All The Motorway Service Stations Episode 11 - Demolished Services & Deer Hunt

[@Beatlefan67]

Back in the day, we had Highwaymen. Now we have Motorway service stations. The similarity is remarkable.

[@Sarge084]

Stand on your liver!!! 😜

[@sullacicero2610]

Stand and deliver, your money or your life.

[@Johnketes54]

8 years old £2.10 for a Mars bar, Sweet young woman did apologise

[@jamesablack]

I started off by watching the newer videos (all with John in hat) and I was pleasantly surprised to see he isn't bald.

[@rchaffer]

Why the shit do I now have some unholy mash-up of the frickin Tots TV and Rosie & Jim theme tunes playing non-stop in my head?

[@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming]

You just know that Stag was thinking, “where’s that buzzing coming from?” as the drone hovers over him.

[@libman2006]

Missed my local one Lymm Poplar 2000 services. It opened as a truck stop but now can be used by cars and has the usual MSA amenities. Also you missed out on Stafford northbound. Has a lake you can walk round and a bigger version of the fountain you saw at southbound in the middle of it.

[@simonlloyd74sl]

Also uniquely has a barbers shop (without the music)

[@michellewalsh1970]

I just said the same while watching. Very disappointed.

[@andygriffith5160]

The foot bridge at Sandbach was repainted not that long ago, unbelievably; it used to be beige. It has always looked like the kind of walkway that people might use as an emergency toilet.

[@drinkupmeheartysyoho]

Certainly smelt like it was 🤣

[@andrewmeadows2596]

The whole of the uk is just an emergency toilet.

[@seinov714]

Regarding the last service station having a Scandinavian airport influence, I think it kind of does look like one. I say that because I went to Sweden in 2019 and the architecture of that service station does remind me of Stockholm's Arlanda airport.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Well that certainly makes you more qualified on the matter :D Thanks for watching

[@tonyomalley901]

Do you remember when you could walk into the services cafeteria at most times of the day and there was hot food in a self service area and somebody to serve you, now it's a burger bar, coffee or pre-packed sandwiches. How things have progressed!!

[@bobstirling6885]

Yes as someone who travels the country regularly it is now almost impossible to get a proper sit-down plated meal, which is pretty rubbish when you want a meal break.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Seeing old roads being overgrown, to think it was a very busy road one time.

[@Sarge084]

Burtonwood is of course one of those service stations built on an old wartime airfield. RAF Burtonwood was used by the USAAF and was reputedly the busiest airfield in the UK as it was where US servicemen entered the UK if flown in or if they arrived by ship through Liverpool Docks.

[@DiseaseShaker]

For the first few weeks of Norton Canes' existence, you could get a free breakfast (though you needed to pay the then-required £2 at the toll plaza). You see deer there because of its proximity to Cannock Chase.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Why have I just put myself through this without stopping it and doing something more productive instead? Can only be because I enjoy the other abandoned motorway vids and because of the laconic style of presentation. Well done you got me!

[@villarule06]

I’ve always thought the density of the services between knutsford and Stafford always seemed odd.

[@ianreynolds9733]

I worked at the old hangars at Burtonwood and used to use the services as a cut through when the barrier was up. The hangars are long gone now.

[@AkaWilf]

I seem to remember seeing on the tv news that Sandbach service station was the first place in the UK where petrol reached one pound a gallon back in the 80s.

[@bernardcromarty485]

Knutsford services used to be quite up-market - the bridge was a restaurant...! It later became a Little Chef.

[@chilliconn071]

When my family moved to Warrington in '82 you could see the two pointed structures of the motorway services as you were driving along Cromwell Avenue, my brother and me calling them "The Wierdo's". I had no idea until watching your video that the Westbound services didn't exist anymore since I've been out of Warrington for a good number of years. Another informative and well put together video. Thankyou.

[@fatlad5090]

when west bound Burton Wood first shut down the carpark stayed open for a while for trucks to still rest but it ended up been a dogging site it was everywhere 🙃 Then they bloked the slip road and shut it completely in around 09.

[@brooksbank67]

I've stopped for a poo at almost all these services, and enjoyable they were too!

