Motorway Services Online

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{{Services
{{Services
|type = motorway
|type = motorway
|image = Sandbach North 2020.jpg
|image = Sandbach North 2023.jpg
|operator = Roadchef
|operator = Roadchef
|operator2 = BP Express
|road = [[M6]] between J16 and J17
|road = [[M6]] between J16 and J17
|postcode = CW11 2FZ
|postcode = CW11 2FZ
|signposted = Yes
|signposted = Yes
|stype = Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.
|stype = Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge
|rating = Sandbach
|rating = Sandbach
|coords = 53.139296, -2.336526
|coords = 53.139374, -2.3365655
|markerpost = 0268
|markerpost = 0268
|briefroad = M6 between J16 and J17
|briefroad = M6 between J16 and J17
Line 17: Line 18:


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
{{facilities| Restaurants | {{Costa}}, {{McDonald's}}, {{Costa Express}}, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Costa Drive Thru}}
{{facilities| Catering | {{Costa}}, {{Fresh Food Cafe}}, {{McDonald's}}, {{Costa Express}}, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Costa Drive Thru}}
|N = Skwishee Iced Drinks
|N = {{Coco Di Mama|N|s}}, Skwishee Iced Drinks
|S = {{Chozen Noodle|S|s}} |covid = 12 April 2021 }}
|S = {{Chozen Noodle|S|s}}, f'real Milkshakes }}
{{facilities| Shops | {{WHSmith}} }}
{{facilities| Shops | {{WHSmith}} }}
{{facilities| Amenities | Showers, Brexit Document Advice Point, {{Covid Test}} }}
{{facilities| Amenities | {{Jackpot £500}}, Showers }}
{{facilities| Hotel | none }}
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | Small grass area by building entrances }}
{{charging points| |N = Ecotricity }}
{{facilities| Charging Points | |N = GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 40kW CCS, 40kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{BP}}, Shop, {{Wild Bean Cafe}}, Air1 AdBlue, Free Cash Machine }}
|S = GRIDSERVE Electric Highway HPC 350kW CCS, 100kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{BP}}, Shop, {{Wild Bean Cafe}}, Free Cash Machine }}


==Parking Prices==
==Parking Prices==
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £12 and HGVs, caravans and coaches £28, or £31 to include a £10 food voucher.
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £32. HGVs can pay £35 to include a £10 food voucher.


Prices are paid using [[PayByPhone|PayByPhone - more details]] or in the shop. The location code is 5265 (northbound) and 5266 (southbound).
Prices are paid in the shop or by using [https://groupnexus.co.uk/nexuspark/nexuspay NexusPay]. The location code is 2208 (northbound) and 2210 (southbound).
 
HGVs can also pay by using [https://snapacc.com/ SNAP]. The location code is 8012 (northbound) and 8013 (southbound).


The fees are strictly enforced by [[GroupNexus]].
The fees are strictly enforced by [[GroupNexus]].


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


==Contact Details==
==Contact Details==
Line 45: Line 49:
CW11 2FZ
CW11 2FZ
|telephone = 01270 767134
|telephone = 01270 767134
|gridref = SJ775603
|websites =  
|websites =  
* [https://www.roadchef.com/locations/sandbach Amenity buildings operated by Roadchef]
* [https://www.roadchef.com/locations/sandbach Northbound amenity building operated by Roadchef]
* [https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html Forecourts operated by BP Express]
* [https://www.roadchef.com/locations/sandbach-south Southbound amenity building operated by Roadchef]
* [https://map.bp.com/en-GB/GB/petrol-station/sandbach/sandbach-north-connect-mwsa/321069972 Northbound forecourt operated by BP Express]
* [https://map.bp.com/en-GB/GB/petrol-station/sandbach/sandbach-south-connect-mwsa/1729162560 Southbound forecourt operated by BP Express]
|foursquare = 4b6b51fff964a520b5002ce3
|foursquare = 4b6b51fff964a520b5002ce3
}}
}}


==Trivia and History==
==Trivia and Design==
{{Gallery
[[File:Sandbach.png|250px|thumb|alt=M6 motorway.|Looking towards the service area in 1991.]]
|image = Sandbach southbound 2011.jpg
{{fulldetails|History:Sandbach}}
|size = 250
Space was made for Sandbach when the M6 opened in 1963, but it would be another 12 years before it was actually built. The two buildings both consist of three diamond shapes, which from the outside are largely unchanged. More recently, grey cladding and red paint have been used to brighten up the original brickwork and bridge cover.
|duped = yes
|caption = The services before refurbishment.
|keydates = {{Key Date | 1960s | Site identified }}
{{Key Date | 1975 | Services opened }} }}
An Ecotricity charging point has been installed here on the southbound side here for many years but due to power supply issues to the new charging points, it has not been operational.
 
