Birch

From Motorway Services Online

Birch
Moto
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Road:	M62 between J18 and J19
Address:	Lancashire OL10 2HQ
Telephone number:	0161 463 0911 (westbound) 0161 643 0911 (eastbound)
Signposted from the road?	As Costa/M&S
Opened:	1972
Previous operators:	Taverna, Granada
Previous names:	Manchester North
Grid reference:	SD847079
Services type:	Two sites located between junctions, connected by an internal bridge.
Visit Birch Westbound/Moto's official website Visit Birch Eastbound/Moto's official website Facebook Page

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Facilities

Westbound

General: Business Centre, Local Information, Showers, Wi-Fi
Restaurants: Eat & Drink Co., Burger King, Costa Coffee, Krispy Kreme
Shops: WH Smith, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Fonebitz, Ladbrokes
Fuel: Esso with pumps for Unleaded, Ultimate Unleaded and Diesel.
Motel: Travelodge^{[book rooms]}

Eastbound

General: Local Information, Showers, Wi-Fi
Restaurants: Eat & Drink Co., Burger King, Costa Coffee, Krispy Kreme
Shops: WH Smith, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Fonebitz, Ladbrokes
Fuel: Esso with pumps for Unleaded, Ultimate Unleaded and Diesel.
Motel: Travelodge^{[book rooms]}

Parking Prices

First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £10 and HGVs £16, or £18 to include a £7.50 food voucher.

Prices can be paid through the phone, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by CP Plus.

Trivia

The westbound amenity building was destroyed in a massive fire on the 9th October 2003. After losing large sums of cash in a slot machine, Jason New started kicking it to get his money back. He then went to the shop and bought a lighter, promptly setting fire to the machine. By one in the morning, the whole westbound side of the services were alight and evacuated. It took 70 fire-fighters four hours to bring the blaze under control.

Whilst the site was being rebuilt, temporary facilities were provided. The petrol station, motel and eastbound services were not affected but were evacuated for safety reasons.

The new services cater for 242 cars, 120 lorries and 30 coaches. When it was opened, Moto described the new building as being "the most modern on the motorway network". The parking prices used to have an unusual (and rather expensive) tier system, but it has now been reverted back to the standard 2-or-24 hours system.

In September 1975 there was a clash between Leeds United and Chelsea fans who stopped on either side of the road and met on the bridge. This resulted in smashed windows, uprooted trees and a total of £3,000 worth of damage.

Survey Results

In 2006 the westbound services won a four star loo award and the eastbound five stars.

Alternatives

Comments and Reviews

Showing the most recent responses only: for the full thread and the ability to edit your own posts, you need to view the topic in the forums.
Author: Message: Anonymous Birch services is incredible. From the moment you pull off the motorway and begin panic braking to avoid the humiliation of death in a shrubbery, you know you're somewhere special. Don't talk to the RAC man, he's a time waster. The toilets are caked in the shit of destitute and hungover. Posted: 07 Oct 2009, 22:09 jason blakemore if you want a sandwich then do not buy it from the wh smith shop. A typical cheese and onion sandwich made by the rubbish ginsters brand will cost you a massive £2.99 instead go to the m&s simply food it only costs £1.50 and it tastes four times better and the bottled water is only 67p compared to £1.89 in smiths. astwice Posted: 19 Jun 2009, 14:11 The Con men at Birch Beware confidence tricksers claiming to be Italian businessmen who are short and cash and are having to sell their stock to get home. The jackets they try and fob you off with are plastic fakes of well known brands. Posted: 25 Nov 2008, 17:57 Brian I'ts ok but nothing special. Posted: 08 Feb 2007, 18:36 Admin Post your comments and reviews for Birch here, or you can return to Birch. Posted: 22 Aug 2005, 11:22
Showing the most recent responses only: for the full thread and the ability to edit your own posts, you need to view the topic in the forums.

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With thanks to the user 'Ziathon' for the information used on this page.