[@JRLNeal]

Surprisingly I’m still awake after you have stated that there is not much to say about the service station, for the fourth time. The anticipation of the excitement of you saying something interesting about these services is quite captivating. However I am compiling a fascinating list of the names of the service stations and the dates when they opened and I might print it off in a fancy font and put it on the wall above my bed and read through it before I go to sleep. It’s now the next day and I went to sleep last night in two minutes. Back in the day I went to college near Sandbach and when the services was opened some of my colleagues, not me of course, would drive out to the services for a midnight feast. I am surprised you did not interact with some of the locals at Sandbach and find out how to say Sandbach. Being from Coventry I called a bread roll a batch and a sandwich a sandwich I think in Cheshire, in the area around Sandbach they got confused with batches and sandwiches and called the area Sandbach. Maybe you could go back sometime and find out where they dropped the ‘t’? I have paused the video at the big steel hammers, in order to write this comment. I best go back and finish it off. Maybe you could spend three or four episodes explaining your transport manager’s tattoos?

[@RichieRouge206]

I live literally 2 miles from Chester Services! It is indeed only relatively recent. And the M53 has no services at all! Great video John and excellent chauffeur ping by Aidan

[@nicholasmaycock267]

As a Keele Student between 1973 and 1977 I can confirm that the services were a godsend in the early hours when doing last minute essays. Also an easy entry to the M6 rather than fighting your way to Junctions 15 or 16 through Newcastle or Stoke.

[@anthonyhamilton2250]

We shot a Movie 2001, My Kingdom at the service station, on the sde of the demolished service station (it was still open then). The scenes the drug laden cows escape. Funny fact Richard Harris and the rest of the crew, chased around the car park, to encouraging the cows (which where in the scene & had escaped our cordon) back in the lorry before they escaped onto the M62. Poor Richard Harris was not in the best of health but he, like the rest of us needed to shoot the scene and get home. Last Film Richard Harris did.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Sandbach was the pick up point back when the Wigan Casino was open....... Am pleased to say I've not been near any m-way since 2004.

[@gregoryw831]

Think they found a skeleton in a tent in the woods by Hilton park

[@MervynPartin]

We recently stayed at the Travelodge in the M6 Knutsford Services whilst visiting the "Stars and Stripes" American car show at Tatton Park. We have stayed there twice before for previous shows pre-pandemic but we used to be able to get a decent meal cooked to order in the upstairs food court. Not any more- just a W.H. Smith, Burger King (downstairs), Costa, and Greggs plus a M&S Food shop. With the lifts out of order, it was very disappointing. My wife and both have reduced mobility and it was a bit of a struggle, but if anyone uses a wheelchair, I would strongly advise going to another service area with better facilities and food outlets. We also used the Norton Canes services on the M6 Toll (nice road) on our way home. This seemed much better.

[@doctorwalex]

In my late teens, early twenties , I would hitchhike around England. Any hitcher will tell you that it's much better to get dropped off at a service station rather than a Motorway junction, for obvious reasons. Unless it's Eastern in Gordano on the M5. Especially Northbound. Once I was stuck there for three days. In the end I gave up and caught the bus to Bristol and then hitched from there.

[@motorwaysuk9878]

You missed out Lymm services!!! (M6/M56)

[@simaesthesia]

"... I'm tragically unfit ..."; pinching that line! Playing catch up on your "older" videos atm. Just love the style and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humour. Cheers, mate! Hoping you reach min 50K subscribers!

[@itswhiteylad8696]

Finally Chester my hometown!! Good episode, look forward to the next one

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching. Not much going on at Chester services sadly!

[@johnbradley2217]

You missed the opportunity to mention an RAF base. RAF Burtonwood the largest base after WWII used for aircraft repair, every U.S aircraft in operation from WWII till the late 1960's passed thru the base, also the location of the largest single story building in Europe called Header House, used for storing U.S.A.F and U.S Army supplies and provisions, including M.A.S.H units(portable Hospital and Operating Theatre).

[@McRocket]

BTW, according to Google Maps, there is a motocross track across the M54 from the Telford Services. It apparently be gotten to by following the back road of the Service Area. ☮

[@1800astra]

Jon puts in the the hard yards so we don't have to, thank you my friend, Subscribed!

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Keele is probably the services I and my gf use the most and early morning its really quiet and great to sit and have breakfast there. In its early days it had three or four petrol stations, on the North bound side, on the left of car park. Hence why the car park is so long. It was owned in those days by Forte. Blue Boar were the original operations of Watford Gap and apparently Blue Boar sold the half finished Stafford services to Roadchef.

