South Mimms: Difference between revisions
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{{Services | {{Services | ||
|type = motorway | |type = motorway | ||
|image = South Mimms | |image = South Mimms 2023.jpg | ||
|operator = Welcome Break | |operator = Welcome Break | ||
|road = [[M25]] at J23{{newline}}[[A1(M)]] at J1{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the [[A1]] and the A1081) | |road = [[M25]] at J23{{newline}}[[A1(M)]] at J1{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the [[A1]] and the A1081) | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
Cars and coaches can access the main facilities, but HGVs cannot. | Cars and coaches can access the main facilities, but HGVs cannot. | ||
{{facilities| Restaurants | {{Burger King}}, {{KFC}}, {{PizzaExpress}}, {{Pret A Manger}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Subway}}, {{The Good Breakfast}}, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, {{Starbucks Drive Thru}} }} | {{facilities| Restaurants | {{Burger King}}, {{KFC}}, {{PizzaExpress}}, {{Pret A Manger}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Subway}}, {{The Good Breakfast}}, Jolly Rancher, {{Krispy Kreme}}, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, {{Starbucks Drive Thru}} }} | ||
{{facilities| Shops | {{Little Waitrose}}, {{Top Gift}}, {{WHSmith}} }} | {{facilities| Shops | {{Little Waitrose}}, {{Top Gift}}, {{WHSmith}} }} | ||
{{facilities| Amenities | {{ | {{facilities| Amenities | {{Ramada|warning=No HGVs||s}}, {{Changing Places}}, {{Game Zone}}, {{Revolution Laundry}}, Showers }} | ||
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | Grass area by hotel; Access to Wash Lane Common Nature Reserve }} | {{facilities| Outdoor Space | Grass area by hotel; Access to Wash Lane Common Nature Reserve }} | ||
{{facilities| Charging Points | Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 120kW & 150kW CCS }} | {{facilities| Charging Points | Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 120kW & 150kW CCS }} | ||
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{BP}}, {{M&S | {{facilities| Forecourt | {{BP}}, {{M&S Food}}, {{Wild Bean Cafe|warning=No HGVs or coaches||s}}, Free Cash Machine }} | ||
===South Mimms Truckstop=== | ===South Mimms Truckstop=== | ||
{{facilities| Amenities | Showers, [[Welcome Break Gaming]] |truckstop }} | {{facilities| Amenities | Showers, [[Welcome Break Gaming]] |truckstop }} | ||
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | No grass space; public footpath connection |truckstop |s}} | {{facilities| Outdoor Space | No grass space; public footpath connection |truckstop |s}} | ||
{{facilities| Forecourt | [[BP]], Shop, {{The Good Bakery|warning=HGVs only||s}} | {{facilities| Forecourt | [[BP]], Shop, {{The Good Bakery|warning=HGVs only||s}}, {{Rollover}}, {{Starbucks on the Go||s}} |truckstop }} | ||
The South Mimms Truckstop is only accessible to HGVs. | The South Mimms Truckstop is only accessible to HGVs. | ||
==Parking Prices== | ==Parking Prices== | ||
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay | First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £37 (or £39 to include a £12 meal voucher). | ||
Separate parking is provided for cars, coaches, HGVs and caravans. | Separate parking is provided for cars, coaches, HGVs and caravans. | ||
| Line 56: | Line 55: | ||
|gridref = TL230002 | |gridref = TL230002 | ||
|websites = | |websites = | ||
* [https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/south-mimms/ | * [https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/south-mimms/ Official Welcome Break/South Mimms website] | ||
* [https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html | * [https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html Official BP Express website] | ||
|facebook = welcomebreaksouthmimms | |facebook = welcomebreaksouthmimms | ||
|foursquare = 5123551a8aca2733cf9358ea | |foursquare = 5123551a8aca2733cf9358ea | ||
Revision as of 19:24, 10 April 2023
M25 at J23
A1(M) at J1
(also accessible to traffic on the A1 and the A1081)
Signposted from the road.
EN6 3QQ
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
A busy service area at a busy roundabout, consisting of a large building with car parks and neighbouring facilities sprawled across much of the local area. It is a rare example of separate facilities being provided for cars and HGVs, both operated by the same company.
Facilities
Cars and coaches can access the main facilities, but HGVs cannot.
