InstaVolt intended to add two electric vehicle charging bays to the forecourt in 2017 but these weren't installed.
Spiceland became The Royal Spiceland on 1 December 2022, following a change of ownership.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Brampton Hut (A1, 6 miles) | Services on the A1(M) | Peterborough (10 miles) |