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Content:
Keele
MSO Home - Services List - Keele
Welcome Break services, M6 between J15 and J16
Road: M6
Junction: Between J15 and J16
Operator: Welcome Break
Location: Staffordshire ST5 5HG
Telephone: 01782 626221
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: Trusthouse Forte
Previous names: none
Services type: Single site built upon the motorway.
Official website: Visit Keele/Welcome Break's official website
One of the oldest services, Welcome Break have refurbished Keele many times. The fast food is located on the bridge.
Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
Facilities:
General: Cash Machine, Pay Phones, BT Openzone, Gamezone, HA Traffic Information, Showers
Food/Drink: Burger King, Coffee Primo, EAT IN, KFC
Shopping: WH Smith, Fonebitz
Fuel: Shell (pump types unknown)
Motel: Days Inn
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Photos:
Click on a photo to view the full size. If you have one to add, contact me. It's never too late to get your name in the limelight.
 | The services today, where several refurbishments have hidden the services age. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2008 by K. Whatley. It's used under this Creative Commons licence. |
 | The front of the services a few years ago and our Colonel friend on a day that was just too sunny. Notice how the building to the left, which appeared to be under construction, was gone two years later. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006. |
 | Food Connection (now EAT IN). The shop is behind me. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006. |
 | Burger King on the bridge, with KFC and Coffee Primo behind me. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006. |
 | The outdoor terrace. In winter the chairs are replaced with Christmas Decorations..! Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006. |
 | The southbound petrol station. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006. |
 | Keele on an early morning over 10 years ago. It has been re-faced quite a lot since, but the KFC is still being advertised as "now open". Notice how many pay phones there are - a sign of the changing times. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 1996, by Angella Streluk. It's used under this Creative Commons licence. |
 | During the 60s when motorway services were the future, Fortes, in line with other operators at the time, sold postcards advertising their services. This one is looking south, and look how quiet the motorway is! |
 | Here's another one, with the picture on the left showing the front of the northbound services. The idea of being greeted at the door may seem like a novelty today, but it was the standard back then, which shows not only how exciting motorway services were but how quiet they must have been. Comparing this with the first photo, the services really haven't grown at all. |
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Trivia:
Keele was among the first services to be built. It has no hotel and until recently, had no shop (the Gamezone was moved and turned into a shop).
Welcome Break recently completed a major refurbishment scheme for the services which included a new WH Smiths store, after a member of Newcastle-under-Lyme's council highlighted that the services looked tired and in need of a facelift.
As you approach the services southbound, there is a sign in the central reservation for the services. It's thought that this is original to the opening of this bit of the M6, and Keele is the only services to still have one of these.
During the early 80s there was a fire on the bridge at the services which led to the motorway below being closed for several days. This is one of the reasons why today the Highways Agency are reluctant to allow bridges accross motorway services. In 2003 there was another fire in the car park which destroyed the northbound carriageway.
Keele featured in the BBC's 'Top Gear' in 2006.
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Survey results:
In 2006 and again in 2007, the services won a five-star loo award. The petrol station was rated four-star.
Also in 2006, the services were rated 2/5 by Holiday Which?
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Parking Prices:
Vehicle: | For up to 2 hours: | For 2 hours to 24 hours: |
| Cars: | FREE | £8* |
| HGVs & Carvans: | FREE | £20** |
| Coaches: | FREE | £20** |
* Price includes a £2 meal voucher, ** Price includes a £7 meal voucher
The above prices are intended to be a guide only. Tickets must be renewed after 24 hours, and can be obtained from the 'Pay & Display' meters located in each car park. |
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Alternatives:
- Charnock Richard Welcome Break services on the M6, 53 miles to the north.
- Burtonwood Welcome Break services on the M62, 40 miles to the north.
- Shardlow Welcome Break services on the A50, 53 miles to the north.
- Derby with Burton Extra services on the A50, 45 miles to the north.
- Sandbach RoadChef services on the M6, 15 miles to the north.
- Corley Welcome Break services on the M6, 60 miles to the south.
- Hopwood Park Welcome Break services on the M42, 56 miles to the south.
- Shardlow Welcome Break services on the A50, 42 miles to the south.
- Derby with Burton Extra services on the A50, 33 miles to the south.
- Telford Welcome Break services on the M54, 43 miles to the south.
- Stafford (North) Moto services on the M6 northbound, 10 miles to the south.
- Stafford (South) RoadChef services on the M6 southbound, 11 miles to the south.
-
Crewe local services on the M6, 6 miles to the north.
