A large, 24 hr WHSmith convenience store at Birch East, situated alongside the walkway linking the front/entrance to the food court area. Its location means customers walk past it on route to other facilities Birch East offers, grabbing some extra trade. WHSmith is the most basic brand here offering travellers essentials & snacks. Its home to Costa Express and Krispy Kreme and is very important during uncivilised hours. It would’ve opened in around 2007/2008, replacing a Moto own brand convenience store. It loses some trade to M&S but the two stores being further apart means it’s not as significant as some Moto’s. It’s a tidy store, yet to be refurbished in line with some other motorway sites. The store was quiet during my visit as it was the morning (when services seem quieter). This WHSmith isn’t signposted from the M62 and minimally around the building as most customers would expect to find a basic shop such as this anyway.

Photo taken on 24/06/2023 by Tom Moon.

Assigned to galleries: Birch, WHSmith, M62, Moto