Motorway Services Online

Retrieved from "https://motorwayservices.uk"

Whitley: Difference between revisions

removing full stops from stype
Rich (message wall | contribs)
Costa replaced with Starbucks
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
|type = primary
|type = primary
|operator = Welcome Break
|operator = Welcome Break
|operator2 = Applegreen
|image = Applegreen Whitley 2024.jpg
|image = Whitley 2022.jpg
|road = [[A49]] at Dones Green{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A533)
|road = [[A49]] at Dones Green{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A533)
|postcode = WA4 4EZ
|postcode = WA4 4EZ
|signposted = Yes
|signposted = Yes
|stype = Single site located between junctions on one side of the road
|stype = Single site located between junctions on one side of the road
|coords = 53.292304, -2.5924435
|coords = 53.292475, -2.5925796
|maplink = https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Applegreen+Whitley/@53.2924519,-2.5924609,18.5z/
|briefroad = A47 between the M56 and Tarpoley
|briefroad = A47 between the M56 and Tarpoley
|night = no
|night = no
Line 15: Line 13:
|markerpost = 0001 }}
|markerpost = 0001 }}


A small petrol station and truckstop by the Dones Green crossroads which has recently transferred to the [[Welcome Break]] estate.
A small petrol station and truckstop by the Dones Green Crossroads, which recently transferred to the [[Welcome Break]] estate.


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
{{facilities| Restaurants | Lets Eat Café |primary }}
{{facilities| Catering | Lets Eat Café |primary }}
{{facilities| Amenities | Happy Guests Lodge |primary }}
{{facilities| Amenities | Happy Guests Lodge |primary }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Applegreen}}, {{Costa}}, {{Greggs}}, {{Costa Express}}, f'real Milkshakes, F'wip Frozen Desserts, AdBlue Containers, Free Cash Machine |primary }}
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | No grass space; public footpath connections |primary }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Applegreen}}, {{Londis}}, {{Greggs}}, {{Starbucks}}, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, {{Starbucks on the Go}}, Free Cash Machine |primary }}


==Parking Prices==
==Parking Prices==
Overnight parking is available next to Lets Eat Café for £18 per night.
Overnight parking is available next to Lets Eat Café for £18 per night.


Prices are paid in the café, and can be paid using GBP, Euros, using fuel cards or SNAP.
Prices are paid in the café, and can be paid with GBP, EUR, fuel cards or SNAP.


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


==Contact Details==
==Contact Details==
Line 36: Line 35:
Cheshire{{newline}}
Cheshire{{newline}}
WA4 4EZ
WA4 4EZ
|gridref = SJ606774
|foursquare = 59158a1f18d43b22a4a335a3
|foursquare = 59158a1f18d43b22a4a335a3
|websites =  
|websites =  
* [https://www.facebook.com/Lets-Eat-Cafe-Truck-Stop-1607743396202109/ Café independently operated]
* [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085268230542 Official Lets Eat Café Facebook page]
* [http://www.happyguestslodge.co.uk/ Hotel independently operated]
* [https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/talltreeslodge.en-gb.html Happy Guests Lodge booking page]
* [https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/whitley-applegreen-a49/ Forecourt operated by Welcome Break]
* [https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/locations/whitley-applegreen-a49/ Forecourt operated by Welcome Break]
|3words = request.senses.clasping
|3words = jigging.workbench.packing
}}
}}


==Trivia and History==
==Trivia and History==
[[File:LEC Whitley 2022.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Lets Eat Cafe.|The Lets Eat Café behind the forecourt.]]
[[File:Lets Eat Cafe Whitley 2023.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=A building, painted white, with a sign saying Lets Eat Cafe.|The Lets Eat Café behind the forecourt.]]
The service station started out as a 1950s garage called '''Tall Trees''', in the corner of the crossroads at Dones Green. A transport depot opened up behind it, which became a full truckstop with its own restaurant.
The service station started out as a 1950s garage called '''Tall Trees''', in the corner of the crossroads at Dones Green. A transport depot opened up behind it, which became a full truckstop with its own restaurant.


In around 1975 a house servicing that garage was extended to become the '''Lower Whitley''' branch of [[Little Chef]]. The building had a forecourt sales shop at one side, a restaurant at the other and accommodation upstairs.  
In around 1975, a house servicing that garage was extended to become the '''Lower Whitley''' branch of [[Little Chef]]. The building had a forecourt sales shop at one side, a restaurant at the other and accommodation upstairs.  


A hotel was later built in 1989 and opened under the name 'Tall Trees Lodge', next to and accessed via the forecourt. This went onto become Happy Guests Lodge in the early 2010s.
A hotel was built in 1989 and opened under the name 'Tall Trees Lodge', next to and accessed via the forecourt. This went onto become Happy Guests Lodge in the early 2010s.


The Little Chef closed in 2005, and became an extended forecourt sales shop. At this point, the direct access between the forecourt and hotel was moved to a new direct access point on the A49.
The Little Chef closed in 2005, and became an extended forecourt sales shop. At this point, the direct access between the forecourt and hotel was removed and both were now directly accessed from the A49.


The forecourt has been branded [[Texaco]], and [[BP]] since the late 1980s. The forecourt shop was previously an 'eXpress' store throughout the 2000s and became [[Mace]] in the early 2010s.
===Forecourt Development===
The forecourt has previously been branded [[Texaco]], and [[BP]] since the late 1980s. The forecourt shop was previously an 'eXpress' store throughout the 2000s and became [[Mace]] in the early 2010s.


