All The Motorway Service Stations Episode 12 - The Grand Finale! We did it!

[@rushthedj306]

By watching all of these back to back, I have learned more about myself than I have about motorway service stations

[@mercuryvapoury]

After watching the full series, there was the montage at the end with that music, I never thought I'd get a lump in my throat about service stations. Beautiful.

[@AutoShenanigans]

The power of music... it's a thought provoking piece. Gets me every time. Thanks for watching.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Thank you lads for this series, I have really enjoyed this from start to finish and look forward to seeing what you get up to next.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for sticking with us throughout! Just up in Kintyre making a film... watch this space ;-)

[@roberthindle5146]

"Props to you!" 😄 Glad you got that line in. You really do try.

[@DCS1967]

Having only discovered your channel this morning but I’ve binge watched and enjoyed a few of your series including this one! However, you kept saying you’ve done all the UK’s motorway services but you’ve missed two, Lisburn and Cohannon on the M1 in Northern Ireland! Great series though!

[@McRocket]

I agree with all of that. Lovely series...but not totally complete. No biggie though. ☮

[@gjclarke]

I agree totally, not all the UK's service stations have been covered. Great series though. Could also do secrets of all motorways in NI also

[@justinejones4527]

I'm sure if you provided sponsorship.......

[@88jerryw88]

Great series. I thought it was just me who liked to visit motorway services and just hang around.

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

If there is a Magna then there'll be a Parva, and there is indeed a Harborough Parva . As I remember it Magna means 'great' or (as in Magna Carta) and Parva means 'small'.

[@arthurvasey]

Be cool to ride my mobility scooter across “the long railway carriage” footbridge, if they built a similar thing here, linking one part of Taunton to another, with a slope at either end to accommodate wheelchairs, pushchairs, prams, buggies, shopping trolleys on wheels, suitcases on wheels and mobility scooters!

[@bryan3550]

Splendid stuff, Jon and cheers to Aiden too! I've scanned the comments but not found your conclusions as to which you found "The Best" and "The Worst"...

[@stephendavies923]

Well done guys and excellent last music from the Bum Notes, reminding me of the great TV series, Bottom.

[@ianclewer6684]

Really enjoyed this series and love your channel. Keep up the good work guys. 🎉

[@stephengibson3562]

PLEASE tell me you’re going to use that bridge book and do a series on all our bridges. Come visit us at the Humber Bridge!!!!

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

Hugely enjoyable series, superbly presented and engaging; props to you, lads 🙂 Suggestion for the future: Worst Motorway Junctions. Short sliproads; T-junction ends; tight curves; dumb sudden speed limits. M6 J15, the Liverpool end of the M62, M6 northbound to M62 towards Liverpool, the M58 junction to local roads around Skelmersdale that frequently leads to rolled artics… and that’s just in the Northwest. Would enjoy your take on those hazards to ongoing existence 😁

[@jamessage1982]

Thanks. Great videos. My Dad installed most of the David Fisher murals as they were great friends. He talks about the experience of doing it often. I'll share these videos to David's family.

[@halpoid]

Just finished the series. Bravo! Can't thank you enough. :))

[@AutoShenanigans]

thanks for watching

[@AkaWilf]

Excellent series Jon... I’ve visited quite a few of the service stations, and after watching your videos you’ve just inspired me to visit the rest... much easier now I’ve retired early. Trip commences this Sunday.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Best of luck and enjoy the trip! It's sensible to start after the summer holidays :D

[@Mr80sliveon]

Another missed one gateway services in North Wales just off the A55.. west bound only but not a standard site layout.. standalone my Donald's.. stand alone daysin.. stand alone OK diner.. stand alone Starbucks (i think iirc) and a shell garage...

[@scottgraham3682]

Hello enjoyed your motorway service station, motorways and hidden places

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching!

[@mw...]

The only good channel on KZbin

[@kevinwilkes5115]

well done brilliant series

[@warmonger12z]

Ah, Frankley North ... the place of much girding of loins for the final charge back up North after a day out at the Royal International Air Tattoo! I have been to RIAT twice and on each occasion the return drive needed no refuelling for the car, but the driver (me) was very much in need of caffeine to survive the last 96 miles back to Manchester ...

