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Willowtree: Difference between revisions

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Updates following today's visit
 
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{{Services
{{Services
|name = Willowtree and Cawledge
|type = primary
|type = primary
|image = Willowtree 2021.jpg
|image = Willowtree 2024.jpg
|operator = Rontec
|operator = Rontec
|road = A1 at Alnwick, Northumberland
|road = A1 at Thunderbourne Interchange, Alnwick{{newline}}(also accessible to traffic on the A1068)
|postcode = NE66 2HA
|postcode = NE66 2HA
|signposted = Yes
|signposted = Northbound only
|maplink = https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Morrisons+Daily-+Willowtree/@55.4009363,-1.6939384,17z/
|stype = Series of sites arranged around a junction
|stype = Series of sites arranged around a junction.
|coords = 55.400832, -1.6916773
|coords = 55.400997, -1.6917939
|briefroad = A1 at Alnwick
|briefroad = A1 at Alnwick
|markerpost = 7550 }}
|markerpost = 7550 }}


There are two services at the Alnwick exit on the A1 which until recently were operated by two separate companies.
Willowtree and [[Cawledge]] form a pair of facilities on either side of the A1 at Alnwick. Thanks to the underpass at Thunderbourne, drivers can take their pick as to which one they'd like to visit, but signposts will try to send northbound drivers to this one, Willowtree.


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
There is one facility on either side of the A1, and both are accessible via the underpass.
{{facilities| Outdoor Space | Picnic Area; grass verges only |primary }}
 
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Esso}}, {{Morrisons Daily}}, Food to Go, Chicago Town Pizza, {{Costa Express}}, Car Wash, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine |primary }}
===Willowtree Facilities===
The Willowtree site is closer to the A1 northbound.
 
{{facilities| Amenities | Picnic Area |primary }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{Esso}}, Morrisons Daily, Food to Go, [[Costa Express]], Air1 AdBlue, {{LPG|warning=FloGas}}, Car Wash, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine |primary }}
 
===Cawledge Facilities===
The larger Cawledge site is closer to the A1 southbound and forms part of the Cawledge Business Park.
 
{{facilities| Restaurants | {{website|The Hogs Head Inn|https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/hogs-head-inn/}}, {{McDonald's|drivethru=yes}} |primary }}
{{facilities| Amenities | {{Children's Play Area|outdoor}} (available at both The Hogs Head Inn and McDonald's) |primary }}
{{facilities| Hotel | {{website|The Hogs Head Inn|https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/hogs-head-inn/}} |primary }}
{{charging points| IONITY 350kW CCS |primary }}
{{facilities| Forecourt | {{BP}}, Morrisons Daily, Barista Bar, Food to Go, {{Costa Express}}, AdBlue4You, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine |primary }}


==Parking Prices==
==Parking Prices==
===Willowtree===
Short stay customer parking is limited to 20 minutes maximum stay for cars. A coach parking bay is also available around the back of the sales building.
Short stay customer parking is limited to 20 minutes maximum stay for cars. A coach parking bay is also available around the back of the sales building.


===Cawledge===
{{Parking Disclaimer}}
Short stay customer parking is available for cars at all facilities. Limited HGV parking is also provided on the forecourt whilst coach parking bays are provided in the The Hogs Head Inn car park.
 
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.


==Contact Details==
==Contact Details==
{{Contact Details
{{Contact Details
|address = Co-Operative Retail Services Ltd{{newline}}
|address = Willowtree Service Station{{newline}}
Willowtree Service Station{{newline}}
Willowtree Industrial Estate{{newline}}
Willowtree Industrial Estate{{newline}}
Alnwick{{newline}}
Alnwick{{newline}}
Northumberland{{newline}}
Northumberland{{newline}}
NE66 2HA
NE66 2HA
|gridref = NU196119
|website = https://rontec-servicestations.co.uk/ss_results-id.cfm?id=8059 Official Rontec website
|websites =
|3words = opts.bulges.quest
* [https://www.mcdonalds.com/content/gb/en-gb/location/alnwick/alnwick/2-hawfinch-drive/8261473.html Drive-thru restaurant operated by McDonald's]
* [https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/hogs-head-inn/ Pub-restaurant and hotel operated by The Inn Collection Group]
* [https://www.rontec.com/ Forecourts operated by Rontec]
}}
}}