[@JimmyRyan13]

Those 'crisps' are sunflower seeds, called Shemke 😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

ah. makes sense now. They looked minging :D

[@surfblue63]

Car spot, Bentley MkVI at 13:06

[@PhilReynoldsLondonGeek]

I know the service stations on this section of the M6 very well. Hilton Park (briefly known as Birmingham (North)) used to be the nearest to my parents' house. It was superceded in this by Norton Canes. In fact my father worked at the school there for many years, but the service station proved very useful, especially as I held toll exemption while my parents lived. The site is nice and comparison to Scandinavian airports is reasonabble - I've been to Stockholm Arlanda airport and there are similarities.

[@simonabbott7323]

My other half was working at Keele when the fire broke out. I affectionately call your penultimate services "Hilton Puke" after a bad burger in 1988.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another enjoyable video lads, looking forward to the grand finale.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching as always!

[@barrymontgomery408]

Hello chaps. The planners should reinstate theburtonwood service area on the westbound m62.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It is all but a pile of rubble. In fact, I think there's a massive warehouse of sorts on the site? It's odd... I can only assume they got rid of that side to make a quick buck by selling off the land or something.

[@simonlloyd74sl]

Westbound was demolished to make way for the Gemini Retail Park

[@johnbradley2217]

@@AutoShenanigans Did you stay overnight at the TravelLodge/Winwick Quay pub, my workplace is next door. See my other comment about RAF Burtonwood.

[@johnc4780]

@@simonlloyd74sl not entirely correct, Burtonwood was never a commercial success and struggled. When the new junction to serve the Gemini, Omega and housing developments was proposed, Welcome Break thought it would kill off Burtonwood, so they took advantage of closing half of the services on the side close to the existing retail park (which was more valuable land) and proposed in return an agreement that the new junction slips would direct traffic to the remaining eastbound services. The land released is now Appollo Park, half undeveloped and the developed part mostly leisure.

[@paulprescott7913]

@@johnc4780 this is true, the company i used to work for had (and still has ) an rdc there, and was served notice to quit. This started a domino effect quite unrivalled in our industry of a move to Runcorn. Well anyway Warrington rdc is still there and still backs onto that land.

[@DadgeCity]

You didn't mention that the originally reserved sites for Stafford services at Doxey were eventually used as motorway works yards.

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

Sandbach: as in “catch”, not as in Johann Sebastien 🙂 My home town. Service station frequently voted the worst in Britain. Tip for folks in cars and vans (it’s a bit tight for anything bigger than an 18-tonne rigid truck); ignore the services signs and instead leave at J17 and turn towards Sandbach; there’s a Co-Op forecourt immediately on the left which has a Gregg’s cafe and a well-stocked shop plus cheaper fuel than at the services. Dead easy to get back onto the M6 too 🙂

[@Jameshoward999]

At Stafford Services the northbound side is MOTO but the southbound is roadshef

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice.. I wasn't aware of that!

[@uksam2000]

I'd argue they're different services....

[@DavidShepheard]

7:53 From the inside that bridge looks like someone took a canal boat and balanced it up in the air.

[@LynxBlack]

Those Russian things are called semechki, basically just sunflower seeds, very popular in slavic countries and Russia

[@michellewalsh1970]

Love your videos Jon. I am a total service station nerd.

[@redlioness6627]

Yes, that's "Sand-Batch"!

[@homerstu6133]

I've always thought the bridge at Sandbach looks like a narrow boat, not a barge mind because barges don't have window's

[@ianthomas8743]

I stayed in the Premier Inn there you can Access the hotel without going on the toll road

[@johnlladron735]

Great video, thanks a lot. Way better than TV crap, this is niche interesting stuff.

[@adrianbyron-parker5797]

Love the tats.. unusual to say the least

[@mikeyboy200606]

You missed Lymm Services and also you missed another services on the M65 which ain't sign posted and that's a Euro garages

[@Peppermint0M]

That one that is said to look like a Scandinavian airport, it looks quite a lot like Billund airport in Denmark, one airport I have been to a few times!

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

FYI Sandbach is pronounced Sandbatch rather than Sandback. I live around three miles from Sandbach. Love the vids.

[@tobyjackman3212]

There's a tunnel that runs under culverhouse Cross in Cardiff (which I think is probably the biggest junction in Wales). It's long enough that you can't see daylight from either end. Might be of interest for a video. Would be happy to show you pal

[@ianwatkins9602]

Where abouts is that....I never knew that..