Catering: Burger King, KFC, PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger, Starbucks, Subway, The Good Breakfast, Jolly Rancher, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks on the Go, Starbucks Drive Thru Shops: Little Waitrose & Partners, Top Gift, WHSmith Amenities: Ramada, Changing Places, Game Zone, Revolution Laundry, Showers Outdoor Space: Grass area by hotel; Access to Wash Lane Common Nature Reserve Charging Points: Applegreen Electric 150kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO; GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; Tesla Supercharger 120kW & 150kW CCS Forecourt: BP, M&S Food, Wild Bean Café, Free Cash Machine
South Mimms Truckstop
Amenities: Showers, Welcome Break Gaming Outdoor Space: No grass space; public footpath connection Forecourt: BP, Shop, The Good Bakery, Rollover, Starbucks on the Go
The South Mimms Truckstop is only accessible to HGVs.
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 for a further 24 hours and HGVs, caravans and coaches must pay £37 (or £39 to include a £12 meal voucher).
Separate parking is provided for cars, coaches, HGVs and caravans.
Prices can be paid in the shop, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by ParkingEye.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
The Welcome Break
Welcome Break Service Station
Bignell's Corner
South Mimms
Potters Bar
Hertfordshire
EN6 3QQ
- Official Welcome Break/South Mimms website
- Official BP Express website
- Facebook Page
- Foursquare Page
- 📞 Telephone number: 01707 646333
- 📌 what3words: ///corn.king.aware
- more map options
Trivia and Design
See also: History:South Mimms
The service area's site comprises of several businesses and units, including a council depot. The only sensible route between the motorways and the village of South Mimms is to leave at the junction and drive through the service area, where there is a link road to the village. This feature is pretty much exclusive to this service area.
The fire meant between 1998 and 2013 it was both the oldest and the newest service area on the M25. Its dedicated HGV facilities meant South Mimms was often included in truckstop guides, where it boasted 200 HGV parking spaces.
Six more electric vehicle chargers were added in May 2022, under their parent company's brand, Applegreen Electric. Early drawings suggested the Welcome Break brand would be used. Either way, it represents a change from motorway service areas normally outsourcing their charging facilities to third parties.
Location
The services are off a busy roundabout, however its location presents an even bigger problem for the police. Over time, several illegal activities have been uncovered here, largely due to its location being where two major routes cross, one coming out of London (where South Mimms is the first service area you'd pass) and one heading towards the Channel Ports.
National Cycle Network route 12 runs along Wash Lane, behind the service area building, with a gate for cyclists to access the facilities. This is an unusual feature for a motorway service area, but unlike the footpath at Severn View, at South Mimms the facility isn't advertised to cyclists.
The gate is actually there to provide customers with access to Wash Lane Common Nature Reserve. Hertfordshire County Council have been working to promote and improve the nature reserve, in turn improving the view from the service area. This puts South Mimms in the unusual position where it offers a break to people who are out for a leisurely stroll.
Refurbishments
The Days Inn hotel here underwent refurbishment and reopened in mid-2016, now branded Ramada.
A new building was added next to the hotel in April 2016, which was planned to become a Frankie & Benny's, but opened as a rare example of a franchised Ed's Easy Diner. The trial brand represented Welcome Break's efforts to increase their share of the restaurant market. The store closed in April 2018, and reopened as a PizzaExpress on 8 June 2018.
The motorway network's first Pret a Manger opened here on 24 August 2016. It is operated under a contract which expires in 2025.
In the Public Eye
The services were mentioned in Ian Sinclair's book 'London Orbital', which came to the conclusion that it was dire and in need of a refurbishment, with traffic queueing to leave the site and join the main junction. A few weeks later, he said things had improved. They also starred several times in Sky's 'Brainiac: Science Abuse' and 'EastEnders', and Robbie Williams has sang in the car park.
Roger Green wrote a book on the services titled 'Destination Nowhere: A South Mimms Motorway Service Station Diary'.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Cobham (45 miles) Toddington (M1 north, 25 miles) Beaconsfield (M40 north, 28 miles) Reading (M4 west, 54 miles) Heston (M4 east, 30 miles) Fleet (M3 south-west, 51 miles) | Services on the M25 | Thurrock (32 miles) Birchanger Green (M11 north, 39 miles) |
| none | Services on the A1(M) | Baldock (23 miles) |
| London Gateway (M1 south, 17 miles) Fleet (M3 south-west, 51 miles) | Welcome Break services | Birchanger Green (M11 north, 39 miles) |
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