Severn View
| Severn View | |
| Moto | |
| Road: | M48 at J1 (also accessible to traffic on the A403 and the B4461 and not far from the M4) |
| Address: | Granada Services M48 Service Area Aust Motorway Services Area Severn Bridge Aust Bristol BS35 4BH |
| Telephone number: | 01454 632851 |
| Signposted from the road? | As Costa/Burger King |
| Opened: | 1966 |
| Previous operators: | Top Rank, Pavilion, Granada |
| Previous names: | Aust |
| Grid reference: | ST571896 |
| Services type: | Single site located at a junction. |
| Visit Severn View/Moto's official website | |
Severn View can be found alongside the impressive Severn Bridge, however both are rather forgotten these days as they've been bypassed by the Second Severn Crossing. Although the services themselves no longer offer a view of the river, they are connected to a bridge over the Severn Tolls and a pathway which runs alongside the motorway and over the Severn.
Contents |
Facilities
General: Picnic Tables, Wi-Fi
Restaurants: Burger King, Costa Coffee
Shops: WH Smith
Fuel: BP with pumps for Unleaded, Ultimate Unleaded, Diesel, Ultimate Diesel and AdBlue
Motel: Travelodge[book rooms]
Parking Prices
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £8 and HGVs £13, or £15 to include a food voucher.
Prices can be paid through the phone, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by CP Plus.
Trivia
The services have changed a lot since they opened under the name 'Aust'. Back then they could be found off M4 J21, and in 1978 a government report said it was one of the largest service stations. As with all Top Rank services, the building was a large box-shape which was noticeable as you approached it on the motorway. As well as offering a large grass area, the building backed on to the River Severn (hence its modern name Severn View). Everybody loved it.
Magor services were built prior to the Second Severn Crossing, which meant there was no need for any new services when the new bridge opened.
Closure and Change of Building
When Granada took over Pavilion in 1995, they were allowed to do so on the basis that Aust would be sold or closed when the new Severn Bridge opened the next year. However, when the bridge opened Granada didn't sell the services, and even issued leaflets telling motorists it's the "same services, different road".
This didn't attract much custom, but it must have been enough to stop Granada from closing or selling the services. Instead, they repeatedly applied for permission to move or redevelop parts of the services, which included plans to replace the building with housing, storage facilities, car dealers and a motorway maintenance compound. In around 1999 they moved the main services to the old Trucker's Café and then set about selling the surplus buildings, eventually convincing the Highways Agency that they weren't necessary. The car park was then moved to the former HGV parking area, HGVs moved to a former parking area and the overflow car park closed.
In 2000/2001 Motion Media bought the former services and car park and moved in. Remnants from the services can still be found if you know where to look.
Although Severn View no longer offers a view of the Severn, it is connected to a footpath which runs along the estuary and over the bridge.
Survey Results
In 2006 the services won a four star loo award.
Also in 2006, Holiday Which? rated the services as a 2/5.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| none on M48 Leigh Delamere (M4 east, 23 miles) Michaelwood (M5 north, 13 miles) Gordano (M5 south, 13 miles) | Services on the M48 |
none on M48 Magor (M4 west, 11 miles) |
| Leigh Delamere (M4 east, 23 miles) | Moto services | Swansea (M4 west, 69 miles) |
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