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Content:
Sandbach
MSO Home - Services List - Sandbach
RoadChef services, M6 between J16 and J17
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Road: M6
Junction: Between J16 and J17
Operator: RoadChef
Location: Cheshire CW11 2FZ
Telephone: 01270 767134
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: none
Previous names: none
Services type: Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.
Official website: Visit RoadChef's official website
A number of surveys would lead you to believe that Sandbach is the worst service area the world has ever seen. The truth is that Sandbach has fought back, and today it's almost acceptable. Almost.
Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
Facilities:
Key: northbound only | southbound only
General: Cash Machine, Pay Phones, BT Openzone, Business Lounge
Food/Drink: Costa Coffee, RestBite, Wimpy
Shopping: reStore
Fuel: Esso (pump types unknown)
Motel: none
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, from the front. You can see that RoadChef have made every effort to try and re-face them, but there's still lots of work to be done. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2007. |
 | Inside the services. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2007. |
 | A map of the services, something not seen at any other service area. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2007. |
 | Sitting in the café at night. Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2005, by Richard. |
 | The infamous bridge. Even this has improved, but it's still a bit of an eyesoar. Photo taken whilst travelling southbound in 2006. |
Trivia:
The services have a shortage of lorry parking spaces. The car park is unusual because it's entirely concrete, and the southbound services also house a Highways Agency works unit.
Survey results:
In late 2006 the BBC's 'The Money Programme' took a look at the services. Whilst the northbound side was almost acceptable, southbound was dirty and the toilets had several broken locks.
In 2006, Holiday Which? graded the services at 2/5. This isn't bad, considering that there were a handful of 1/5s awarded.
The services were inspected by the AA on the 3rd and 4th of April 2004. These are their results:
| Category: | Rating: |
| Road safety and parking: | Good |
| Outdoor facilities: | Very Poor |
| Access and indoor facilities: | Poor |
| Catering: | Very Poor |
| Shop: | Very Good |
| Service: | Acceptable |
| Communications: | Very Poor |
| Hygiene: | Very Poor |
| Pricing: | Very Poor |
| Final Score: | Very Poor |
Here the services were chosen as the worst in Europe, with the inspectors commenting "You could stop for petrol and perhaps buy some provisions, but we wouldn't recommend taking a break there". The shops and staff were the only good things found: it had poor facilities, litter "everywhere", a dirty restaurant with a poor variety of unappetising food, high prices, dirty showers, the building and its facilities looked poorly maintained, it had no information and it had very little to help the disabled. Even the car park was poorly marked and poorly maintained.
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:
- Knutsford Moto services on the M6, 12 miles to the north.
- Chester RoadChef services on the M56, 32 miles to the north.
- Stafford (South) RoadChef services on the M6 southbound, 23 miles to the south.
- Norton Canes RoadChef services on the M6 Toll, 41 miles to the south.
- Keele Welcome Break services on the M6, 11 miles to the south.
- Derby with Burton Extra services on the A50, 43 miles to the south.
- Crewe local services on the M6, 5 miles to the south.
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.