==Trivia and History==
==Trivia and History==
===Willowtree site===
[[File:Willowtree Total.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Total forecourt.|The forecourt with Total branding, pictured in 2013.]]
[[File:Willowtree 1994.PNG|250px|thumb|right|alt=Shell Willowtree|The Willowtree forecourt in 1994, branded as Shell.]]
The Willowtree garage is named after the Willowtree Cottages, which it was built next to on a piece of land primed for development when the Alnwick Bypass was built. The forecourt was originally owned by Aln Motor Co Ltd, and then Ord's Of Amble, who had it branded [[BP]]. In the late 1970s there was a plan to build a hotel here.
The Willowtree garage is named after the Willowtree Cottages, which it was built next to on a piece of land primed for development when the Alnwick Bypass was built. The forecourt was originally owned by Aln Motor Co Ltd, and then Ord's Of Amble and was branded [[BP]]. In the late 1970s there was a plan to build a hotel here.


A UPVC extension was added to the back of the sales building in 1992 adding the Willowtree Café. This was later demolished in 2003 and a brick-built extension was added instead.
A UPVC extension was added to the back of the sales building in 1992, adding the Willowtree Café. This was later demolished in 2003 and a brick-built extension was added instead.


Ord's of Amble rebranded the site to [[Shell]] with a [[Select]] branded store in 1994. They later sold the site to the Co-operative Group in around 2008 who rebranded the site back to [[BP]] and added their own branded [[Co-op Food]] store. The Willowtree Café also closed around this time.  
Ord's of Amble rebranded the site to [[Shell]] with a [[Select]] branded store in 1994. They later sold the site to the Co-operative Group in around 2008 who rebranded the site back to [[BP]] and added their own branded [[Co-op Food]] store. The Willowtree Café also closed around this time.  
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The site rebranded to [[Total]] in 2012 before being removed a short time later in 2016, retaining the Total colour scheme. Co-operative Group then converted the site to their own-brand [[Co-op Petrol]] in 2017.
The site rebranded to [[Total]] in 2012 before being removed a short time later in 2016, retaining the Total colour scheme. Co-operative Group then converted the site to their own-brand [[Co-op Petrol]] in 2017.


[[Rontec]] purchased the Willowtree forecourt from the Co-operative Group in 2020 and rebranded the site to [[Esso]] and added a Morrisons Daily store. This became Rontec's second site at the same junction.
[[Rontec]], who already owned the neighbouring site at [[Cawledge]], purchased the Willowtree forecourt from the Co-operative Group in November 2019. They rebranded the site to [[Esso]] and added a Morrisons Daily store.  
 
===Cawledge site===
[[File:BP Cawledge 2021.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=BP Cawledge|The Cawledge forecourt with new Morrisons Daily store.]]
As part of the development of Cawledge Business Park in the 2000s, a large plot of land south of the main A1 junction was designated for retail and leisure use to accompany the new business park.
 
Developers of the business park Northumberland Estates were granted planning permission in 2002 for a garden centre, hotel and restaurant to be built on the land and gained further permission in 2007 to add a 54-bed hotel and restaurant. Permission for the hotel and restaurant was renewed in 2011 with construction commencing in the same year. The Hogs Head Inn eventually opened on 31 July 2012 with an official opening ceremony which saw the Duke of Northumberland pour the first pint in the bar. The hotel and restaurant was managed by Greenfields Moor Developments. The pub-restaurant gained a children's play area in 2014. The pub-restaurant was later sold to the Inn Collection Group.
 
During 2010, Northumberland Estates submitted further plans for a filling station and fast food drive-thru restaurant on the unused land. The filling station opened in June 2012 and was branded [[BP]] with a [[SPAR]] store and featured a [[Wild Bean Café]] however the site was closed by the end of 2012 following the tenant suffering a number of issues. At this point, the new Cawledge site also gained signage around the junction advertising the new facilities.
 
