Abandoned Motorway Service Station - M1 Leicester

#abandoned #infrastructure #motorway
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We've all been to a motorway service station at one point or another... they can sometimes bring back memories of childhood holidays but as we've grown older, the service station has perhaps lost it's appeal somewhat.
One particular service station found in Markfield Leicestershire has sadly closed following years of less than average customer numbers, I thought it might be nice to explore the remains of this once vibrant place.

[@martinjones8351]

I’m responsible for those lights being on 😂 the site is still live as the boilers in the abandoned building provide the heating for the hotel, I’ve got loads of pictures of the inside of this if you are interested

[@AutoShenanigans]

Interesting... do you still have access to it? ;)

[@johnduggan4788]

That be great to see, how strange leaving the heating on, suppose the place would just rot with damp, without heating on god I hope the place is not full of rats.

[@pussinboots1145]

@@johnduggan4788 The heating is for the hotel next door.

[@MrHollistic1]

it would be great if you could put some footage up of the interior?

[@rayjennings3637]

@@johnduggan4788 Did you read what he said, about the, "... boilers in the abandoned building provide the heating for the hotel ..."? In the video, we are told and see from the drone footage that the hotel is still in use!

[@MLB9000]

I’m from Leicester (and was actually born in Leicester Forest East) and I only ever visited that service station once. It was horrible. Have never felt so unwelcome or that I was in the wrong place. It just had a really bad vibe for some reason.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

It was in a weird place, off the M1 and on the A50 at a bad junction. I went there once for petrol but that was it.

[@tautology_zero]

I've used it a couple of times in the past for petrol or cigarettes, mainly because it was the closest to John Lees wood where we used to LARP. It was just too inconvenient to use for anything off the motorway. I didn't know it had closed down and I suspect most people don't care.

[@loisbolton1800]

I blame bad ley lines.

[@PeterSlack83]

Its blooming awful and busy, i rather take an extra 10min and drive on the A46 to Leicester North services. Its quieter and has a free water fountain to fill your water bottle. Rather than an expensive (although claimed) glacier melt water :D

[@BibtheBoulder]

I lived within walking distance of them, and can confirm the bad vibe. I always thought it was just me that felt it!

[@sydnorth5868]

Markfield Services biggest problem was that it was not signposted on the motorway itself. I seem to recall that this was because the land that it was on was not owned by the Department of Transport. Hence, they did not consider it to be a motorway services and did not signpost it on the motorway. Unless you were a local or happened to be using that junction anyway, you wouldn't know it was there.

[@madhatter61]

That's right, but as drivers learned the network they learned of its existence, but yes it was like pop 2000, it had its loyal customers, mostly professional drivers

[@grantgrove6800]

Plus the fact that you had to actually leave the motorway at J22, then re-join. Unlike 'normal' services where you slip off/on. I had my last ever Little Chef 'meal' here, That was pretty miserable too. There was also a Burger King but I don't remember if I actually used that one. I live local , so have 'filled-up a couple of times, years ago.

[@mattsingh_]

I’m local and I didn’t know it was there! From Shepshed and this is literally the first time I’ve ever heard of this place

[@TestGearJunkie.]

The amateur radio repeaters GB3CF (2m) and GB3LE (70cm) were around this area, the antenna mast was visible from the motorway as you passed, looking for it a few weeks ago though I couldn't see them. I no longer live in the area so don't know if the repeaters are still on the site or not, must see if I can find out. I remember CF in particular had a stonking signal, when I first got my amateur licence in 1983 I could access it on a hand portable radio from the centre of Birmingham..! They did turn the power down somewhat later on, though and you can't do it now, more's the pity.

[@DaveLee37]

I thought I'd submitted a Super Thanks before, but I don't see it. Auto Shenanigans is a part of my weekly wind-down... thanks for your amazing videos, Jon! ♥️

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate and appreciate you watching!

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

They should make it retro, with Granada branding and original sit down service. Add a garden centre and you would have a nice destination to go to.

[@sandwichbar8226]

R&S Records!

[@nemo6686]

Yay - so the motorway generates traffic! That isn't really what they're meant to do.