During the summer of 2016, the site was acquired by [[Applegreen]] who rebranded the site to their 'Low fuel prices, always' branding. At this point, Applegreen started to refer to the site as Whitley service station. In late 2018, Applegreen redeveloped the site, demolishing the former restaurant and sales building and reopening in summer 2019 with a new, larger sales building offering [[Costa]] and [[Greggs]] concessions inside.
During the summer of 2016, the site was acquired by [[Applegreen]] who rebranded the site to their 'Low fuel prices, always' branding. They called it 'Whitley service station'. The fact Applegreen operates their own food concessions means there is no longer any formal relationship between the forecourt, which is the official service area, and the hotel and truckstop next door.


Even though the hotel and truckstop are no longer part of the service area, they still insist they are.
Applegreen redeveloped the forecourt in late 2018, demolishing the former restaurant and sales building and reopening in summer 2019 with a new, larger sales building offering [[Costa]] and [[Greggs]] concessions inside.


Applegreen purchased a significant stake of [[Welcome Break]] in November 2018. One of the trade-offs of the purchase was that Whitley would eventually be re-branded Welcome Break, and adjusted to reflect the rest of their estate. While there has been little public evidence of any action, in October 2021 Whitley was added to Welcome Break's website as one of their locations.
Meanwhile, they purchased a significant stake of [[Welcome Break]]. One of the trade-offs of the purchase was that Whitley would eventually be re-branded Welcome Break, and adjusted to reflect the rest of their estate. While there has been little public evidence of any action, in October 2021 Whitley was added to Welcome Break's website as one of their locations.
 
The sales building later gained [[Londis]] branding in Autumn 2023, following a new partnership between Booker and Welcome Break. Welcome Break later removed the [[Costa]] partnership from the site in early 2025, replacing it with a new [[Starbucks]] unit and [[Starbucks on the Go]] machines on 26 March 2025.


==Alternatives==
==Alternatives==
Line 69: Line 70:
</table>
</table>


{{bottomnav|noreview=true}}
[[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]][[Category:A49]][[Category:Little Chef]][[Category:HA Approved Truckstops]]
[[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]][[Category:A49]][[Category:Little Chef]][[Category:HA Approved Truckstops]]

Latest revision as of 18:52, 26 March 2025

Location:

A49 at Dones Green
(also accessible to traffic on the A533)

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

WA4 4EZ

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located between junctions on one side of the road.


A small petrol station and truckstop by the Dones Green Crossroads, which recently transferred to the Welcome Break estate.

Facilities

Catering: Lets Eat Café Amenities: Happy Guests Lodge Outdoor Space: No grass space; public footpath connections Forecourt: Applegreen, Londis, Greggs, Starbucks, f'real Milkshakes, Jolly Rancher Slush, Starbucks on the Go, Free Cash Machine

Parking Prices

Overnight parking is available next to Lets Eat Café for £18 per night.

Prices are paid in the café, and can be paid with GBP, EUR, fuel cards or SNAP.

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

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Tarporley Road
Lower Whitley
Warrington
Cheshire
WA4 4EZ


Trivia and History

A building, painted white, with a sign saying Lets Eat Cafe.
The Lets Eat Café behind the forecourt.

The service station started out as a 1950s garage called Tall Trees, in the corner of the crossroads at Dones Green. A transport depot opened up behind it, which became a full truckstop with its own restaurant.

In around 1975, a house servicing that garage was extended to become the Lower Whitley branch of Little Chef. The building had a forecourt sales shop at one side, a restaurant at the other and accommodation upstairs.

A hotel was built in 1989 and opened under the name 'Tall Trees Lodge', next to and accessed via the forecourt. This went onto become Happy Guests Lodge in the early 2010s.

The Little Chef closed in 2005, and became an extended forecourt sales shop. At this point, the direct access between the forecourt and hotel was removed and both were now directly accessed from the A49.

Forecourt Development

The forecourt has previously been branded Texaco, and BP since the late 1980s. The forecourt shop was previously an 'eXpress' store throughout the 2000s and became Mace in the early 2010s.

During the summer of 2016, the site was acquired by Applegreen who rebranded the site to their 'Low fuel prices, always' branding. They called it 'Whitley service station'. The fact Applegreen operates their own food concessions means there is no longer any formal relationship between the forecourt, which is the official service area, and the hotel and truckstop next door.

Applegreen redeveloped the forecourt in late 2018, demolishing the former restaurant and sales building and reopening in summer 2019 with a new, larger sales building offering Costa and Greggs concessions inside.

Meanwhile, they purchased a significant stake of Welcome Break. One of the trade-offs of the purchase was that Whitley would eventually be re-branded Welcome Break, and adjusted to reflect the rest of their estate. While there has been little public evidence of any action, in October 2021 Whitley was added to Welcome Break's website as one of their locations.

The sales building later gained Londis branding in Autumn 2023, following a new partnership between Booker and Welcome Break. Welcome Break later removed the Costa partnership from the site in early 2025, replacing it with a new Starbucks unit and Starbucks on the Go machines on 26 March 2025.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Lymm (M56 east, 7 miles)Services on the A49Whitchurch (26 miles)