[@tobyjackman3212]

@@ianwatkins9602 Park behind tesco & approach the embankment so that you have the A4232 running towards the M4 to your left & towards the bay to your right. Hop the fence & climb down - turn towards the back of Tesco & there it is - under the junction towards Wenvoe. Warning: it gets hella muddy. I think it used to be a rail track & also I think a train carrying royalty once took refuge there during a bombing campaign but I might have dreamed that or been high or whatever. Let me know how you get on pal - it's a cool find but it's been a few years since I went so there's a chance the fun police have built a wall around it by now 😖

[@jamesmiller6977]

You missed out Lymm Services, which I would consider a motorway service area, though not precisely ON the M6.

[@NikEastwood161]

Found tbem, tbanks, but i think lymm is missing?

[@MikeWooshy]

Sorry I know this video is almost a year old, but thank you again for your content. Stafford services is interesting as it Roadchef southbound & Moto northbound, is this what you were eluding to when you said there could be only one winner ? Sorry if this has already been commented on. Northbound Stafford is where Clarkson claimed they were the best sliproads of any UK motoway service station. (See here about at about 3:15 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4nMomeNjJ2dibs ) Again thank you.

[@markrussell9132]

I used to live right by Norton canes services.😅😊

[@AutoShenanigans]

Sorry to hear that ;-) At least you've seen sense now. Thanks for watching mate!

[@RichardWatt]

Ok, so the Russian wolf package is salted sunflower seeds. The name means "Tambov Wolf", which comes from a period when economic migrants moved to the Russian region of Tambov and the wages for everyone went down (this is on Wikipedia and confirmed by my wife, who is Russian).

[@Vtarngpb]

Surprised nobody’s nicked part of that roof at burtonwood…

[@paul1962uk]

Surely the roof is zinc!

[@madhatter61]

Burton Wood access was reconfigured to have access from both sides from the roundabout.

[@madhatter61]

The two buildings did form an impressive gateway to Liverpool. Such a shame the ruined it.

[@johneisen6341]

A lot of service stations seem dated and run down now in the uk.

[@ianlamb9606]

My neck of the woods i remember the Ikea side of Burtonwood. Did you do the Poplar 2000 services (lymm) on the M56/M6 junction?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Lymm is a truck stop and we decided not to include truck stops on this occasion.

[@ianlamb9606]

@@AutoShenanigans you can stillll use it for cars, unlike the J38 M6 Truck stop which can't be used by cars. I see what you mean though because of the motorway signs. Are you planning a Truck stop series?

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@ianlamb9606 Yes we are... however we thought it would be better to drive an actual HGV to those. It's in the works.

[@ianlamb9606]

@@AutoShenanigans Even better you can see alot more from that high up. I'll be looking forward to that one.

[@madhatter61]

Where's Stafford North? Have you already done that ?

[@ukroadtrips2102]

Drove on the M56 past Chester services recently and had the Tots TV theme stuck in my head 😂😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

sac magique!

[@G2097]

Glad to see Keele getting a shout out. And the back entrance is indeed regularly misused, in spite of the bollards and an automatic barrier (which seems to be left open most of the time).

[@dturbo306]

It’s even better when you know the code from someone who works there

[@johnc4780]

Knutsford back service entrances are used as permanent short cuts too in order to avoid the A556 M6 jn, no barriers and you have to drive past the traffic police station to get on southbound. No one is bothered so they are very busy.

[@davelewthwaite]

Closing the barriers is probably catastrophic to KFC...

[@ravenrealm718]

Ahh, Sandbach Southbound... Not the worst job I've had, but certainly nowhere near the best...

[@benblakesley5871]

Have I missed an episode. What happened to lymm?

[@AutoShenanigans]

We had Lymm down as a truck stop and these were not included on this trip. Saving those for a later date.

[@bjmorley]

Why did they close down one half of the Burton Woods service station?

[@pastymansixtynine]

Mainly because it was too close to Liverpool and tended to be bypassed because of this, it was being run down in 2006 when I was last in there, it was always shut by 9pm.

[@joandchrismarchant1080]

I have really enjoyed this series, but where was Lymm services at the junction of the m56 and m6? You must have driven past it between Chester and Knutsford if you went down the motorway!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes... at the time (I think it's changed) It was a truckstop, which we didnt include.

[@joandchrismarchant1080]

@@AutoShenanigans definitely worth a visit if only for the cowboy statues in the courtyard. Maybe you could do an extra couple of episodes on the 'nearly' motorways the A55 in North Wales and the A90 from Perth to Aberdeen?