[@douglasschaden3475]

With the Travelodge you could make a weekend of it.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

As it was a service area before it shouldn’t be an issue.. the industrial estates to the west of there produce way more in ‘traffic’ . The kind of traffic no ones really wants (HGV’s at all times of the day/night) and those quarries don’t dig themselves or move that stuff by themselves…

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

@@sandwichbar8226 The first person to ever notice, well done and rave on, 'in order to dance'!

[@Dan23_7]

A lovely bit of knowledge for a Wednesday. No matter where you go in this country, no matter how disused somewhere is. Travel Lodge prevails 💪🏼😂 Thanks JPH ☕️ 👍🏼

[@IndigoJo]

I think the reason the Markfield site closed down was because the A50 was rerouted via Castle Donington, taking all the traffic from the East Midlands to places like Stoke on Trent with it. Previously the A50 ran past the site up through Burton to Uttoxeter, but wasn't convenient for people trying to get to and from Nottingham, only Leicester and Northampton. Euro Garages has at least two other sites in the immediate area, at the roundabout up the now A511 towards Coalville. As EG sites go it was pretty rundown as others have mentioned, but it was always possible to park your truck there for a while.

[@BibtheBoulder]

I lived in Markfield for many years. These services were without any doubt, the most miserable depressing place you could possibly imagine. Bit like Leicester....

[@bluevan12]

Bit like most of the Midlands then.

[@stevieandthebarbies]

Leicester is like Alcatraz - you can’t escape! I arrived in 1985, meant to be here for 2-3 years, 5 tops! Coming up to 40 years - you get less for murder (as they say)

[@doubleL_S]

@@stevieandthebarbies but LeicesterSHIRE is beautiful

[@leow3696]

I went to an open day at Leicester Uni (ended up going to Aberystwyth instead). Having been to Leicester before, but a different part, it struck me that one side of it looks identical to the other.

[@MrTrevithick]

This is rapidly becoming my favourite channel, obviously why wouldn’t it? Cheers.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thats what I like to hear! :D

[@oylumo]

"Maybe one day it'll become an Insurance claim following an Arson attack or maybe redeveloped into luxury flats" That last bit got me lol

[@8skellerns]

My mum worked at the Petrol station their until it closed. Was a run down mess, and staff always felt in danger in their as the station was so hidden from view. Eurogarages shut that site down as they were more interested in their new Asda Garage at Ashby De La Zouch, that has recently completed phase one of its build and now they are going to build a lorry park on the field next to McDonalds and the Hotel.

[@tonydoherty5614]

there was another reason,, after the Travelers constant mess and the fights ,, no one would insure the site.

[@malbecb6774]

Looking on street view, you enter towards the Travelodge and you see the closed building. As you get closer to Travelodge you are greeted by a Coffee Nation sign and an open Burger King!

[@archechme]

I absolutely love how you use Gran Turismo menu music in your videos. Great touch.

[@automotivetales]

Drive past this quite a lot, always wondered what happened to it! It’s crazy that big companies can just sit on such real estate and let it rot away 🤷‍♂️

[@chillybrit2334]

Not really crazy. It's of no use in its current form or location hence it going out of business. Smallish buildings on a large well connected (transport wise) site make it an easy redevelopment site. Bit of landscaping to make it look attractive, quickly throw up a 1000 "prestige" home development, each going for £500,000 to buy to let investment businesses. Nothing crazy at all when you do the maths. Local and County Councils look kindly on such things as they attract a younger occupancy who while paying the full council tax need no council services other than rubbish taken away. Letting it rot and fall apart a good while before submitting the planning application for this is just standard practice - the more graffiti, used needles etc. it accumulates the more likely the planning application is going to get fast tracked.

[@nicks4934]

It’s hard to tell if some service stations are abandoned or not 😂

[@barrieshepherd7694]

Arson? - I'd never have considered that as a tool in the property developers basket 😂

[@bentilbury2002]

Perish the thought 🤣

[@douglasschaden3475]

You want luxury flats or not?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nothing speeds up a planning application like a bit of fire... :D

[@ianbonser2636]

Worked for the nightclub next to St Margarets last year 🤔🤫

[@sadie376]

@@ianbonser2636 It's worked many times, in many places.

