Motorway Services Online

← Older edit Newer edit →

Revision as of 12:48, 2 March 2021

Location:

A40 eastbound between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

HR9 6DP

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Two sites located between junctions, with no public connection between them..

The larger of the two service areas at Symonds Yat, the main side is a former truckstop with an unusual layout.

Facilities

Catering: Subway, Costa Express, Rollover, West Cornwall Pasty Co. Shops: Londis Amenities: Free Cash Machine, Showers Forecourt: Shell, AdBlue4You

Parking Prices

First 2 hours parking is free for all vehicles. HGV parking is available with overnight parking available charged at £10 for up to 24 hours.

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

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Symonds Yat Services
Whitchurch
Ross-on-Wye
Herefordshire
HR9 6DP

🌍 Official MFG website
📌 what3words: ///crispy.staining.strike
more map options

Trivia and History

The site was developed in 1975. It was a truckstop ran by Truckers, who were themselves acquired by Norfolk House. A major redevelopment was carried out at the end of the 20th century, where it became more of a general service area, with a larger, more-landscaped car park, and a new facilities building. The original car park is the tiny area now closed off, next to the forecourt.

The truckstop was purchased by motorway operator First in 2006. First provided their green and white signage all around, including on a large "Welcome to First Motorway Services" sign visible from the A40. Other posters claimed pointed out that it was the "last fuel [before the] M5". First claimed they had made a success of it and wanted to take over several more.

In 2011, First were taken over by Roadchef, who said this was their first A-road site and that they would work with it and see what could be done. Under Roadchef, the forecourt changed from BP to Murco, while First's shop branding was retained, but with a Costa unit added.

Roadchef sold the site to High Noon Stores, who changed the Costa unit to their own brand 'Route 40 Café'. They also opened a Spar store.

After High Noon Stores fell into administration, MFG purchased it in March 2017. A Londis store replaced the former Spar store and the fuel supply changed from from Murco to Shell. The independent café remained for a while until early 2019 where MFG replaced the Route 40 Cafe with a Subway store.

As of summer 2019, evidence of First's ownership is still visible within the eastbound amenity building as the games arcade signage is still being displayed in First's distinctive green and red colours.

One unusual feature is the display of a large MID (the fuel price sign), positioned well before the service area, on the main A40.

There was a Little Chef built near here in around 1970, which had closed by 1980.