[[Rontec]] purchased the lease of the site from Northumberland Estates and reopened the forecourt on 15 February 2014. The site retained its BP branding however Rontec introduced their own-branded [[Shop'N Drive]] store. They also later added a [[Costa]] store, before rebranding the store back to SPAR in 2017.
 
Following the reopening of the forecourt, [[McDonald's]] submitted their own plans to build a drive-thru restaurant adjacent to the A1. Permission was granted in November 2014 with the McDonald's Drive Thru opening on 23 September 2015. An official opening ceremony was held with the Mayor of Alnwick Bill Grisdale attending.
 
Rontec rebranded the SPAR store to Morrisons Daily in early 2021, to match the Willowtree site, with the Costa store removed and replaced with a Morrisons Barista Bar and the [[West Cornwall Pasty Company]] offering replaced with Morrisons' own Food to Go range.
 
An IONITY charging hub was also added to the business park in early 2021 and is accessed opposite the entrance to The Hogs Head Inn. McDonald's also currently hold planning permission to install 2 InstaVolt electric vehicle charging points in their car park.


Many sources refer to this site as "Alnwick motorway service area", despite the A1 not being a motorway.
Rontec {{current|currently}} hold planning permission to add six electric vehicle charging points in the car park at the back of the sales building here.


==Alternatives==
==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|A1| [[Stannington]] (21 miles) |
{{Succession|1|A1| [[Stannington]] (21 miles) |
[[Adderstone]] (13 miles) }}
[[Cawledge]] (¼ mile){{newline}}[[Adderstone]] (13 miles) }}
</table>
</table>


{{bottomnav|noreview=true}}
[[Category:A1]][[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]]
[[Category:A1]][[Category:A-roads (no motorway)]]

Latest revision as of 10:35, 11 September 2024

Willowtree
Willowtree services
Camera icon
Camera icon
8 more photos in the gallery
Location:

A1 at Thunderbourne Interchange, Alnwick
(also accessible to traffic on the A1068)

Signposted from the road? Northbound only

Postcode:

NE66 2HA

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Series of sites arranged around a junction.


Willowtree and Cawledge form a pair of facilities on either side of the A1 at Alnwick. Thanks to the underpass at Thunderbourne, drivers can take their pick as to which one they'd like to visit, but signposts will try to send northbound drivers to this one, Willowtree.

Facilities

Outdoor Space: Picnic Area; grass verges only Forecourt: Esso, Morrisons Daily, Food to Go, Chicago Town Pizza, Costa Express, Car Wash, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine

Parking Prices

Short stay customer parking is limited to 20 minutes maximum stay for cars. A coach parking bay is also available around the back of the sales building.

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

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Willowtree Service Station
Willowtree Industrial Estate
Alnwick
Northumberland
NE66 2HA


Trivia and History

Total forecourt.
The forecourt with Total branding, pictured in 2013.

The Willowtree garage is named after the Willowtree Cottages, which it was built next to on a piece of land primed for development when the Alnwick Bypass was built. The forecourt was originally owned by Aln Motor Co Ltd, and then Ord's Of Amble, who had it branded BP. In the late 1970s there was a plan to build a hotel here.

A UPVC extension was added to the back of the sales building in 1992, adding the Willowtree Café. This was later demolished in 2003 and a brick-built extension was added instead.

Ord's of Amble rebranded the site to Shell with a Select branded store in 1994. They later sold the site to the Co-operative Group in around 2008 who rebranded the site back to BP and added their own branded Co-op Food store. The Willowtree Café also closed around this time.

The site rebranded to Total in 2012 before being removed a short time later in 2016, retaining the Total colour scheme. Co-operative Group then converted the site to their own-brand Co-op Petrol in 2017.

Rontec, who already owned the neighbouring site at Cawledge, purchased the Willowtree forecourt from the Co-operative Group in November 2019. They rebranded the site to Esso and added a Morrisons Daily store.

Rontec currently hold planning permission to add six electric vehicle charging points in the car park at the back of the sales building here.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Stannington (21 miles)Services on the A1Cawledge (¼ mile)
Adderstone (13 miles)

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