[@ben-ih1ox]

Always amazes me how quickly nature reclaims land. The petrol station looks like its been closed a lot longer than 2020

[@liamriley521]

Also probably the 1st Lockdown didn't help hence it closing in 2020. I remember using that petrol station back in 2018 In January 2022 I stayed at the travelodge there and wasn't that suprised the petrol station had closed. Just a shame it all looks a mess with fly tipping etc there now.

[@omardude39]

Buildings and land have to be maintained to be kept, otherwise nature and time will reclaim it!

[@mattwuk]

Motorways went from perfect open clear fast roadways to, well, we know the joy today.

[@DEAD-DROP]

Hope you check out more abandoned locations, love this aspect of the channel!

[@scotjerram6715]

My Dad worked there for about 10 years as on-site maintenance. He got some great perks when it was part of Granada.

[@barryrathbone]

Stayed at Markfield Travelodge and it’s a depressing place with everything shut. Staff were lovely but they can’t make it more exciting!

[@theuktoday4233]

I have stayed in that Travelodge recently and its spooky staying on a closed motorway services... bring on the zombies!

[@Vtarngpb]

Excuse me, but the preferred term is “the Recently Undead.”

[@iantrembirth6918]

Moto probably just turned their attentions to their Donington Park Services at J24A (not sure when that opened). Despite living nearby (J24) and travelling past this junction many times, I don't remember ever seeing a sign on the Motorway itself to say there were services at this junction so no wonder it didn't get many visitors.

[@DavidWood2]

I don't think it was ever advertised from the M1. If that is the case, it was sort of a guerilla operation - not officially a motorway, but just off the motorway in a way that you hope attracts passing traffic.

[@SuperAMJS]

Big fan of the urbex element Jon...

[@frankmitchell3594]

I used to work in the Leicester area and don't remember Markfield as a 'motorway service station', it was just a petrol station and cafe on the A50 near the M1 junction.

[@donalddodson7365]

Perhaps as automobiles have gotten more comfortable, quiet and capable of longer distances between petrol stops, there just aren't enough people stopping any more. I recall seeing the same thing in the southwestern USA in 2015-2019. Have not made any long distance trips since 2020, sadly. Thanks, Jon.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

You need to get out there again and see stuff… if you can…👍🏻

[@gazzaman28]

Current EVs are changing this trend, there's a definite demand for reliable charging on the motorway. Plus we all still need to pee every couple of hours!

[@PurityVendetta]

I have to say thanks for yet another beautifully crafted gem of a video. You never fail to make me smile, something that's for definite a good thing given the current climate!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Glad to hear!

[@TheUKMediaWatch]

I love these videos , I’m addicted 👍🏼

[@fuller9x]

Loving these alternate deep dive Wednesday videos

[@Mike-H_UK]

I assume that you also work for an American company?

[@venenareligioest410]

In early days I remember doing a u turn on the new M6, no traffic, no central barriers 😱

[@marcwaller3657]

Very pleased to see this pop up today after mentioning it last year and receiving a "careful what you wish for reply"! I used to stay at the Travelodge regularly as it's close to Donington park circuit and it's very cheap. It was fine as long as you got food elsewhere before returning. The main services building wasn't boarded up for most of that time and as you say everything was still in place as if it had just closed for the day and would reopen soon! I think the last time I stayed was 2019 when it was starting to deteriorate but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as it is now. There used to be a similar abandoned Euro garages services (without the hotel) on the A303 in Hampshire but about 5 years ago, it was demolished, rebuilt with new buildings and reopened. Also I just remembered, Markfield services used to be home to a Starling that used to be a perfect mimic of emergency vehicle sirens!! Very strange to hear but probably long since deceased. I don't think Starlings live long!

[@dougle03]

2-3 years - RIP

[@patryqoo]

A303 Wayhill services, near Andover

[@AdeReeves]

Arrr yes ...I remember the days when a stop off at a motorway services was a pure delight .... I think 😂

[@chocoholic832]

😂 not anymore

[@loswilko]

Wonder if someone like Gridserve would go for it. Has some potential i would say as an EV charge hub.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I think they might be looking into it.