[@andrewbuckley9180]

This was a great series, many thanks indeed. If anyone had said that motorways, or indeed anything along their arduous and usually boring lengths would make for an interesting video then I would previously have said something like "No, surely not" or words to that effect. But you have surprised me and indeed surpassed my initial and clearly uneducated expectations beyond doubt. I am looking forward to the next series, whatever that may be. Bridges, silly roundabouts on motorways, tunnels maybe.....? Thanks again and keep 'em coming

[@intherealworld7705]

Congrats to the transport department in particular the transportation manager, and a smile at the last! We need more of you legends

[@AutoShenanigans]

Haha. Miserable git isn't he.

[@intherealworld7705]

@@AutoShenanigans next you should do all the piers in the UK. 50 odd in total and sure to be nice over winter! Meet you for a smoke at mumbles!

[@MLB9000]

Excellent series! Well done. Was hoping you would visit Rugby services (J1 of M6) but then noticed that this was filmed last year, so I don't think it was open then. I am a trucker and so I think I've been to almost every service area over the years, in fact I've spent the night at a lot of them! Coincidentally, I was born at Leicester Forest East, not the services but the maternity hospital in the village next to it, so maybe that accounts for my fascination with roads and cars.

[@stevelamb8849]

Thanks

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot mate, appreciate that

[@PaulMichael1084]

I absolutely LOVE that series. And you get extra style points for using the theme from The LEGENDARY Bottom to play you out with. Especially interesting for me was the footage of Daw Mill Colliery as I was one of 40 or so apprentices who started with UK Coal in the early noughties, I went to Thorsby in Nottinghamshire, and there were a few lads from Daw Mill on our course. Inevitably we drifted as time went on but I remember when the pit closed. I say again very well done to you on such a fine series. I'm now off to watch more Auto Shenanigans PS - One of the highlights of the series was your reaction to battered pizza!!

[@cbrue1896]

Fantastic channel! I am in the northwest corner of the US but I thoroughly enjoyed watching this channel. One thing I must say about this service station series is that stations on UKs Motorways are quite stocked! The closest that we have in the US is the service plazas that are located on our turnpikes. Here in the NW of the US, we do not have any turnpikes so our "motorways" do not have service stations/plazas. You have to exit the freeways to get services and get back on. Anyway, great series and channel for which I have subscribed. Thank you!

[@smogmonster1876]

Brilliant. Loved watching this series. Learned some useless bits of info. Thank you for a really enjoyable series.

[@88jerryw88]

Spent a Sunday morning catching up on all these episodes. Only 100 subs needed to you're at 100k. Well done.

[@nsein001]

Thank you for taking us on your trip.

[@paulbennett1349]

I have a bit of insider knowledge due to my job. If you would like to see more heritage installations and art, there is a national highways fund called the Environment and Wellbeing Designated Fund available to apply for by anyone in England. You can start by getting funding for a feasibility study to see if your idea is worth doing and do an outline design and budget to take it forward. The “health and safety” reasons for not being able to access the taller structures like Forton is the lack of a fire escape. They are used for storage.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

The Ford Mustang! They thought of using them for police duty down under however during the evaluation process their engines kept blowing up after 10-15 minutes of high speed operation. Thus they were deemed to be unusable by the police. Cheap though, they cost about half of the BMWs they ultimately chose instead.

[@NeilCuthbert]

I saw the comments about A road services. One oddity I’ve thought about the A9 north of Perth is that they took the decision not to build service stations along the route with the aim of protecting the towns and villages that were bypassed. The result is that old style motor grills still exist at Ballinluig and Newtonmore and these are worth a visit.

[@robtrunley]

5150 miles you guys are legends, well done! and loving your work!

[@johnlewan1114]

Top notch, bloody good show, a whirlwind tour of what was quite possibly the most boring subject matter ever. And yet I sat and watched it all. Thank you so much, or curse you all, I'm not sure which is appropriate.

