Guide to Rushden (Sanders Lodge) services

Rushden (Sanders Lodge)
Location:

A45 eastbound at Rushden

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

NN10 6AP

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located between junctions on one side of the road.


Right next door to the bustle of Rushden Lakes is the more traditional way to take a break, with a forecourt on the A45.

Facilities

Amenities: Travelodge Outdoor Space: Grass verge around site; public footpath to shopping centre Forecourt: BP, Shop'N Drive, Costa Express, Free Cash Machine

Parking Prices

Short stay customer parking is available for cars. No HGV parking is available.

This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
B P
Service Station
Northampton Road
Rushden
Northamptonshire
NN10 6AP


Trivia and History

Inside the former Buddies USA Diner, pictured in 2021.

This is the original Rushden services on the A45, not to be confused with the heavily-promoted EG Group site in Rushden town which, despite its name, is not an official service area. This original was known locally as 'Sanders Lodge', but the opening of Rushden Lakes shopping centre next door has changed that.

A muddy track used to link the car park to the surrounding area. This became a formal footway in 2020, designed to link the retail park to the Travelodge hotel.

Hamblin Group proposed three possible sites for an eastbound service station between here and the next roundabout in 1984, which were all called 'Sanders Lodge'. These had a workshop to the west, a café in the middle and a motel behind it. Norfolk House applied to build another site here in 1985, with a slightly different building to what's there now. The hotel was added in 1988.

Kelly's Kitchen opened their fourth restaurant here in May 1987, with an official opening ceremony held on 4 July. By this time, the filling station was operated by Lawlor. Under Kelly's Kitchen, the site later became known as 'Rushden services'.

The Kelly's Kitchen brand was sold to Little Chef in 1990, with the restaurant becoming their 'Rushden' branch in November 1990. The Little Chef was soon joined by a Travelodge hotel, which was opened on 28 June 1991 by newly-appointed East Northamptonshire Council Chairman, Steve Clifton.

The Little Chef closed in 2005 and was purchased by local restaurant chain Buddies USA Diner. Following the coronavirus lockdown, the restaurant permanently closed in summer 2020. The restaurant building is now available was put up for to let recently but this is no longer the case.

The forecourt was branded Fina, later Total. Rontec, the current forecourt owners, also refer to the site as 'Rushden'.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Wellingborough (westbound, 2 miles)
Nene Valley (8 miles)
Services on the A45Raunds (5 miles)