[@nervo6321]

Good job I watched this video I didn’t know it had shut…spent many a miserable night on here in my truck…cheers man.

[@Luluxxxx]

Hadn’t realised it had closed but am not surprised as Leicester Forest East - only a few minutes south - is a really good service station with a lot of food choices. Who doesn’t love having a Harry Ramsden’s while watching the cars zooming beneath you ! 😄

[@acwdrivingservices9877]

Enjoying your videos thanks. I spend many hours using our motorway network as a Chauffeur covering 50k miles a year, the majority on motorways. So getting some enlightening info on our motorways is great to use to while away the time I'm stuck in traffic( M62, M60, M1, M6 et all). Speaking of service stations, maybe you should visit Birch services, E/B on the M62, and admire the way the have chopped down some beautiful trees there, that have been growing quietly and minding their own business for the last 50 years absorbing lots and lot of that nasty CO2, to make way for some (as yet still not finished after 12 months) EV charging stations, and see if you can spot the irony.......

[@itznoah8796]

Glad you could visit and show a recent view of the services! Moto operated the Costa store themselves and closed it themselves after “disappointing trade”. Motorway Services Online has some images of what it looked like before it was bordered up. It was fenced off but it seems they’ve removed it. The future seems to be EG typically demolishing it and building a Starbucks drive thru.

[@markb3915]

I remember getting petrol at at the BP there just before the lockdowns started. The people running it were given notice of eviction and the sight was going to be redeveloped, with new fast food outlets etc . The previous restaurants and facilities had been shut years before though. I wonder why the redevelopment has never happened ?

[@reubendensmore4648]

It's interesting seeing how centralized roadside services appear in the UK from an American perspective. Here, it's a bit of a mixed bag. There are state funded rest stops on the interstate which are simply meant for stretching and using the bathroom, and then there's sprawling roads ("stroads") that have your hotels, fast food, and gas stations. There's even buildings that combine the latter two, which appear at random. Good video.

[@chucky2316]

I've just watched a FBI files about Robert Cruz jnr. Lol he stopped at a services because they gave free showers, I watched one about Robert Ben Rhoades aswell ,he picked up one of his victims from the truck stop and called her a lot lizard lol

[@rbdriftin]

Lived here for decades, close to Markfield, had no idea this was ever a motorway stop

[@EdwardMason9000]

Ah, Leicester Markfield! Never went, being a Leicestershire local, but seeing as it's off the motorway rather than Leicester Forest East which is just down the road, it's not surprising that it didn't last forever (although I thought it had lasted longer than 2014!)

[@williamstrachan]

One plus of this site is that you don't have to do the terrible merge out of LFE onto the M1 which is busy trying to either take traffic down to the M69 or the A46. It's not much of a plus, unlike the building.

[@616swifty]

Petrol station definitely lasted till 2018/19 as i used th shop to buy food while driving for HSS Hire but what he fails to mention is as you head up road to Coalville is more Petrol stations. Also the Esso garage actually excepted most fuel ⛽️ cards as all HSS vehicles had UKFUELS cards in the vehicles.

[@scooby1992]

Yes Leicester Forest East is fairly close to the south and more recently Donington Park isnt much further to the north .

[@bobstains1934]

I grew up in the next village and remember when it was built; me and my mate used to play the arcade machines after school and in later years, my sister ended up as manager for the Burger King.

[@robertjones3223]

I always start your videos going what's the first thing he will say to crack me up today "... and instead seen as somewhere to have piss" wins today 😆

[@michaelclarkson2218]

Me too. I've got to say that cracked me up too. But my favorite one was his video on the history of McDonalds. That was an absolute classic.

[@nigelhudson1948]

It's a prime site to open as an electric forecourt. There is a lack of high-speed chargepoints close to the M1 north of Rugby.

[@xr6lad]

Yea another wonderful place for those that bought an EV to sit an wait for a free charger then wait for an hour minimum to recharge and complete a journey while watching all your friends whizz by after taking 5 minutes to refuel down the road at a petrol station that can process 70 cars an hour. Wonderful step....back.