[@Mike-H_UK]

Just binge watched a load of these mate. You guys certainly give Michael Portillo's antics on trains a real run for his money. Many thanks!!! BTW, what was your favourite services? My wife has been asking me! She reckons that it is Gloucester with the farm shop. I prefer the architectural style at Lancaster. I suspect Ringway Manchester would prefer Membury or Rivington with the transmit antennas nearby!!

[@moorlandmonster3540]

Thankyou for this series, I severely enjoyed it.

[@adamwaller5496]

Strangely moving and moving strangely. I think we're all winners here but Moto are especially winny. The ruined modern castle was my highlight really, and I've given it a lot of thought.

[@Idylla]

Great series thanks!

[@itswhiteylad8696]

This has been excellent, loved seeing the extra sites you wouldn't normally see when you're whizzing past at ahem 70 MPH unless you stop at the services and know what to look for!! Also a great use of the track the "Bum notes" which is also the theme tune of Bottom starring the late great Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmundson (like you probably already didn't know that anyway, but maybe some don't)

[@AutoShenanigans]

Loved that show and absolutely the inspirational series we need. Rip rik.

[@itswhiteylad8696]

@@AutoShenanigans You and me both, that and the Young Ones were a huge part of my growing up as a teen into adulthood, I mean who hasn't had a knock on the door and gone "Cripes it's the gasman" and then proceeded to shout "GASMAN, GASMAN, GASMAAAAAAAAAAAN!!" at a bewildered guy just coming to "read your meter" luckily now-a-days most know the dialogue and respond accordingly with "do you have someone who looks after you" etc

[@PrinceBarin77]

This was a belter 👍👏

[@Beardchanics]

Gorgeous, some of those would make such amazing playground!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Next time we need an off roader. Or bike. Thanks for watching!

[@shandyholliday]

Excellent series, I always like a road trip. What was the best and worst services visited? Keep up the good work.

[@88jerryw88]

When I first visited motorway services around 40 years ago they were actually about service, in that the toilets would be close to the entrance. As they have been refurbished the toilets have all moved to the back, so one has to walk past all the retail experiences to get there.

[@CooperSTraveller]

Just binge watched the entire playlist .. you’ll have to cross the Irish Sea and visit all the Northern Irish service stations (one episode for all of them) and the Republic of Ireland ones (maybe a couple of episode worth).

[@fitnessisgood4u]

Thanks lads. And the montage at the end was fab. Great work and thanks again. 🙂

[@paulstevens64]

Best episode so far. Well done guys. It's lot more fun when you let the "coffee holder" talk as well!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Agreed. He's a bit camera shy. Bless.

[@mikeswift6713]

Only just tripped over your fascinating series and as I have visited quite a few Motorway Service stations watched them all. A bit late now and I don’t know if you read comments on 12 month old videos but there seems to be an omission. I didn’t see a visit to Hartshead Moor Services, this isn’t a place I’ve often visited as it’s only a 16 minute drive from where I live. The reason maybe the fact I can’t find Episode 9 on You Tube. A very interesting channel, thanks.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching. Hartshead moor is in episode 7 :)

[@mikeswift6713]

@@AutoShenanigans Thanks for the reply, I did watch that episode, I must have been distracted when you visited Heartshead. I have only visited once when returning from one of our many visits returning from Scotland via the A1 and M62 when as someone of advancing years despite only being a few minutes from home a toilet stop was super urgent. Driving up the A1 to get to Scotland, be it east or west coast, was my preferred route, a stop at Scotch Corner was ideal to break the journey from Kirkheaton near Huddersfield, I am not a fan of the M6. Love your videos.

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

Much late to this series but thoroughly enjoyed seeing the UK system.

[@NikEastwood161]

loved this series, have been watching it over the last few days, but unless I missed something did you really do them all? M6 Services - Lymm, Knutsford, Crewe, Keele, Stafford, Hilton Park? also M56 - Chester Services, some videos I watched were after a few strong beers so if you covered them please point me in the right direction, ta. keep up the good work. Petrol Stations of the UK a suggestion perhaps?

