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Content:
Newport Pagnell
MSO Home - Services List - Newport Pagnell
Welcome Break services, M1 between J14 and J15
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Road: M1
Junction: Between J14 and J15
Operator: Welcome Break
Location: Buckinghamshire MK16 8DS
Telephone: 01908 217722
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: Trusthouse Forte
Previous names: none
Services type: Two sites located between junctions, connected by an internal bridge.
Official website: Visit Newport Pagnell/Welcome Break's official website
One of the oldest services around, Newport Pagnell has done a lot with the little space it has. There isn't a lot of space, especially for southbound lorries, but the hotel has a very 1950s look to it and has received thumbs up for this.
Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
Facilities:
General: Cash Machine, 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
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. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2008 by Steve Fareham. It's used under this Creative Commons |
 | The same view a few years ago, where the services looked just that little bit duller. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2005 by Godfrey Pocock. It's used under this Creative Commons |
 | This postcard was released by Fortes back in the days when motorways were so rare and quiet they were exciting. It is dated either 1960 or 1961, and the photo in the top-right is particularly special because thanks to a series of widening works the road looks nothing like that today. Thank God we don't refer to it as the 'M.1.' any more! |
Trivia:
Allegedly, Newport Pagnell was the first service area to open in Britain, but the truth is that Watford Gap came a good year before it.
The original plan was that Watford Gap would serve lorries whilst Newport Pagnell served cars, but it wouldn't work on several grounds: Blue Boar didn't want to build a second site and any other operator wouldn't want to send half their traffic to someone else, plus if a car were to run out of petrol outside a lorries-only service area it would have been a bit of a waste.
When Fortes did open the services in 1960, they were under strict instructions to make the building dull and to separate it from the main carriageway with a lot of trees. When the Government came to make their final inspection, they found that both rules had been broken and the site was seen as a "possible distraction" to drivers. Despite this, the services opened as normal and clearly haven't been seen as that much of a distraction by drivers.
The services are crammed into the local area, however the northbound site has sprawled into the field next to it. Sadly, the same isn't true for the southbound services and they have a huge shortage of space. Recent development means that the northbound site won't be able to expand any further either.
The services have one of the last remaining Welcome Lodges, and they were the test site for WH Smith. When the services opened they formed the headquarters of certain segments of the Forte business, and today Welcome Break's HQ is only a few miles away in the nearby village.
The services received a lot of media attention in September 2007 when a coach overturned on its way into the southbound site. 30 out of the 33 passengers were hurt, 6 seriously, and the driver was later charged for drink driving and dangerous driving. There's more information and pictures at the BBC website.
In The Smiths' song 'Is It Really So Strange?', one of the lines is "I lost my bag at Newport Pagnell", referring to the services. They have also featured in a few scenes of the BBC's 'EastEnders'.
Survey results:
In 2007, Newport Pagnell northbound won a five star loo award. The southbound side won a four star one.
In 2006, both sides of Newport Pagnell won a four star loo award.
Also in 2006, Holiday Which? rated the services at 2/5.
Parking Prices:
Vehicle: | For up to 2 hours: | For 2 hours to 24 hours: |
| Cars: | FREE | £8* |
| HGVs & Carvans: | FREE | £15** |
| Coaches: | FREE | £15** |
* Price includes a £2 meal voucher, ** Price includes a £6 meal voucher | ||
Alternatives:
- Leicester Forest East Welcome Break services on the M1, 45 miles to the north.
- Corley Welcome Break services on the M6, 47 miles to the north.
- Northampton RoadChef services on the M1, 13 miles to the north.
- London Gateway Welcome Break services on the M1, 39 miles to the south.
- South Mimms Welcome Break services on the M25, 33 miles to the south.
- Toddington Moto services on the M1, 15 miles to the south.
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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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