[@johnc4780]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that Hapsord 'Chester' services is on J14 and there is no J13 on M56.

[@joandchrismarchant1080]

There is no junction 13 becuase it would have been directly behind Helsby High School. Guess where the planners' children went to school?

[@linmcneill2853]

🤣🤣 Jon does back entrances!!!😉🤣🤣

[@AutoShenanigans]

I quite a enjoy a look up ya back passage...

[@MrGreatplum]

Great video of the mundane. I like the architecture of Hilton park - is it the only brutalist service station?

[@markgreenuk]

Just seen this quite funny and interesting just goes to show how outdated our motorway system is we have a long long way to go to get electric charge point infrastructure but defo a thumbs up video 👍🏻

[@AutoShenanigans]

and quicker charging times whilst we're there. Appreciate the feedback, thanks for watching!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Not outdated just because everyone these days is spoiled and imptient and expects everything to be provided for them free and easy. Investment and improvement has to be paid for in food and fuel prices, would you pay £5 for a 30 minute electric charge while you use the toilets and have a £4 pint of coffee ?

[@NikEastwood161]

Sorry did u say lorraine was coming down? Who is she/he/other? Was they good.

[@Chambers101]

Enjoyed Knutsford & Telford a couple of times. Knutsford was a drop off stop for our break down recovery from Scotland to Heathrow, where me & my family were exchanged.

[@linmcneill2853]

Information card???? It's a factoid board!!!🤣

[@VectorTracker]

Tots TV 🤣

[@paulm5885]

What about lymm

[@387FanGatwick]

Did you find any deer?

[@ispi_video_photo]

They wouldn't like you filming at Knutsford. I was asked to stop taking pictures there just last Monday. It was too late, and the pictures of how filthy the place is made it to Google Maps, and Twitter..

[@AutoShenanigans]

ah yes, they dont like it do they :D

[@xboxcrazee]

How much did this mission cost re fuel…?

[@AutoShenanigans]

We look at some figures in episode 12... far too much but at least it was last years pricing.

[@wild1145]

After spending the last 18 months going up and down the M5/M6 a lot, Sandbach is absolutely the worse of them all, who in their right mind puts bloody speed humps on the entry and exit slip roads on both sides. Going southbound Keele was always okay but Stafford was always a lovely one to stop at, though Stafford northbound I think is a Moto and was an absolute shit hole.

[@andykilvington1651]

It's Sandbatch not Sandback!!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

meh.. potato/potato.

[@GMac2776]

First video without the Beanie 😂

[@PiousMoltar]

"The roof is copper and has turned green due to oxidization" Minecraft feels

[@PTD2023]

"Russian Wolf" are sunflower seeds :)

[@rob32pigboy]

wtf no hat .great vid

[@simongleaden2864]

Are there no motorway service stations in Northern Ireland? You've been to all of them in Great Britain, but you say you're visiting all the service stations in the UK.

[@Gigidag77]

the Russian wolf stuff is sunflower seeds.

[@PurityVendetta]

Gopnik food 😂😂😂

[@paulcovell1502]

Sandbach say it with a ch please, liking your chan Ⓜ

[@madhatter61]

poplar 2000?

[@SportFury1966]

He'd look rather fetching in a haltertop.

[@oliverreader2954]

ive been in this one 0:00

[@JD-wn3cc]

Did no one mention burtonwoods claim to fame? Boys from the black stuff...

[@Mr.Eldric]

Enjoy these vids however when your narrating theres a weird background noise. Sound like the old mechanical hard drives in the mahoosive old pc’s. Its in most if not all the vids ive watched. Whats gan on man.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Ah yes... this series was filmed using a camera mounted mic... it picks up the sound of the cameras auto focus so you can here the lens clicking away as it does it's thing. Winds me right up and since then we've changed the mic/audio set up.

[@Mr.Eldric]

I should add. It only comes out of the surround speakers not the centre. Bloody strange.

[@TerribleFire]

£6 is a bargin to bypass the delight of Birmingham. Probably a good bit of that much fuel sitting in traffic.

[@notrut]

Keele Uni .... that reminded me of the Keele Uni worker shot at ... ' Police hunt gang of ARMED Afghan illegal immigrants 'who shot at two brothers after jumping out of a lorry at Keele services on the M6' Police stood down their chase after about 5 minutes .... Ahem.