[@stevec00ps]

Just watched this whole series in 2 nights, loved it :D

[@orwellboy1958]

For some reason youtube have started recommending this series again in 2024. It's amazing how this channel has grown to 135k well deserved subs. My only regret is I can't give it another like. Such a 'welcome break' (pun intended) away from all the political nonsense.

[@robertdavies922]

What a series - love it!

[@philipellis7039]

Went to a couple of services today and was thinking I should go back and find them on your channel. First was Woolley Edge, have to find the previous video, and Tamworth. I missed the closed road but quite a pleasant services ( once you’ve got around the awful traffic at the junction) . Nice to see Frankley, just a few miles from my house. You missed the ‘ghost restaurant.’ Apparently there is a large room within the services ( south bound I think) for an extra dining room that’s never been used since 1966; if this is true presumably full of dust by now.

[@AutoShenanigans]

A good point.. I've read about the restaurant but am led to believe all the fixtures and interesting things are gone. Just a dusty space behind a partition wall now from what I understand. Thanks for watching

[@nickhammond]

I've only just found your channel, so far so good. The subsidance that you mentioned at Corley Services was more likely caused by the even closer Coventry Colliery located in Keresley. The site is now a "distribution site", also encompassing the site of the former Homefire smokeless fuel plant, although it retains its branch line connection with the rail network

[@regularguy3665]

Can’t remember how or why I found this channel/playlist but watched ep. 10 first and just had to go to the beginning and watch them all. Was a bit of a chuckle at first but then I realised I’ve probably been to at least 30 of them, some in adversity. The worst I’ve ever been to is Bridgwater. Needed the can after one too many coffees and pulled up there for a quick pit stop. Got into the car park and genuinely considered just getting out of the car and taking a leak right there. Would probably have made the place smell better tbh. Least favourite visit - Telford when supervising a school trip. Loads of kids went to Wales for a few days and then swapped over with another group but the bloody coach was late incoming and got stuck there with like 60 kids for about 2 hours. Scariest was Trowell southbound , the bonnet on my Cinquecento sporting came undone and flipped into the windscreen. We were a few yards away from the slip and my passenger directed me into the car park whilst hanging out of the window. A year or two later my timing belt (on a different car) snapped whilst passing northbound and again a few years later whilst passing Trowell north the car in front of me jettisoned its back box and I was boxed in either side so had nowhere to go. Luckily it stayed down and I went over it rather than it coming through the screen. I tend to avoid M1 25-26 in either direction if at all possible these days. Favourite is Gloucester but I want to check out Killington and the Leeds one too.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Leeds Skelton is nice and new... Killington has a decent view with nice tables though!

[@nosferatudavies8836]

I’m a new subscriber.Absolutely brilliant channel! Can’t wait for more!

[@surfblue63]

If you guys are up near the Borders again you should check out the Union Bridge. PS Thanks for the entertainment.

[@AutoShenanigans]

We were up at Berwick a few weeks back, didn't know about this bridge.. it looks great!

[@MrGreatplum]

My wife thinks I’m weird enough so I haven’t told her I’ve watched this series in motorway service stations!

[@joshovki]

Common one in our house "You watching that fella talk about motorways again?!"... technically no

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Enjoyed watching this ,, what was your favourite services. Superb bottom theme

[@matthewhodder3029]

Well done chaps

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate

[@simonjohnstone6671]

Never knew about Rugby services, Tamworth along with Leicester Forest East is a common stop off point travelling to and from Leeds, also have a pun about Frankley services, Frankley my dear, I don’t give a damn from the classic film Gone with the Wind

[@AutoShenanigans]

Puntastic! I'll remember that for next time :D

[@PhilReynoldsLondonGeek]

There are two service areas complete opposites of each other on this episode. Frankley and Tamworth are complete opposites if you have the double complication of towing a trailer and using a wheelchair. My sister, travelling with me on one occasion, pointed out that there is no way to guarantee alongside access if you park a car with trailer on two "end-to-end" spaces in the main car park, and if you park in the caravan area there is a massive staircase or a really awkward long way round to deal with. Tamworth is the only service area I have ever seen with a "disabled caravanners" bay. As for Harborough Magna, any place name "Someplace Magna" is basically "Great Someplace", derived from Latin. "Parva" similarly means "Little". On old maps, you see this more often... for example, on Christopher Saxton's 1577 map of Staffordshire you can see "Haywood mga." and "Haywood pva," - Great Haywood and Little Haywood.

