Maidstone services
M20 at J8
(also accessible to traffic on the A20, but via a short section of motorway)
Signposted from the road.
ME17 1SS
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
Maidstone is a fairly spacious service station on the M20, although it has few lorry spaces.
Facilities
Catering: Costa, Chozen Noodle, Fresh Food Café, McDonald's, Costa Drive Thru, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme Shops: Cotton Traders, WHSmith Main Amenities: Electric Vehicle Charging Point (Ecotricity and Ionity), Jackpot £500, Showers Motel: Days Innbook Forecourt: Esso, Londis, Costa Express, Rollover, West Cornwall Pasty Co, Air1 AdBlue
Parking Prices
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £20 and HGVs, caravans and coaches £34, or £37 to include a £10 food voucher.
Prices are paid using PayByPhone - more details or in the shop or restaurant. The location code is 5256.
The fees are strictly enforced by CP Plus.
Contact Details
Address:
Roadchef Motorways Ltd
Junction 8
M20 Motorway
Hollingbourne
Maidstone
Kent
ME17 1SS
- Telephone number: 01622 631100
- Grid reference: TQ825551
- what3words: ///newsprint.folks.liability
Operators (Official Websites):
Trivia and Design
For some time, Maidstone was the only service area on the M20. The entrance to the services crosses the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which was constructed around the same time.
The service area is encompassed by Operation Brock. When there are delays at the Channel Ports, the J8 eastbound on-slip is closed, which means traffic heading towards the coast can leave at Maidstone services but cannot rejoin. To rejoin, traffic needs to head back to J7 and turn around, which is a significant detour. This new traffic system was trialled in March 2019, and used again in October 2019.
History
The service area was first planned in 1971, slightly further up the M20 at Honeyhills Woods (also called Detling). It was expected to go to tender in 1974, and to open in 1977 after the Landscape Advisory Committee dropped their objections. After further debate about where services should be placed on the M20, the Department of Transport confirmed they would be building a motorway service area here on 16 June 1986.
Immediately afterwards, Esso registered three different service area plans for the same site. It was a common tactic for developers to argue they could build a cheaper service station than the government. All three Esso options were rejected, and the DoT option went to tender, which was won by Roadchef, and they chose Esso as a fuel partner. Esso sold the site to MRH, now MFG.
The building took a typical 'corridor' layout, with a dedicated restaurant area (seating 280) along the south side.
Developments
In 2015, a significant extension was planned. This would have added a Spar to the front of the building, and changed the layout to have the passageway snake through the middle of the dining area.
In June 2018, the services set up a trial Costa machine which offers 5p vouchers in return for coffee cups and plastic bottles, as part of an initiative to reduce litter in the area.
In autumn 2019, MFG refurbished the forecourt. This included a rebrand of the shop to Londis, the addition of the West Cornwall Pasty Company cabinet and the installation of 4 Ionity electric vehicle charging points.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| none on M20 Clacket Lane (M25 west, 27 miles) Thurrock (M25 north, 31 miles) Sun in the Sands (A2 west, 36 miles) | Services on the M20 | Folkestone (23 miles) |
| none on M20 Clacket Lane (M25 west, 27 miles) | Roadchef services | none |
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