[@john1703]

"You can go as fast as you like, you know". In the early hours of 11 June 1964, AC Cars took a 4.8-litre Ford-powered Cobra Coupé GT car on to the M1 motorway to do a high-speed test run before the Le Mans 24 Hours. The team's driver, Jack Sears, recorded 185mph on the motorway. Sears explains: “The speed limit was introduced in July 1967, three years after the furore. Labour politician Barbara Castle was the Minister for Transport when the speed limits were introduced, but it had been a Conservative government at the time of the M1 test.

[@chap666ish]

I've driven past that place hundreds and hundreds of times, either when driving north/south on the M1 or east/west on the A50, and it was *never* sign-posted properly. Mostly you'd only ever see the entrance to it if you were leaving the roundabout to head towards Coalville. I drove past it over the Christmas/New Year period and never even realised it had closed. It was always the poor relation to Leicester Forest East.

[@trevorsidley7697]

Fascinating Jon. Used this services regularly back in the day - think they were a Happy Eater before becoming a Little Chef. Had a big proper sit down restaurant for freshly cooked breakfast. Found it convenient as it wasn't as busy as Leicester Forest East. Guess that's why it closed. Didn't know it was shut - Feel I've lost part of my history.

[@alansimpson835]

Close Trevor. It was an AJ's Family restaurant before it was a Little Chef. Granada did a deal with AJ's to put them into some of their sites as a Little Chef rival but, once they got their hands on Little Chef, all AJ's ties were severed. AJ's was actually run by the wife of the guy who started Happy Eater too

[@contactjd]

Wow I've not heard mention of 'happy eater' for maybe 30 years. child hood memories flooding right back 🙂

[@TrojanThugMusic]

Yeah, I remember getting pie, chips and a doughnut from a service station once. Got to the cashier and I said, "I'm sorry, I've only got a £50 note" she said, "it's OK, just put the doughnut back"

[@AutoShenanigans]

Sounds about right :D

[@ronniehotdogs5686]

I sometimes park up in my truck overnight there.. some massive rats lurking around..

[@MattHill303]

I was looking at this in Google maps a few days ago and surprised to see it all closed up, I'm guessing it must still be owned by Euro Garages because it's exactly the sort of location the likes of Gridserve are looking for their EV charging hubs like the one they are building up at J29a. Oddly although living in the area on and off for most my life it never really crossed my mind it was a motorway services.

[@xr6lad]

Somewhere for people with too much money needing to find somewhere to sit for an hour and make their journeys even longer while watching ICE cars pass down the road and refill in 5 minutes and be on their way. Yes probably….will become a hub.

[@MattHill303]

@@xr6lad To be fair I rarely stop for more than 20-25 minutes any more and that's on the rare occasion I need a top-up while out, toilet stop and grab a bite to eat to take out or a coffee and off again. Back in 2015/16 taking an 80mile range EV on 1000 mile trips from Derbyshire around Ireland and back that was when EVs were fun, it's too normal now.

[@jake8793]

I was waiting for a video on this, went there recently with a mate and couldnt believe you missed it in your m1 video! Lol 😂

[@finlay9911]

As a markfield resident, its so strange seeing this place how it is now as i completely forgot about it. I remember my mum taking me and my sister there after school sometimes. But i cant really remember anything about the place apart from the maze like exit and the carwash.

[@borderlands6606]

Old service station promo shots are like old air travel marketing. An exciting and aspirational idea reduced to a depressing experience when it isn't a living hell.

[@jdixon6329]

cool video fella 👍 old service station footage & interesting abandoned site 😀

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Brilliant term, 'room temperature coffee'.

[@highpath4776]

depends how hot or cold ones room is

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

@@highpath4776 good point.

[@iwb316]

0:49 Oh the memories, I remember those times. The ones I remember were run by Forte, later to become Trusthouse Forte.

[@craigwilson.2367]

I did stop at the Travel Lodge a few months back, i'd not been to the Service station for a few years so i couldn't believe how run down the rest of the site was. thanks for the video on this. :)

[@jimmyjammer]

The best site on KZbin to date 👍🏻

[@6thdayblue59]

Brilliant, as always !!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, appreciate that a lot.