As part of their plan to focus more on retail, the filling stations were sold by Roadchef to [[BP Express|BP]] in August 2017.
 
In September 2014 the southbound services formed a makeshift drop-off point for donations to the Cheshire Dogs Home near Warrington, after an incident at its sister site sparked a surge in donations which brought the M6 to a standstill.
 
The service area hit the news in 1992 as its car park was being used by revellers for Saturday night open-air acid parties.
 
In December 2002, a couple from Alsager in Staffordshire renewed their vows in the Costa Coffee unit here. 50 guests of friends and family were also given a tour of the service area and a choir sang hymns on the footbridge.
 
The southbound side included a [[Regus Express]] meeting room for a time. This was removed in 2019.
 
===Planning===
{{fulldetails|History:M6|M6 Service Area Planning}}
The services were one of few [[infill]] sites (where the sliproads were laid out before anyone had come forward to build the rest of it) which actually went ahead as planned, although early plans were for a truckstop only.
 
It originally consisted of two roads running close to the motorway, with the [[Rear Access]] and southbound [[maintenance compound]] towards the south end. That compound proved to be difficult, taking up a lot of space and leaving little room for landscaping. This would cause the services to look tired before it had even opened.
 
The contract was opened to bids in 1972, as [[Knutsford]] needed to expand but Rank refused to do it. It was described it as a 12 acre site, aimed at commercial traffic. Today it still has a HGV-friendly concrete surface all over.
 
Bids to run the services were received from [[Ross]], [[Blue Boar]], Roadchef, Hanover Grand Ltd and Manor Holdings Ltd, with Roadchef offering the highest rent.
 
In the late '90s, [[RoadChef]] had a plan to introduce a [[Wimpy]] drive-thru here but this never happened.
 
===Opening===
[[File:Sandbach bridge.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The bridge in one of its worst states.|alt=Sandbach services bridge.]]
The services were the first in the country to have one large restaurant, instead of several smaller ones.
 
It was also the first services to be built entirely by [[Roadchef]], with [[Killington Lake]] being owned by BP. It opened in August 1976. The bridge - which may well pre-date the services - had its distinctive covering added in 1978.
 
Fuel was initially sold by [[BP]], [[Shell]], [[Esso]] and [[Mobil]]. By the 1990s it had concentrated to just BP northbound and Shell southbound.
 
A 1986 report said between 100 and 150 people were employed here.
 
===Survey Results===
{{Survey Warning}}
In Spring 2021, [[Which? Magazine]] placed Sandbach fourth-from-bottom, with a customer score of 42%.
 
In Spring 2017, [[Transport Focus]] calculated a 89% satisfaction score for the northbound services and 84% for the southbound services. By 2018 this had risen to 98% and 90% respectively, and in 2019 it was a mixed picture with scores of 83% and 94%.
 
In 2015, [[VisitEngland]] rated both sides of the services as 3 stars. In May 2012, the northbound side fell down to 2 stars, but in August 2011 both sides received 3 stars.
 
In late 2006 the BBC's 'The Money Programme' took a look at the services. Whilst the northbound side was almost acceptable, southbound was dirty and the toilets had several broken locks.
 
In 2006, [[Which%3F Magazine|Holiday Which?]] graded the services at 2/5. This isn't bad, considering that there were a handful of 1/5s awarded.
 
In 2004, Good Housekeeping rated the services as two stars, calling it "mediocre and predictable".
 
The services were inspected by [[AA Survey|The AA]] on 3 and 4 April 2004. These are their results:
{{AA survey results
|roadsafety = Good
|outdoorfacilities = Very Poor
|indoorfacilities = Poor
|catering = Very Poor
|shop = Very Good
|service = Acceptable
|communications = Very Poor
|hygiene = Very Poor
|pricing = Very Poor
|finalscore = Very Poor }}


Here the services were chosen as the worst in Europe, with the inspectors saying "You could stop for petrol and perhaps buy some provisions, but we wouldn't recommend taking a break there". The shops and staff were the only good things found: it had poor facilities, litter "everywhere", a dirty restaurant with a poor variety of unappetising food, high prices, dirty showers, the building and its facilities looked poorly maintained, it had no information and it had very little to help the disabled. Even the car park was poorly marked and poorly maintained.
A couple from Alsager renewed their vows in the Costa Coffee unit here in December 2002. Their 50 guests were given a tour of the service area while a choir sang hymns on the footbridge.


In 1991, Sandbach came top in a Which? survey.
Ecotricity charging points were installed on the southbound side in the early 2010s but remained non-operational due to power supply issues. When GRIDSERVE renewed the charging points in 2021, they were eventually connected to power and switched on.  


