Rotherham Services M1 - Now Open

[TheGuy77]

Rotherham - motorway services

Guide to Rotherham services on the M1 at J33: location of Welcome Break services at Rotherham, Rotherham services reviews and more about Rotherham services from Motorway Services Online, the motorway service station guide.

motorwayservices.uk

Work is underway on a new service area with a strange layout, as it straddles both sides of the M1 at J33. It was designed by Applegreen for Welcome Break, and is scheduled to open early in January 2025.

The new Rotherham service station is scheduled to open next month. What are your thoughts?

Personally, I preferred the Smithy Wood Extra plan, but then again, at least neither are Motos.

 

[thejuggler]

My regular exit so I've seen this been built over the last few years.

It is needed but it is close to Woodhall. Jcn 35 was the more sensible location and its nowhere Meadowhell which at this time of year causes the M1 to become a car park.

 

[TheGuy77]

Meadowhell which at this time of year causes the M1 to become a car park.

Is it just me or do I think Meadowhall could do with a basement car park?

 

[thejuggler]

Basement parking in an area known for severe flooding events in the recent past probably isn't a wise idea.

 

[TheGuy77]

Basement parking in an area known for severe flooding events in the recent past probably isn't a wise idea.

Mind you, forgot about that.

But anyways, it seems like it has been confirmed to open on Friday.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Can't imagine I'll have much use for these services, as any journey involving the M1 I'll either have only just set off or I'll be nearly home. That said, the cluster of service areas around Sheffield do get very busy during the main holiday weeks... sometimes to the extent of queues tailing back onto the motorway carriageway.

 

[TheGuy77]

Rotherham - motorway services

Guide to Rotherham services on the M1 at J33: location of Welcome Break services at Rotherham, Rotherham services reviews and more about Rotherham services from Motorway Services Online, the motorway service station guide.

motorwayservices.uk

The new Rotherham service station is scheduled to open next month. What are your thoughts?

Personally, I preferred the Smithy Wood Extra plan, but then again, at least neither are Motos.

Same page says services are opening tomorrow!

First look inside new £40m M1 services on Parkway

A £40m service station has opened at the end of Sheffield Parkway for weary motorway travellers and the odd commuter.

www.thestar.co.uk

Seems like the services is now open! Design looks very unusual but very clean and reminds me of the Trafford Centre...

 

[Russel]

Personally, I preferred the Smithy Wood Extra plan, but then again, at least neither are Motos.

To be fair to Moto, the last couple I've been to have been refurbished and were a decent standard...

 

[eastwestdivide]

There's also a new X6 very limited stop bus service, between Sheffield and Rotherham, calling in at the services. I guess primarily for people working there. Five returns a day.

New X6 service

All aboard! Sheffield to Rotherham direct with your new X6 service Starting from Friday 17th January, we will be introducing a new service running from Sheffield Moorfoot, Rotherham Welcome Break services and Rotherham Interchange.

www.firstbus.co.uk

 

[Egg Centric]

Since it's on Junction 33 there's no "secret exit" to know about to leave the motorway in cases of disruption either as far as I can tell. Almost always use the M18 (if I've not crossed to the A1 at the Black Cat) and there doesn't seem to be any other reason to think there's anything "special" about these services, so I can't see myself using them any time soon. Am I missing anything?

 

[styles]

Burger King, Chopstix Noodle Bar, KFC, Pret A Manger, Starbucks, The Good Breakfast, Starbucks Drive Thru, Hershey's Freeze, Jolly Rancher Slush, Krispy Kreme, Reese's Freeze, Starbucks on the Go

So inspiring.

Another set of services I'll only stop at for a slash, shower, and fuel.

Why can't a brand new large service station get some decent place to eat?

 

[Egg Centric]

So inspiring.

Another set of services I'll only stop at for a slash, shower, and fuel.

Why can't a brand new large service station get some decent place to eat?

It's actually quite interesting but the very short answer is that historical over regulation of the sector made it an oligopoly and we're only slowly moving away from that; in the meantime that oligopoly (with a small number of minor players) plus the very limited amount of new motorway building (and consequent relative lack of demand for new services) makes the choice poor in most places, indeed pretty similar even between supposedly separate operators.

A lot of parallel with the railway actually! Currently Westmorland services are like the original Grand Central were, standing head and shoulders over the competition by being a little bit different / family owned / old fashioned but I fear heading the way Grand Central did. I hope I'm wrong about that and they are certainly the surperior operator for now.