[@simongee8928]

You're bang on with your derogatory comments about modern service stations- ! 🤣 I still rue the days which saw the demise of transport caffs; good solid food & drink at decent prices. 😁

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Ive actually visited and eaten there in the past when it was a Little Chef. Its really sad that it now lies abandoned . If you google it there are pictures before it closed and afterwards before it was boarded up.

[@anthonycrompton6922]

Little Thief you mean surely?

[@barbelmeister]

I took my wife out for a meal there once. We had only just moved into the area and the only place we knew of was that Little Chef 😂😂

[@Unconwheels]

My man just keeps pumping out the shenanigans

[@roysmith9733]

This was my 'goto' services most days back in the day, when I wanted a quieter place to stop for refreshments and a brief sleep on the way home. Much more pleasant than Leicester Forest East mainly because most travellers didn't know it was there. In fact, I didn't know it had gone until your video - but that's because I stopped travelling the route many years ago.

[@sameyers2670]

Thank you for this I wasn't aware there had been a second services near Leicester

[@cvslfc1234]

I stayed at the Travelodge in August 2020 and had a wander around the outside of this service station too. It was fascinating seeing the signs and chairs in the Burger King through the barrier. The Travelodge is the only one I've stayed in that still uses keys for the doors instead of key cards.

[@alistairpatterson429]

Got cut up heading north at forest east busting for a piss and missed the services, vaguely remembered this place existed. Came off the motorway, saw the services sign and turned in to see this absolute mess of green and graffiti. Ridiculous that you posted this about half an hour after I discovered it for myself😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

Theres many bushes to choose from at least...

[@venenareligioest410]

Granada was the Manchester based ITV franchise owner and programme maker - Remember World in Action, Sherlock Holmes, Coronation Street, The Royle Family, The Jewel in the Crown, Brideshead Revisited, University Challenge and The Krypton Factor.

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes indeed they were too and very good they were at it too. One of the best ITV companies of old now I guess too; although of course Coronation Street and University Challenge are still on to this day. They also did What The Papers Say, reviewing the week's papers at the time too. Thank you!

[@venenareligioest410]

@@brucedanton3669 Have a look on Wikipedia at the GRANADA entry, very interesting? Granada now own virtually all the ITV franchise under another name. P.s. They also owned ‘Red Arrow’ TV rental. That was the first company to have TV’s which didn’t warm up like a valve radio. I worked for the man who invented the ‘always on’ valve time base, John Eiris.

[@brucedanton3669]

@@venenareligioest410 Thank you there for that of course! I know that Carlton and Granada merged to become the ITV network it really is today, what with buying nearly all the other companies over time. Except of course for STV in Scotland, although they are basically the ITV provider there too really I guess.

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you there too!

[@contactjd]

I was wondering if that was the same company. There was also Granada Studios Tour in Manchester which was popular in the 90s

[@electric_leo1630]

You should also look at the abandoned service station on the A14 next to Bar Hill sometime

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes I know the one!

[@jetblasters]

I clicked on the button specifically designed to show that I appreciated this clip. I had already subscribed so I left that button well alone.

[@Victorflange]

Used to make regular trips up to Coalville and Ashby and that was my go to filling station for LPG. Had no idea it had closed down.

[@pss1967]

@ 1:07 "Seen as somewhere to have a p155" LOL. This is how I regard most motorway service stations, (with the exception of Tebay and Stafford)

[@tidysampler585]

As ever, a jovial & entertaining script. Plus informative in many ways. Always worth watching all the way till the end 👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, cheers mate!

[@roomullan3050]

Love your informative and to the point explanations. Just enough humour. Very entertaining

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot!

[@richardlaundon]

Team up with an Urban Explorer group and they would be able to get you inside no problem lol

[@timmatthews9621]

Thanks!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, very kind of you!

[@MrHollistic1]

thanks so much for this...well in

[@chrisbrookes1167]

I stopped and had a break there once when I didn’t have enough time left to get to LFE. Nice to know the back story of it.

