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Content:
Norton Canes
MSO Home - Services List - Norton Canes
RoadChef services, M6 Toll between JT6 and JT7
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Road: M6 Toll
Junction: Between JT6 and JT7
Operator: RoadChef
Location: Staffordshire WS11 9UX
Telephone: 01543 272540
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: none
Previous names: none
Services type: Single site located between junctions with access to both sides.
Official website: Visit RoadChef's official website
Located off its own unnumbered junction, Norton Canes is one of the newest motorway services in the UK. It's very popular and very busy, and is well landscaped, with fountains and picnic benches located around it.
Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
Facilities:
General: Cash Machine, Picnic Tables, Pay Phones, BT Openzone
Food/Drink: Costa Coffee, RestBite, Wimpy, Subway
Shopping: reStore
Fuel: BP (pump types unknown)
Motel: Premier 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 access road to the services. All the traffic - no matter where they're coming from or going to - have to use this road. Photo taken in 2007. |
 | The main building. Photo taken in 2007. |
 | A side view of the building. Photo taken in 2007. |
 | The hotel. Photo taken in 2007. |
 | Inside the building, where it feels like we're literally trampling over camping equipment. How fortunate would it be if you stopped here having forgotten your tent? Photo taken in 2007. |
 | A lot of people believe that because Norton Canes is a service area on an underused road, the services themselves would be deserted. That couldn't be further from the truth, because believe it or not, this is the overflow car park, and there's probably more people on here then there are on the motorway itself! Photo taken in 2007. |
Trivia:
One of RoadChef's most profitable sites, Norton Canes is quite possibly the only service area where traffic from the local area and A5 road can come in and park up in a separate car park. Normally such things are possible but illegal.
The food is served in a new 'cook to order' and 'proper' style, taking 10 minutes to cook and pleasing the BBC's 'The Money Programme', but it costed nearly £50 to feed a family of four! It also featured in their 'Top Gear' in 2004.
The site occupies 68 acres, and it opened on the 9th March 2004, a few months after the motorway itself. The parking areas can accommodate 350 cars, 52 lorries, 25 coaches and 6 caravans, in addition to a 110-space overflow car park (which is used much more than you'd think, see the photos).
Survey results:
The services were inspected by the AA on the 24th and 25th of March 2007. These are their results:
| Category: | Rating: |
| Road safety and parking: | Very Good |
| Outdoor facilities: | Acceptable |
| Access and indoor facilities: | Good |
| Catering: | Acceptable |
| Shop: | Very Good |
| Service: | Very Good |
| Family Friendliness: | Very Poor |
| Hygiene: | Very Good |
| Pricing: | Very Poor |
| Final Score: | Acceptable |
The services were said to be spacious with a good variety of food, but the food was not tasty and required plastic cutlery, and for a new build it had no outdoor play area and a poor indoor one.
In 2006, Holiday Which? visited and rated the services at 4/5, they liked the individuality of the products for sale.
Parking Prices:
Vehicle: | For up to 2 hours: | For 2 hours to 24 hours: |
| Cars: | FREE | unknown |
| HGVs & Carvans: | FREE | unknown |
| Coaches: | FREE | unknown |
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. | ||
Alternatives:
- Sandbach RoadChef services on the M6, 41 miles to the west.
- Stafford (South) RoadChef services on the M6 southbound, 19 miles to the west.
- Stafford (North) Moto services on the M6 northbound, 20 miles to the west.
- Telford Welcome Break services on the M54, 21 miles to the west.
- Watford Gap RoadChef services on the M1, 50 miles to the east.
- Corley Welcome Break services on the M6, 29 miles to the east.
- Warwick Welcome Break services on the M40, 47 miles to the east.
- Tamworth Moto services on the M42, 16 miles to the east.
Looks good though!
Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
AA survey results from the Automobile Association, you can view the full report and what they were looking for in this PDF document.