Alternatives

Previous:		Next:
Daff-Y-Nant (westbound, 1 mile) Ross Spur (8 miles)	Services on the A40	Monmouth (9 miles)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Services
 |type = primary
+|operator = MFG
 |image = Symonds Yat East 2020.jpg
-|road = [[A40]] between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth
+|road = [[A40]] {{dir|E}} between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth
-|postcode = HR9 6DP (eastbound), HR9 6DW (westbound)
+|postcode = HR9 6DP
 |maplink = https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Shell/@51.8514296,-2.6647069,19.5z/
 |signposted = Yes
-|briefroad = A40 between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth
+|briefroad = A40 eastbound between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth
-|coords = 51.851566, -2.664957
+|coords = 51.851719, -2.6644501
 |stype = Two sites located between junctions, with no public connection between them.
 |markerpost = 120 }}
-Two sites located on the A40 with a vast history of operators between the two of them.
+The larger of the two service areas at Symonds Yat, the main side is a former truckstop with an unusual layout.
 ==Facilities==
-===Westbound===
-{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Applegreen}}, [[Budgens]], {{Costa Express}}, f'real Milkshakes, AdBlue Containers, Car Wash |primary }}
-===Eastbound===
 {{facilities| Restaurants | {{Subway|E|s}}, {{Costa Express}}, [[Rollover]], {{West Cornwall Pasty Company|E|s}} |covid = 28 February 2021 |primary }}
 {{facilities| Shops | [[Londis]] |primary }}
@@ Line 24: / Line 21: @@
 ==Parking Prices==
-Short stay customer parking is available for cars on both sides.
+First 2 hours parking is free for all vehicles. HGV parking is available with overnight parking available charged at £10 for up to 24 hours.
-HGV parking is available on the eastbound side with overnight parking available charged at £10 for up to 24 hours.
 This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
@@ Line 37: / Line 32: @@
 Herefordshire{{newline}}
 HR9 6DP
-|gridref = SO542171
+|gridref = SO543172
-|websites =
+|3words = crispy.staining.strike
-* [https://www.motorfuelgroup.com/ Eastbound Forecourt operated by MFG]
+|website = https://www.motorfuelgroup.com/ Official MFG website
-* [https://www.applegreenstores.com/uk Westbound Forecourt operated by Applegreen]
 }}
 ==Trivia and History==
-Both forecourts were built in 1975.
+[[File:Former First Signage Symonds Yat 2018.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Evidence of First's styling still visible in 2018.|alt=Symonds Yat corridor.]]
+The site was developed in 1975. It was a truckstop ran by Truckers, who were themselves acquired by Norfolk House. A major redevelopment was carried out at the end of the 20th century, where it became more of a general service area, with a larger, more-landscaped car park, and a new facilities building. The original car park is the tiny area now closed off, next to the forecourt.
-===Eastbound===
+The truckstop was purchased by motorway operator [[First]] in 2006. First provided their green and white signage all around, including on a large "Welcome to First Motorway Services" sign visible from the A40. Other posters claimed pointed out that it was the "last fuel [before the] M5". First claimed they had made a success of it and wanted to take over several more.
-[[File:Former First Signage Symonds Yat 2018.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Evidence of First branding in the services.|alt=Symonds Yat corridor.]]
-The eastbound side is a truckstop which was run by Truckers, who were themselves acquired by Norfolk House. The truckstop was purchased by [[First]] in 2006. First claimed they had made a success of it and wanted to take over several more.
-In 2011, First were taken over by [[Roadchef]], who commented on it being their first A-road site by saying they would have a play with it and keep it if it made money. They changed the forecourt from [[BP]] to [[Murco]], retaining the First shop branding but adding a [[Costa]] unit.
+In 2011, First were taken over by [[Roadchef]], who said this was their first A-road site and that they would work with it and see what could be done. Under Roadchef, the forecourt changed from [[BP]] to [[Murco]], while First's shop branding was retained, but with a [[Costa]] unit added.
-Roadchef sold the services to High Noon Stores, who changed the Costa unit to an own-branded "Route 40 Café" and opened a [[Spar]] store.
+Roadchef sold the site to High Noon Stores, who changed the Costa unit to their own brand 'Route 40 Café'. They also opened a [[Spar]] store.
-[[MFG]] purchased it in March 2017 after High Noon Stores went into administration and have re-branded the site. A [[Londis]] store replaced the former [[Spar]] store and the fuel supply changed from from Murco to [[Shell]]. The independent café remained for a while until early 2019 where MFG replaced the Route 40 Cafe with a Subway store.
+After High Noon Stores fell into administration, [[MFG]] purchased it in March 2017. A [[Londis]] store replaced the former [[Spar]] store and the fuel supply changed from from Murco to [[Shell]]. The independent café remained for a while until early 2019 where MFG replaced the Route 40 Cafe with a [[Subway]] store.
 As of summer 2019, evidence of [[First]]'s ownership is still visible within the eastbound amenity building as the games arcade signage is still being displayed in First's distinctive green and red colours.
-There was a Little Chef built near here in around 1970, which had closed by 1980.
+One unusual feature is the display of a large [[MID]] (the fuel price sign), positioned well before the service area, on the main A40.
-===Westbound===
-The westbound side was previously a petrol filling station site with a diner attached to the back.
-In early 2005, Quickbreak Services demolished the former derelict site and built a new [[Total]] filling station and car wash with a two-storey sales building which included a [[Spar]] store and café on the ground floor and offices on the first floor. The filling station rebranded to [[Gulf]] in late 2014.
-The site was purchased by Applegreen in February 2020. Applegreen, who call the site '''Daff-Y-Nant services''', rebranded the shop to Budgens and replaced the café with a Greggs.
-On Christmas Day 2020, a fire caused severe damage to Budgens and Greggs. The shop has temporarily reopened in a portacabin while repair works are underway.
+There was a [[Little Chef]] built near here in around 1970, which had closed by 1980.
 ==Alternatives==
 {{Succession start}}
-{{Succession|1|A40| [[Ross Spur]] (8 miles) |
+{{Succession|1|A40| [[Daff-Y-Nant]] (westbound, 1 mile){{newline}}[[Ross Spur]] (8 miles) |
 [[Monmouth]] (9 miles) }}
 </table>
 [[Category:First]][[Category:Truckstops]][[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]][[Category:A40]][[Category:A449]]