Michaelwood services
| Michaelwood Services | |
|---|---|
View in July 2016 | |
Michaelwood Services Location within Gloucestershire | |
| Information | |
| County | Gloucestershire |
| Road | M5 Motorway |
| Coordinates: | 51°39′22″N 2°25′52″W / 51.656°N 2.431°W |
| Operator | Welcome Break |
| Date opened | 3 December 1971 |
| Website | welcomebreak |
Michaelwood services is a double sided motorway service station on the M5 motorway near Dursley, England. It is owned by Welcome Break.
History
The site was first announced in early October 1969, when the M5 had reached Avonmouth.[1]
It was built by George Wimpey, to take six months.[2] Wimpey had built two M5 sections from Almondsbury to Eastington, Stroud. The site was extended from June 1979 to March 1980,[3] costing £1m.[4] A £145,000 steel footbridge was added during 1981.[5]
It opened on 3 December 1971, along with 19 miles (31 km) of the M5, which cost £14m, with the opening ceremony next to the service area,[6] run by Mobil Motorway Services.[7]
In early 1980 a coach of Birmingham football supporters looted an unattended shop, appearing at Dursley magistrates.[8] On Tuesday 29 April 1997 the IRA claimed that a bomb was placed in the service area, and the M5 was closed from junctions 11 to 14.[9] Armed police were called at 8am on 29 June 1999.[10]
Facilities
The site ran out of fuel in early December 1973, along with other M5 service areas,[11] and again in late May 1979.[12] Ross Motorway Services took over from early 1977, headquartered at Leicester Forest East services. Motoross became Welcome Break in the mid-1980s.
It was underestimated how popular the services would be in the 1970s and early 1980s, in the summer.[13]
On St George's Day in 1983 the restaurant had a themed menu, and guests were greeted by a staff member dressed as a dragon.[14]
The service area received a glowing report by Which? Magazine in July 1991, describing the restaurant as being 'peaceful' and 'attractively decorated'. Pont Abraham Services was also praised. It also gave Strensham services a terrible report (along with Farthing Corner and Charnock Richard services), but that was often due to long queues, and dirty toilets.[15][16]
Throughout February 1992 the site offered a free meal to anyone called Michael Wood, with other service areas offering the same to such eponymous guests.[17][18]
References
- ^ Western Daily Press 7 October 1969, page 9
- ^ The Scotsman 17 October 1972, page 5
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 8 May 1979, page 17
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 23 January 1980, page 3
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 5 May 1981, page 3
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 3 December 1971, page 13
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 17 March 1972, page 44
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 12 February 1980, page 10
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 30 April 1997, page 5
- ^ Gloucester Citizen 30 June 1999, page 7
- ^ Birmingham Daily Post 6 December 1973, page 22
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 30 May 1979, page 1
- ^ Bristol Evening Post 8 March 1976, page 3
- ^ Western Daily Press 23 April 1983, page 1
- ^ Gloucester Citizen 30 July 1991, page 6
- ^ Times August 1 1991, page 5
- ^ Nottingham Evening Post 10 February 1992, page 7
- ^ Northampton Chronicle and Echo 10 February 1992, page 5