 

[styles]

It's actually quite interesting but the very short answer is that historical over regulation of the sector made it an oligopoly and we're only slowly moving away from that; in the meantime that oligopoly (with a small number of minor players) plus the very limited amount of new motorway building (and consequent relative lack of demand for new services) makes the choice poor in most places, indeed pretty similar even between supposedly separate operators.

A lot of parallel with the railway actually! Currently Westmorland services are like the original Grand Central were, standing head and shoulders over the competition by being a little bit different / family owned / old fashioned but I fear heading the way Grand Central did. I hope I'm wrong about that and they are certainly the surperior operator for now.

Agree with most of this, except the bit about lack of demand.

About once a month I do a round trip from Edinburgh to Prestatyn and I always stop at Tebay, even if just for a coffee. I swear it's constantly busy, even at silly hours of the night. I know others nearby who do the same - save their break stop for Tebay/Cairn Lodge.

That said, I've no idea how difficult it is to get planning permission to build a set of services. I imagine it becomes quite complex dealing not only with the local councils, but also the highways authorities (e.g. National Highways in England).

 

[Egg Centric]

I know others nearby who do the same - save their break stop for Tebay/Cairn Lodge.

That's the thing though, anyone who "knows about services" will favour those two (and Glousceter) because of the operator. And those travelling at night are more likely to be regular motorway users. So without knowing that this is the case I should imagine thy have unusual night time demand compared to the rest.

(A forum thread about services might be fun. There are other reasons to recommend some - for example I enjoy Leicester Forest East for grub not because the food itself is any good, but sitting in the bridge over the motorway while eating it is brilliant).

 

[styles]

That's the thing though, anyone who "knows about services" will favour those two (and Glousceter) because of the operator. And those travelling at night are more likely to be regular motorway users. So without knowing that this is the case I should imagine thy have unusual night time demand compared to the rest.

Even if that is the case, does it not show that there's demand for it, at least from frequent motorway drivers?

Speak to a lot of frequent long distance drivers in the UK and (in my experience) they'll complain about services. A Burger King a day might sound great to somebody considering a sales career, but the reality is different.

 

[Egg Centric]

Even if that is the case, does it not show that there's demand for it, at least from frequent motorway drivers?

Speak to a lot of frequent long distance drivers in the UK and (in my experience) they'll complain about services. A Burger King a day might sound great to somebody considering a sales career, but the reality is different.

Sorry I was referring to more service stations. I totally agree theres the demand for more variety in the existing ones.

 

[styles]

Sorry I was referring to more service stations. I totally agree theres the demand for more variety in the existing ones.

AH I see what you mean - agree on that. If anything I think the food options south of the border are unnecessarily frequent (though presumably sales figures contradict my anecdotal evidence). That said, they're obviously necessary from a rest and caffeine point of view.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So inspiring.

Another set of services I'll only stop at for a slash, shower, and fuel.

Why can't a brand new large service station get some decent place to eat?

They are what most people want. Most people don't want a sit down knife and fork restaurant like Tebay etc have. And even given that they have, they aren't actually that good - certainly not much above Wetherspoons standard at a much higher price.

 

[PeterC]

They are what most people want. Most people don't want a sit down knife and fork restaurant like Tebay etc have. And even given that they have, they aren't actually that good - certainly not much above Wetherspoons standard at a much higher price.

Enough people at Tebay and Gloucester seem to want one.

I prefer driving north on the A1 simply because there are places to stop for lunch rather than a Greggs pastie or greasy Chozen noodles.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Enough people at Tebay and Gloucester seem to want one.

I prefer driving north on the A1 simply because there are places to stop for lunch rather than a Greggs pastie or greasy Chozen noodles.

Google Maps to be fair means you can choose somewhere off the motorway that suits. Morrisons cafes are a good value bet if you want something akin to the old motorway "Granary" cafes but at a far lower price and without it having sat there under heat lamps all day*, or you can find a nice pub. But in terms of actual motorway service areas I find the offering at Rugby close to perfect - if I'm stopping there rather than going off the motorway it's because I have limited time and just want quick takeaway options.

* This is a big problem with the quality of the food at Tebay/Gloucester for what it's worth.

 

[styles]

They are what most people want. Most people don't want a sit down knife and fork restaurant like Tebay etc have. And even given that they have, they aren't actually that good - certainly not much above Wetherspoons standard at a much higher price.

Given how busy those services are, I beg to differ.

