Britain’s most iconic motorway service station beloved by stars to be DEMOLISHED for new EV-friendly replacement
BRITAIN'S most iconic motorway service station and beloved by stars is set to be demolished for an EV-friendly replacement.
The M1 station, which was once referred to in such high regard musicians thought it was a London nightclub, first opened as Watford Gap Services in 1959.
Over the years it became known as Blue Boar and was a popular spot for the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd as the stars made their way to gigs.
But it could soon be the end of an era as the UK's first service station, now known as Roadchef, may soon be knocked to the ground.
The site is looking to be redeveloped to make way for space for EV drivers to park while they charge and a two-storey car park.
There are also plans to build luxury airport-style lounges, where businesspeople can stop.
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But the proposal hasn't been welcomed by all - with some saying the current Northamptonshire building holds too many good memories to be let go.
In the 1960s the station became the meeting place for musicians and it was even described as the "epicentre of cool".
Sir Cliff Richard and Jimi Hendrix were also regulars at the site - which first opened as a wooden shed with a single petrol pump.
It was Hendrix who had initially heard so much about Blue Boar that he was said to have thought it was a London nightclub – until he visited.
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The spot also became such a hot spot for stars that staff started collecting autographs.
Beatrice England, who worked the night shift at Blue Boar Services, had an book that included the signatures of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, The Eagles, Dusty Springfield and Sir Cliff Richard.
Roy Harper, a renowned folk guitarist, even wrote a song called Watford Gap.
It included the lines: “It’s the Watford Gap, Watford Gap, a plate of grease and a load of crap.”
But Mark Fox, Roadchef’s chief executive, said it is now in desperate need of an upgrade.
He told the : “Watford gap, which is the original service station opened in 1959, just needs to be knocked down and rebuilt.
“It’s past its sell-by date, particularly the southbound, which was the first one opened. We’ve spent money on it over the years and inside it’s kind of okay.
“But we’re not proud of it as a physical asset and we want to build a new one on the corner of the site and then level the old one.”
Mr Fox said Roadchef had already designed a “contemporary modern building” to replace the building - complete with air conditioning and charging facilities for up to 150 cars.
However, Catherine Croft, director of the Twentieth Century Society, which campaigns to protect Britain’s iconic post-1914 buildings, said Watford Gap was a cultural and architectural icon.
She said its demolition would be a great loss.
Ms Croft said: “Service stations like Watford Gap celebrated the glamour and sense of possibility that travel within the UK offered, and in most cases made innovative use of new materials, both robust concrete on the exteriors and new synthetic fabrics, carpets and curtains in vibrant colours indoors.”
She added that the history should perhaps be commemorated at the site once the building is gone.
She said: “Perhaps the saddest thing is that much of what made these places so exciting and special was down to the graphics, the furniture and the sense that they were at the time the only place likely to open for lonely night owls wanting to get together with a real mix of people. All long gone.
“We need a real counterpoint to the mediocrity and blandness we generally put up with at service stations today.”
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Roadchef is currently negotiating a new lease with the Department for Transport (DfT) which owns both the northbound and southbound sites before starting any redevelopment.
A DfT spokesman said it was in discussions with the operators but was strongly supportive of moves to expand charging facilities.