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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. |  |  |
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on Wednesday nov 5 i parked in the designated lorry bay as did two other lorries on either side of me, the space left to exit our cabs was very tight indeed you could not open either side door to get out .in an emergency you would stand little chance of getting out. on the northbound side the parking is very good. is this a money grabing opertunity to get more & more trucks into a smaller space
on Wednesday nov 5 i parked in the designated lorry bay as did two other lorries on either side of me, the space left to exit our cabs was very tight indeed you could not open either side door to get out .in an emergency you would stand little chance of getting out. on the northbound side the parking is very good. is this a money grabing opertunity to get more & more trucks into a smaller space
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*/*/ HAVING PARKED MY LORRY JUST TO NIP TO TOILET I AND 4 MORE WAGONS WERE CLAMPED AND HAD TO PAY £300 TO GET CLAMPS OFF THIS WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE XMAS WICH TO ME WAS A WEEKS WAGES THERE WERE NO SIGNS UP WARNING YOU ONLY ONE IGNORANT SECURITY MAN SURELY THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND AT THIS PRICE THE GOVERMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO IT AND CHECK OUT THE CLAMPING FIRM ANC OF LONDON
*/*/ HAVING PARKED MY LORRY JUST TO NIP TO TOILET I AND 4 MORE WAGONS WERE CLAMPED AND HAD TO PAY £300 TO GET CLAMPS OFF THIS WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE XMAS WICH TO ME WAS A WEEKS WAGES THERE WERE NO SIGNS UP WARNING YOU ONLY ONE IGNORANT SECURITY MAN SURELY THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND AT THIS PRICE THE GOVERMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO IT AND CHECK OUT THE CLAMPING FIRM ANC OF LONDON
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ON SUNDAY NIGHT 22/10/06 MY HUSBAND AND I STOPPED AT THESE SERVICES AFTER HAVING TRAVELED FROM WALES THROUGH TRAFIC JAMS AND HORRIFIC WEATfHER. WE LOOKED INTO THE RESTERAUNFT AS WE WERE DESPERATE FOR SOMTHING TO EAT AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS FOOD THAT LOOKED AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN IN THE TRAYS FOR WEEKS ALL DRIED UP AND NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST BIT APETIZING,THAT WAS THE MEALS,THE SWEETS WERE ON PLATES UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS ALSO DRIED UP AND FOR ALL WE KNEW HAD BEEN HANDLED BY SEVERAL CUSTOMERS BEFORE US. IT COST ME £14.9? FOR A MEAL THAT I WOULD RATHER FORGET THAT I ATE,BUT WE WERE DESPERATE AND VERY HUNGRY. THAT STAFF ALSO HAD A LOT TO BE DESIRED SLOVENLY AND DISINTERESTED ALL THE TABLES WERE COVERED IN DIRTY PLATES AND CUPS ETC AND IN NEED OF A GOOD CLEAN WE COULD HARDLY SEE A CLEAR TABLE ALSO THA SMOKING AREA HAD BEEN CLOSED OFF SO IF WE HAD WANTED A SMOKE WE WERE OUT OF LUCK.
THIS USED TO BE A SERVICES THAT WAS A PLEASURE TO GO INTO AND COULD ENJOY A GOOD MEAL AND GET THE SERVICES EXPECTED.
I HAVE WORKED IN THE CATERING BUSSINESS FOR MANY YEARS TILL I RETIRED AND HAVE A DOUGHTER WHO IS A GENERAL MANAGER IN A CATERING FACILITY WHO I AM SURE WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS TO A MUCH HIGHER AUTHORITY HAD SHE BEEN THERE. NEEDLESS TO SAY BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAD UPSET STOMACHES NEXT DAY AND ARE STILL TENDER YET.
I NOW WISH I HAD TAKEN PHOTOES WITH MY CAMERA SO AS I COULD SHOW THEM TO THE WORLD BUT I DIDNT,HOPEFULY THIS LETTER WILL CAUSE SOME BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS SITE AND WHEN THEY HAVE I WILL BE DELIGHTED TO USE THEM AGAIN.
ON SUNDAY NIGHT 22/10/06 MY HUSBAND AND I STOPPED AT THESE SERVICES AFTER HAVING TRAVELED FROM WALES THROUGH TRAFIC JAMS AND HORRIFIC WEATfHER. WE LOOKED INTO THE RESTERAUNFT AS WE WERE DESPERATE FOR SOMTHING TO EAT AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS FOOD THAT LOOKED AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN IN THE TRAYS FOR WEEKS ALL DRIED UP AND NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST BIT APETIZING,THAT WAS THE MEALS,THE SWEETS WERE ON PLATES UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS ALSO DRIED UP AND FOR ALL WE KNEW HAD BEEN HANDLED BY SEVERAL CUSTOMERS BEFORE US. IT COST ME £14.9? FOR A MEAL THAT I WOULD RATHER FORGET THAT I ATE,BUT WE WERE DESPERATE AND VERY HUNGRY. THAT STAFF ALSO HAD A LOT TO BE DESIRED SLOVENLY AND DISINTERESTED ALL THE TABLES WERE COVERED IN DIRTY PLATES AND CUPS ETC AND IN NEED OF A GOOD CLEAN WE COULD HARDLY SEE A CLEAR TABLE ALSO THA SMOKING AREA HAD BEEN CLOSED OFF SO IF WE HAD WANTED A SMOKE WE WERE OUT OF LUCK.
THIS USED TO BE A SERVICES THAT WAS A PLEASURE TO GO INTO AND COULD ENJOY A GOOD MEAL AND GET THE SERVICES EXPECTED.
I HAVE WORKED IN THE CATERING BUSSINESS FOR MANY YEARS TILL I RETIRED AND HAVE A DOUGHTER WHO IS A GENERAL MANAGER IN A CATERING FACILITY WHO I AM SURE WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS TO A MUCH HIGHER AUTHORITY HAD SHE BEEN THERE. NEEDLESS TO SAY BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAD UPSET STOMACHES NEXT DAY AND ARE STILL TENDER YET.
I NOW WISH I HAD TAKEN PHOTOES WITH MY CAMERA SO AS I COULD SHOW THEM TO THE WORLD BUT I DIDNT,HOPEFULY THIS LETTER WILL CAUSE SOME BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS SITE AND WHEN THEY HAVE I WILL BE DELIGHTED TO USE THEM AGAIN.
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I don't like this MSA, it's old and looks it. I like the idea of the bridge though.
I don't like this MSA, it's old and looks it. I like the idea of the bridge though.
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Post your comments and reviews for Keele here, or click here to return to the Services List. Post your comments and reviews for Keele here, or click [url=http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/services/keele/]here[/url] to return to the Services List.
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| 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 Samuel Goddson for the information used on this page.
