Motorway service area Motorway service area Motorway service areas in the United Kingdom, also known as 'service stations' or 'services', are places where drivers can leave a motorway to refuel/recharge, rest, eat and drink, shop or stay in an on-site overnight hotel. The vast majority of motorway services in the UK are owned by one of three companies: Moto, Welcome Break and Roadchef. Smaller operators include Extra, Westmorland and EuroGarages. The first service area in the UK was at Watford Gap on the M1, which opened with the motorway on 2 November 1959. As more service stations opened, the number of operating companies
Extra (service areas) is currently the fastest developing service station operator in the UK with three areas opening, one each year up to 2010. The most recent station to open was at Cobham in late 2012. Future sites plan to maximise areas of the road system that have few service areas, and will be developed by Swayfields Ltd, who own the Extra company. Service stations due to open: Extra (service areas) Extra MSA Services Ltd is a company which operates 9 motorway service stations in the United Kingdom, mainly on primary routes. It is based at Beaconsfield services, previously being in the centre