[@Mike-H_UK]

I love the Sherlock Holmes bit where you look for different colour paintwork being re-exposed from a forgotten era.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's a shame I notice such things... :D

[@waynecooper3256]

Had an Olympic breakfast or two over the years at the site in my youth, great video !!!

[@gerrylangford6485]

I remember my father driving up the M1 in his zephyr 4 at 100mph. Terrifying when you think about it.

[@James-gf9jl]

I remember driving my 1969 Zephyr 4 up the M1 at 100mph for an hour at a stretch between London and Yorkshire. This was in the late '70s. I am terrified when I think about it now. Even if I had that car now, and it could do it, there is no way I would drive that wobbly barge over 60 mph. Our terms of reference have changed so much.

[@TheRip72]

Motorways were designed to handle traffic at 100mph, but cars were less capable back then & they have become more crowded too. The possibility of a lorry changing lanes in front of you while doing 56 on a crowded road is why the speed limit was set at 70 & is not likely to rise, even though modern cars are capable of sustaining a lot more.

[@gerrylangford6485]

@@TheRip72 Yes I remember seeing a lorry wrapped around a bridge pillar on one of our trips.

[@alansimpson835]

Granada went a bit experimental in the late 80s and built 6 of these scaled down MSAs for Trunk Roads - Leicester (A50), Blyth (A1) and Saltash (A38) all had the cross shape (a scaled down version of Tamworth) and Musselburgh (A1), Grantham Colsterworth (A1) and Warminster all got a sort of three linked building thing. They also.built 4 hotel cum services at Alfreton, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent and Chorley. I think they wanted to see if there was appetite for something bigger than a Little Chef on the A roads. I suppose at the time the A50 to Uttoxeter came here so it had that trade, people using the M1 might know about it from using other Granadas and picking up the free leaflets that listed the sites and, given there were murmurs thst LFE might have to close to accommodate road improvements, they probably thought it was a good site strategically that could be grown later. Sadly, not much was made of it. Like all the other Granada A-road sites bar Blyth (which is basically an MSA) its restaurant was changed to an AJ's table service then a Little Chef when Granada got their hands on them. I don't think they ever built it with signage from the motorway in mind or else they would have built it bigger from the off. It would probably not have met motorway standards for number of toilets etc and been too close to LFE to be allowed. I remember stopping in 2008 and it all felt very forgotten. The Little Chef was still all kitted out in AJ's green, the shop had closed (but had Granada carpet poking out from under the shutters) and it felt a bit sad. I suppose Granada built Donington a few miles up the road too in the late 90s so that too, along with the A50 reroute, would have hurt Markfirld. Interesting though that it was one of the few TRSAs Moto kept (albeit they don't have it anymore) when so many were got rid of with the Little Chef estate. Did they still think it would still be valuable strategically? Like other posters I would love to see Moto have a bit of fun with it and turn it back into a 90s style Granada - 90s is very trendy just now and I could see car clubs and film/ TV loving it - but I agree it would make a cracking EV charging/ hydrogen refuelling hub. Sad to see it so neglected as it was well built

[@AutoShenanigans]

AJ's Green... that might explain the green lighting along the top of the building. I was wondering about that. great info mate.

[@alansimpson835]

@@AutoShenanigans was it a load of dark green bulbs? If so, that would be right. Musselburgh retained them too, all the way up to its closure in 2010, and they were still there when it was demolished recently. I'm still gutted that Musselburgh closed and got demolished. It was a great location and I loved it. I think signage and lack of visibility from the road really hurt it :(

[@bobandveganlover9532]

It's like your reading my mind to come up with video topics.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Shame you could not get in for a look, but another interesting video my friend.