[@ukroadtrips2102]

Well done lads! Been a very enjoyable series to watch! Next up could be all of the A road service stations in the UK? 😂😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching. It was thought about but with approx 220 sites, that's 4 years worth of episodes! :D

[@ukroadtrips2102]

@@AutoShenanigans I'd be up for watching though! Writing this from Stafford Services as we speak!

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@ukroadtrips2102 I don't think we're ready to commit 4 years to service stations :-D

[@fredbloggs8072]

You could always limit it to just A-road service stations of interest, or ones that are a bit quirky. There's services on on the A12 with an Ann Summers-style "Adult" shop! (Previously a Little Chef). That's Essex for you.

[@edbrown84]

Thanks for the series. I really enjoyed it

[@i2006r]

Really enjoyed this series. Thanks guys!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching!

[@jordancatley5656]

Fantastic series I love all the abandoned things you have featured. I didn’t notice Lymm poplar 2000 services on the m6 or is it classed as a truck stop?

[@JRLNeal]

Hock dickedee dam! Indeed! Can I humbly put you right on the origin of Harborough Magna. Leaning heavily on my grade 5 Latin a level of 1967 it is clear to me that the name was created by the Romans in 123 A.D. as well you know the Romans were very keen road builders and would have scant regard for locals as they ploughed through the English countryside with their dead straight roads flattening villages and towns in their wake. However, in the Midlands the locals were made of sterner stuff and objected to the way the Romans worked. The women in particular were as hard as nails and pretty big, definitely not pretty AND big. So the hard cases of the borough were called Harborough Magna. Literally the ‘Big Hard Women of The Borough’. Descendants of these formidable women can be found locally working for a unique lorry tyre replacement company that specialise in removing truck tyres with their bare hands.

[@darshitcumdeepgupta6998]

Thank you for the fab content. On some of the episodes you used the "rear access" roads to enter/exit, didnt you get any parking tickets from the ANPR parking cameras, like if they saw you just enter but not exit from the proper exit slip, would they not send a ticket for overstaying the 2 hours free parking ?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching! In some cases, the rear access is "legit" and you can use it as you please. In other cases, we took a risk... no tickets yet! ;-) Most are ANPR controlled so they know when you drive in and out etc.

[@sazwell]

This series shouldn't have been entertaining but it really was 🤣 nice one

[@AutoShenanigans]

🤣 Thanks for watching.

[@sazwell]

@@AutoShenanigans beaut cars too 👌

[@madhatter61]

Green Lane was just green lane, a country road to hirchmoor. When the services were built it severed the road and to stop it being as short cut and to keep it as emergency access it was gated. The business park was built after the services. There was a small fire in burger King about 2000 and part of it had to be rebuilt. It was originally granada, it was extended when they tried to add shopping streets to their service areas. The bookies outside is built on what was the base for a 1960s American caravan diner . It was frequented by radio djs. It was an experiment by moto with Rock Island Diner from London. They had another one in the main building at Stafford North. Both closed. The caravan was removed and I believe was shopped back to America, I'm not sure. Tamworty services recently fought a planning application by mcdonalds for a restaurant on the access roundabout. Hodgetts estates have also put a planning application in for a new truck stop and business park the other side of the m42 roundabout. June 2022 saw the redevelopment of the main restaurant area and a larger Costa, a new kfc, a new pret, new central seating area, removal of noodle shop, new disabled toilets and refurbished toilets. Extended greggs . Green Lane is a popular entrance for locals and walkers.

[@sayethvexus8332]

I wouldn't say the pun at Rugby was particularly funny, but it was a good try.

[@JimmyRyan13]

I'll never look at service stations the same way again and will definitely have a wander at my next. Maybe your next series could be truck stop related 🤔

[@AutoShenanigans]

We're not allowed into truck stops! No truck..