The reason so many people pop to BK at services is because it's the only thing on offer.

Most people sit down in the building to have their KFC/BK so I'm unconvinced on the lack of desire for sit-down food either (I mean, you can't/shouldn't eat while driving anyway). The service is actually faster than the likes of McDonald's/KFC I find, as it's cooked in batch and ready to serve, whereas burger joints have switched to everything cook-to-order.

As for quality, eh, I don't think they're Wetherspoons microwave standard, but they're not Michellin starred. It's fresh batch-cooked food at a reasonable standard.

Pretty much anyone I know who does my regular route would take Tebay over McDonald's any day. I give lifts to people going hiking and they always choose to wait for better services, so I think the demand is there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interestingly the Harvester (which did offer sit down meals of, I'd say, a better standard than Tebay) at the M1-A50 junction didn't last, presumably due to low demand, and was replaced by something else fast foody - KFC maybe?

I think Tebay/Gloucester have managed to set themselves up as an interesting curiosity - almost a destination in their own right. I'm not sure it'd work anywhere near as well if every services was like that. There'll after all be a reason why they spent a load of money converting "Granary" self service restaurants (which were essentially the same thing as Tebay/Gloucester offer) to fast food places.

 

[styles]

I'm confused - Tbey/Gloucester aren't 'self serve restaurants'?

They do customised salads, wraps, etc which I think is a great addition, but it's still a staff member who does it.

Agree that like most 'farm shops' they have become an attraction mind.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm confused - Tbey/Gloucester aren't 'self serve restaurants'?

A self-service restaurant is where you queue to purchase your own food and take it to your own table rather than being served at the table by a member of waitstaff.

What you're thinking of is a buffet restaurant (which they indeed are not).

Agree that like most 'farm shops' they have become an attraction mind.

It would be interesting to know what proportion of their customers eating in the restaurant have made a specific trip there. I suspect it'd be a nontrivial number.

 

[Egg Centric]

It would be interesting to know what proportion of their customers eating in the restaurant have made a specific trip there. I suspect it'd be a nontrivial number.

Same for the farm shop I suspect. It's overpriced as a farm shop for what it is BUT it's open far longer hours and has a better range than most. The hours thing particularly makes a big difference - I live a few miles from the best farm shop butchery in the country but don't get to go there as often as I like simply cause it's open 9-5. I have a job to do! Whereas Tebay the farm shop is open till past 10pm (even if the butcher closes relatively early at 6). It's too far for me to go as a destination in itself but if I'm in the vicinity I'm likely to go there simply for that reason.

 

[Noddy]

They are what most people want. Most people don't want a sit down knife and fork restaurant like Tebay etc have. And even given that they have, they aren't actually that good - certainly not much above Wetherspoons standard at a much higher price.

How many times do we have to have to have this conversation??!! Yes they are more expensive, but not ‘much higher’! A few quid maybe, we’ve discussed this all already! As to quality that is debatable and very much a matter of personal opinion. Although as I had a neighbour that supplied Westmorland, I strongly suspect their ingredients are more premium, and certainly more locally sourced.

Wetherspoons Lasagne 10.03 (with a soft drink)
Westmorland Lasagne 11.95 (no drink but 3% of all kitchen sales (at Gloucester at least) goes to the local community development charity)

So inspiring.

Another set of services I'll only stop at for a slash, shower, and fuel.

Why can't a brand new large service station get some decent place to eat?

Extra Services are also generally better than the ‘big three’ (Welcome Break/Moto/Road Chef) but they over expanded themselves in the early 2000s and nearly bankrupted themselves so their expansion plans got heavily delayed. They have a couple of sites in development, including one at Catherine de Barnes on the M42 which has permission but has been delayed by the whole smart motorway review/fiasco. Hopefully Westmorland and Extra can continue to expand and don’t get bought out by one of the big three.

 

[route101]

I don't see the big gap between the services on M1 for Rotherham. Woodall to the South and Wooley Edge to the North.

 

[D365]

I don't see the big gap between the services on M1 for Rotherham. Woodall to the South and Wooley Edge to the North.

This is what I was wondering too. But apparently, Rotherham is to fill a gap on the M1(N) - M18 route.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

(A forum thread about services might be fun. There are other reasons to recommend some - for example I enjoy Leicester Forest East for grub not because the food itself is any good, but sitting in the bridge over the motorway while eating it is brilliant).

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/motorway-services-discussion.259862/ has you covered. It was only on the third page back...