[@mattdeany1]

The motorway service station of the 1960's may have perhaps been the glamorous destination that you describe. You don't look old enough to remember the 1970's,. However, I not only look old enough, I actually remember the 1970's. Vividly. That ten years smelled. It smelled bad. It also rusted, and is, in many people's opinion, a contender for the decade with the most bad decisions and worst taste of all time. You may regard a modern service station as a place to, "take a piss," but at least the whole service station doesn't smell of urine, as it did in the 1970's. The chips were limp and grey. The tea supported an oil slick. The decor was lurid and tired simultaneously in a way that I think is now hard to imagine. What was not plastic was rust, and the cold damp left interesting stains inside and out. It made one long to get outside and inhale the exhaust fumes and smell of petrol. The idea that anywhere on a motorway in the 1970's should be remembered with fond affection leaves me concerned for the fate of humanity. By contrast, modern services are clean, warm, dry; with mercifully well maintained and perfumed toilets. Let's have none of this romanticised nonsense. We fought long and hard to have edible junk food at such establishments. It's people like you that are the real threat to Western Democracy. Otherwise, well done for an interesting and insightful documentary. Subjects of such vital interest deserve further airing. Thank you again.

[@SquareoftheyearFM]

I know it's sub-optimal and you're in no hurry to go back but sometimes with grating like that a smartphone sensor can be small enough to see through if you hold it up against the holes.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Another good video 🚗🚙🚘👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@timmatthews9621]

You have just got to love this guy!

[@dabogeyman6280]

Just some where to take a piss 🤣🤣 Best quote of this month 🤣

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video, would be great if you could get in to look around 😉👍

[@JD-wn3cc]

I find this very strange. I use to travel the m1 up and down each week from the m18 to the m40. Did this until 2014 and I always use to remember the order of the services each way, like a countdown to getting home and I never, ever remember this services whatsoever. Even been on street maps and looking at different dates etc and never knew it had existed. I find it really odd.

[@AutoShenanigans]

This one was lacking signs from the motorway and it seems in general very few knew it existed!

[@JD-wn3cc]

@@AutoShenanigans thanks John. You slightly put my mind at ease that I might not be losing it, just yet, at least.

[@xboxcrazee]

Only stayed here in its later years as the travel lodge was always cheaper than the competition despite the dumped vehicles and potholes in the carpark..

[@sonadagothalus]

Deffo Watford Gap that opened first, I worked for BlueBoar as they were at the time who had 3 services, Watford Gap, Rothersthorpe and Anandale Water or something similar sounding up in haggis land. They always used to harp on about how they were the first service station ever to open with lots of material in the staff areas, most of this went in 1998 when Roadchef took them over as the M1 sites were more service focused and less of a head office space with various storage of historical facts and items around them.

[@iangrice329]

I used the petrol station once and wondered why it was such a dump, the next time I went to use it ,it was closed.

[@tdyerwestfield]

I prefer the Euro Garages services to proper motorway services. Tend to operate more on A roads and they're usually smaller and a nicer, more quaint design. They all advertise an on-site Spar shop yet every single one I've been to, the Spar section is permanently closed.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I quite like a euro garages as well.

[@jasongriffin4790]

Hey I live right by this one. Used to be the go to for burger king as a kid

[@ianallen2]

I used to stop at these services nearly every day just to use hte toilets. I am shocked to see it closed. It wasnt known as a motorway services as it was just off the M1, but a good stopping point. I am not surprised it closed though as it was too expensive for a fuel station when there is another one just further down the road from it. Never did see many customers in there and the parking was virtually always empty.

[@whichwasher2007]

ah the lovely music from the car service menu on gran turismo 4.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's the best soundtrack ever!

[@defender1006]

I stayed there back in the mid 2000's, it was well in decline then, I stopped there again later on when only the filling station was operating and the Travelodge of course. I had a look around the services area and could still see into the main lobby/hall area, quite dilapidated but still showing signs of it's last occupants. It's a bit sad to see it in it's current state I'm sure there's a use for it?

[@lapiswake6583]

Very interesting. I actually used the fuel station to buy a drink when I cycled from central Leicester to band near Coalville, back in late 2019. It seemed very confusing due to lack of signage of how to get out...

[@barbelmeister]

Where was confusing to leave? Coalville? Twinned with Royston Vassey. Such a wonderful place you'll never leave. We have a (charity) shop full of precious things. Why would you weant to leave?

[@willtricks9432]

Are you still there? Should we send someone?

[@Havark420]

Leicester east is one of my fav services