[@JimmyRyan13]

@@AutoShenanigans Sort it out then 😉

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@JimmyRyan13 I would love a truck

[@JimmyRyan13]

@@AutoShenanigans I've just about finished converting an ex military 4x4 truck into a go anywhere overland camper. Probably does the same MPG as your car 😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@JimmyRyan13 that sounds awesome. The truck...not mpg 😂

[@DavidWilliams-wp4po]

Great been to most as hgv driver. But I think you missed Lymm and Pease Pottage

[@AutoShenanigans]

Episode 2 for Pease Pottage ;-) We skipped any that were down as truck stops incl. Lymm.

[@rodzilla4rilla]

Strangely fascinating. Wife thinks I’m bonkers watching but hey , she is a girl 😘

[@Jameshoward999]

Harbrough magna is a village just outside rugby..

[@AutoShenanigans]

It is, and also has a stupid name.

[@discombobulatedbiscuit232]

just discovered your channel, great series guys

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@nicks4934]

Lancaster Forton is the best!

[@whya2ndaccount]

Now that you have a baseline for 2021, when will see "All The Motorway Service Stations - Where are they now"?

[@chrispalin728]

What a great series of programmes, something which you would think should be so mundane kept me watching all 12 episodes! Did you do Lymm Services on M6 J20?

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'm glad to hear! The 1st (pilot) episode is a bit "meh" but it get's better from there I think :D Lymm is a truckstop and we decided not to visit truck stops during the series. However, never say never! Thanks for watching :)

[@TerribleFire]

Time to complete the set with a northern ireland trip... or rename the "UK" references to Great Britain... thats probably easier actually :)

[@orwellboy1958]

It's a long time, too long in fact since I've been to N.I. but I don't remember any motorway service stations.

[@Boreas74]

Lisburn and Templepatrick, both fairly new I think

[@jrevillug]

3:30 Introducing... Project Binky!

[@jacksonmacmanus1001]

forgot to add Stop24 who run folkstone services to your list of "thanks to"

[@jamiemccarroll158]

Were you visiting all of the services in Great Britain or the UK? There are two in Northern Ireland that you haven't been to.

[@jameshodgkins9586]

Do you guys actually have a Patreon? Loved the series guys brilliant stuff!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nope!

[@funfairclipsuk_]

No lymm services by Moto?

[@scottgraham3682]

You said you were in Scotland what video is it ?

[@justinejones4527]

Final episode and Aidan seems quite animated

[@AutoShenanigans]

He was probably pleased it was all over :D

[@edbrown84]

How about "all the bridges" series next?

[@henkmeerdink2088]

"Props to you..." Not sure whether to groan, or appplaud...

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Back in the 6ts they were simply known as mway tport caffs.

[@johngalt6929]

The next series is going to be "Rest Stop Hoookers".

[@MrsG7swr]

i am watching out of order hope you covered the ones in northern Ireland or this was too soon

[@AutoShenanigans]

You might be disappointed!

[@fredbloggs8072]

There can't be many people who have visited every single motorway service station in Britain. Might you be the first/only people to have done it?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Surprisingly no, we're not the first.. check out Rich aka @TheServicesKing on twitter... this guy has visited ALL the services, including the A road ones.

[@Boreas74]

Aren't there two services in Northern Ireland?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes. The official but never explained rules for the series discounted Ireland and looked at mainland UK.

[@paulm5885]

No lymm no daventry?

[@AutoShenanigans]

At the time, Lymm was a truck stop only which we didn't include on this journey. I'm not familiar with Daventry services... I assume it's on an A road? Thanks for watching mate.

[@ArchdukeJake]

Which episode had the Moto Grantham North Station?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Hi, thanks for watching. That wasn't one we visited as it's an "A road" service station rather than a motorway one. We had to draw a line somewhere, there are so many! :D

[@angienorthey]

Think I need a night in a Travelodge after binge-watching all 12 vids! Love the travel, urbex, disused roads etc., but the 'look at my car' bits...boring.