Wetherby services
A1(M) J46
(also accessible to traffic on the B6164)
Signposted from the road.
LS22 5GT
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
The A1(M) remains a barren desert for rest areas, with Wetherby being this section of road's main oasis.
Facilities
Catering: Burger King, Chow, Costa Coffee, Greggs, KFC, Pret A Manger, West Cornwall Pasty Co., Costa Express, f'real Milkshakes, Krispy Kreme, M&S Coffee to Go, Tango Ice Blast, Costa Drive Thru Shops: M&S Simply Food, Top Gift, WHSmith Amenities: Days Inn, Changing Places, Full Hou$e, Lucky Coin, Revolution Laundry, Showers Outdoor Space: Small amount of greenery behind hotel; Public Footpath Connection Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway HPC 350kW CCS, 100kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 Forecourt: BP, M&S Food, Greggs, Costa Express
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £31. HGVs can pay £34 to include a £10 food voucher.
Prices are paid in the shop or by using JustPark. The location code is 625167.
HGVs can also pay by using SNAP. The location code is 13460.
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:
Moto Services
Kirk Deighton
Wetherby
North Yorkshire
LS22 5GT
Trivia and History
See also: A1(M) Planning Applications
Wetherby dates back to 1993, when several proposals for a new service area on the proposed A1(M) were put forward. One came from Welcome Break, which was taken forward by Granada when they took over.
The "Kirk Deighton Plan", as Wetherby was known, was rejected, but Granada and Macgay Ltd appealed the decision. In 1997 a public inquiry considered Kirk Deighton and Kirby Hill, and in 1999 it concluded that Kirby Hill should be built. That decision was quashed by the High Court in 2002, and a further inquiry looked at these two plus three more service areas.
This time the Secretary of State concluded that of all the proposals, Kirk Deighton was in the most suitable location, and that it would do the least damage. This was primarily because Wetherby was broadly half way between Ferrybridge and Leeming Bar.
Outline planning permission was awarded in 2005, and the plan was developed fully in 2007.
Opening
The service area was built by North Midland Building Ltd on the instruction of Moto, and it claimed to be the most environmentally-friendly service station around, with features including a large funnel to act as air conditioning and a giant 'wing' for a canopy. Wetherby has quickly become one of Moto's busiest and most profitable services, benefiting from the lack of facilities on the new A1(M).
The petrol station opened on 5 July 2008, with the rest of the service area opening on 23 August.
The site features a 126-bedroom Days Inn hotel, the first to be built at a Moto which wasn't a Travelodge. It was originally going to have three storeys, but that plan was rejected for being unsightly. The hotel was officially opened on 27 July 2009 by Councillor Edna Hilditch BEM and has a largely glass frontage rarely seen at a motorway hotel.
There are 67 HGV spaces, 20 coach spaces, 395 car parking spaces and a 309-space overflow car park. The car park is tight and narrow, which would go on to cause numerous issues and require staff to help cars use it. By 2013 all the parking areas had been expanded, and a new exit from the car park had been built. Even so, it is common to see queues of cars waiting to enter the service area, even when the car park has plenty of spaces.
As a result, as of 2023, Moto are now seeking to build 200 new HGV spaces in the field to the east of the service area. The existing HGV parking would then be turned into more car parking.
Despite it being a new service area with standard facilities, Wetherby was selected by the Highways Agency for inclusion in one of their last truckstop guides.
Recent Changes
In 2012 a KFC was planned to be added here, but it was postponed and opened in July 2019. In the intervening time a Greggs was built outside, and another was added to the filling station in February 2019.
A 2018 study calculated that Wetherby services averages a 7.7% turn-in rate. This may be lower than expected, given its high use.
A Krispy Kreme airstream was trialled here in summer 2021.
During late 2021, a major refurbishment scheme commenced here which involved a refurbishment of the toilets and showers. The Costa unit at the far end of the amenity building was also removed to make way for a Pret A Manger store which opened on 3 March 2022. The site became an electric vehicle charging hub when 12 new charging bays opened in July 2022. A new shower block was also later added, and a Changing Places facility was installed in summer 2023.
Moto are also planning to place a sign by the entrance to promote their forecourt, showcasing their new logo and a large display for the fuel prices, implying that Wetherby will soon be competing on fuel price. They are also seeking to develop a solar farm on land to the north of the service area.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Ferrybridge (20 miles) Leeds Skelton Lake (M1 south, 17 miles) Bilbrough (A64 eastbound, 14 miles) Bilbrough Top (A64 east, 15 miles) | Services on the A1(M) | Leeming Bar (27 miles) |
| Ferrybridge (20 miles) | Moto services | Leeming Bar (27 miles) |
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