A 1978 government review described the services as "pleasant but disjointed".
Six new high-powered chargers were then added to the southbound side in November 2023, becoming one of Roadchef's first super hubs after being one of their last sites without any chargers. As a result of the new high-powered chargers, and the fact that the site's power capacity is limited, the northbound chargers were downgraded from 50kW to 40kW. The northbound side is set to also gain high-powered chargers, with works expected to be completed in late 2023.


In 1977, [[Egon Ronay]] rated the services as "poor", but he did say it was "light and airy".
The southbound [[WHSmith]] store received a refit in July 2022 which introduced a new layout, design and a f'real Milkshakes machine to the site.


==Alternatives==
==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M6| [[Keele]] (11 miles){{newline}}''[[Barthomley]] (5 miles)''{{newline}}[[Derby and Burton]] (A50 east, 43 miles) |
{{Succession|1|M6| [[Keele]] (11 miles){{newline}}[[Derby and Burton|Derby & Burton]] (A50 east, 43 miles) |
[[Knutsford]] (12 miles) }}
[[Knutsford]] (12 miles) }}
{{Succession|2|Roadchef| [[Stafford (South)]] (M6 southbound, 23 miles){{newline}}[[Norton Canes]] (41 miles) |
{{Succession|2|Roadchef| [[Stafford (South)|Stafford]] (M6 southbound, 23 miles){{newline}}[[Norton Canes]] (41 miles) |
[[Chester]] (M56 west, 32 miles) }}
[[Chester]] (M56 west, 32 miles) }}
</table>
</table>


{{bottomnav}}
{{bottomnav}}
[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M6]][[Category:Pilot Services]][[Category:M6 (England)]]
[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M6]][[Category:Pilot Services]][[Category:M6 (England)]][[Category:Services on TV]]

Latest revision as of 13:43, 5 February 2025

Sandbach
Sandbach services
Camera icon
Camera icon
Many more photos in the gallery
Location:

M6 between J16 and J17

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

CW11 2FZ

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.

Rating: See the reviews


Bouncing back from past poor performances, Sandbach has now been upgraded to the point where it's almost unremarkable - if a little too concreted.

Facilities

Catering: on both sides: Costa Coffee, Fresh Food Café, McDonald's, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme, Costa Drive Thru
plus northbound only: Coco di Mama, Skwishee Iced Drinks
and southbound only: Chozen Noodle, f'real Milkshakes Shops: WHSmith Amenities: Jackpot £500, Showers Outdoor Space: Small grass area by building entrances Charging Points: northbound only: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 40kW CCS, 40kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2
and southbound only: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway HPC 350kW CCS, 100kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 Forecourt: BP, Shop, Wild Bean Café, Free Cash Machine

Parking Prices

First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £32. HGVs can pay £35 to include a £10 food voucher.

Prices are paid in the shop or by using NexusPay. The location code is 2208 (northbound) and 2210 (southbound).

HGVs can also pay by using SNAP. The location code is 8012 (northbound) and 8013 (southbound).

The fees are strictly enforced by GroupNexus.

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

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
RoadChef Motorways Ltd
Sandbach Motorway Services Area
M6
Betchton
Sandbach
Cheshire
CW11 2FZ

🌍 Operators & Official Websites:


Trivia and Design

M6 motorway.
Looking towards the service area in 1991.

See also: History:Sandbach

Space was made for Sandbach when the M6 opened in 1963, but it would be another 12 years before it was actually built. The two buildings both consist of three diamond shapes, which from the outside are largely unchanged. More recently, grey cladding and red paint have been used to brighten up the original brickwork and bridge cover.

A couple from Alsager renewed their vows in the Costa Coffee unit here in December 2002. Their 50 guests were given a tour of the service area while a choir sang hymns on the footbridge.

Ecotricity charging points were installed on the southbound side in the early 2010s but remained non-operational due to power supply issues. When GRIDSERVE renewed the charging points in 2021, they were eventually connected to power and switched on.

Six new high-powered chargers were then added to the southbound side in November 2023, becoming one of Roadchef's first super hubs after being one of their last sites without any chargers. As a result of the new high-powered chargers, and the fact that the site's power capacity is limited, the northbound chargers were downgraded from 50kW to 40kW. The northbound side is set to also gain high-powered chargers, with works expected to be completed in late 2023.

The southbound WHSmith store received a refit in July 2022 which introduced a new layout, design and a f'real Milkshakes machine to the site.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Keele (11 miles)
Derby & Burton (A50 east, 43 miles)		Services on the M6Knutsford (12 miles)
Stafford (M6 southbound, 23 miles)
Norton Canes (41 miles)		Roadchef servicesChester (M56 west, 32 miles)

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