Guide to Tamworth services

At the junction of the M42 and the A5 lies Relay Park, a business park with its own motorway service area inside it. It forms its own little oasis that feels like it's a world away from the large roundabout that guards its entrance.

Facilities

Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, KFC, Pret A Manger, Costa Express, f'real Milkshakes, M&S Coffee to Go, Krispy Kreme, Tango Ice Blast Shops: M&S Simply Food, WHSmith Amenities: Travelodge, Changing Places, Full Hou$e, Lucky Coin, Revolution Laundry, Showers Outdoor Space: Large grass behind hotel; public footpath connections Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 Forecourt: Esso, ASDA Express, Rollover, Starbucks on the Go, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine

Parking Prices

First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £33. HGVs can pay £36 to include a £10 food voucher.

Prices are paid in the shop or by using JustPark. The location code is 625157.

HGVs can also pay by using SNAP. The location code is 13454.

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

Trivia and History

Upon opening, the site was described as being the "largest single-sided service area in Europe", at a total size of 28 acres. There were 257 car parking spaces together with 18 spaces for coaches and 34 HGV spaces within the site boundary. A 1994 study calculated that the service area had a turn-in rate of just 5-6%.

The site of the service area straddles the old alignment of Green Lane. Access to Green Lane was initially possible from the deliveries bay, making the service area part of a through route, but this has now all been closed off. The boundary between Staffordshire and Warwickshire, which used to follow Green Lane, was never changed and now runs right through the middle of the service area.

Under the original plans for the HS2 eastern rail link, Tamworth services would have been demolished. A revised plan showed the tracks running in a tunnel, possibly allowing the service area to remain, depending on the tunnelling method used. This is academic as the project was eventually cancelled in October 2023.

Planning

See also: M42 Service Area Planning

The original plan for the M42 had a service area nearer J11 - probably at Austrey Meadows. Building at J10 was specifically ruled out because it would cause traffic issues, though a 1983 study said building in the corner of Green Lane would be the least-bad option.

By the time the motorway was mostly complete in 1986, the Department of Transport were trying a number of new methods to encourage interest from developers. They decided to experiment with a new system where instead of specifying the location, they would invite any developer to propose a service station "on the northern section of the M42". The first developer to come up with a proposal that satisfied both the DoT and the local authority's planning department would win the contract.

Heron proposed a service area on the eastern side of the roundabout. This went up against Granada, who initially planned a 15 acre site across Green Lane (having previously looked at building at J9). They said it would have a Country Kitchen Restaurant, Burger Express, Shop, toilets, picnic area, and 277 spaces for different vehicle types, with room to expand.

Tamworth Borough Council preferred Granada's proposal because it made use of land that was planned to become an industrial estate, whereas the east side was planned to remain as fields. Only three letters of objection were received. A contract was signed with Esso in 1987, who said that Granada would run all the facilities.

Tamworth services opened on 24 May 1990, and immediately prompted media headlines because the café was decorated with pictures of industrial Stoke-on-Trent, which locals felt was the 'wrong' end of Staffordshire. It was built with the standard Granada cross-shape, with the front section having an entrance on each side, both leading to a large, concrete courtyard.

Brand Changes

The Burger Express quickly became Burger King, while the Country Kitchen restaurant became Fresh Express and Caffè Ritazza.

Between 1994 and 1998 there was a Rock Island Diner here, provided in a 1940s American restaurant carriage which had been moved from Piccadilly Circus. It was later moved indoors: insiders claimed this was because it was failing, but Granada insisted the move was to double its capacity. It had glossy chrome and red plastic fittings and 1950s posters, while playing 1950s music.

The inside restaurant then became Little Chef, while Ladbrokes was placed in the outside spot. Ladbrokes later closed in 2020 and the building now lies empty.

As part of Granada's plans to add more retail units, the front-left entrance was replaced by a large extension, blocking many of the dining area windows. The new entrance was much more prominent for car park users, and took them past shops such as Birthdays, The Body Shop and Glitz4Girlz.

The shopping units soon closed, but an M&S Simply Food store opened on 2 March 2006, with a ceremony attended by the then-manager of Tamworth FC Mark Cooper.

The site underwent refurbishment works in early 2022. The Costa Coffee unit was moved to the back wall and a new Pret A Manger store joined it on 26 May, replacing space previously occupied by Chow. A new KFC restaurant later opened on 10 June, forming a new food court area with seating in the middle and food units around the side. Tamworth also received refurbished toilet facilities, 38 extra HGV parking spaces, and the new Moto corporate parking.

Moto are now planning to add an electric vehicle charging hub next to the hotel, with planning permission currently being sought for an additional substation to be installed.

Forecourt Developments

As a result of the original partnership, the forecourt was managed separately (though it initially had Granada branding). Esso sold it to Euro Garages, who expanded it with their own facilities. They changed its shop branding from SPAR to Sainsbury's On the Go in late 2020, at which point the on-site Subway closed. The shop rebranded back to SPAR in 2021 and the former Subway unit was replaced with a Rollover counter in early 2022.

The SPAR store was later rebranded again in January 2022 to an Asda On the Move store, before being passed to Asda and rebranded to Asda Express in December 2023.

Asda's signs are now found all around the site, promoting their offerings at the forecourt.

Alternatives

Visitor Feedback

Visitors can leave public feedback on their experience by logging into the CommentBox app. You can do so quickly below:

Views expressed in these comments are those of the individual contributor. User accounts are managed by CommentBox.io. Registration helps prevent automated spam.
We ask the companies named to check here, but we can't force them to do so.

Main Page | Photo Gallery | Location, Map and Directions