Knutsford Services

{{Short description|Motorway service station in Cheshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox Motorway Services |image = Knutsford_Motorway_Services_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35882.jpg |image_caption = The southbound main building. |name = Knutsford Services |road = M6 |county = Cheshire |operator = Moto Hospitality |previousoperator = |dateopened = 15 November 1963<ref>{{cite web|page=2|url=https://memoriesofrxmp.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rank-Organisation-ARA-1964.pdf|title=The Rank Organisation Annual Report and Accounts 1964|website=Memories of Rank Xerox at Mitcheldean}}</ref> |website = {{URL|https://moto-way.com/services/knutsford-northbound/}} |location_map = Cheshire#United Kingdom motorways |map_caption = Location in Cheshire, England##Location on the UK motorway network |coordinates = {{coord|53.3001|-2.4021|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} }} '''Knutsford Services''' is a motorway service station on the M6 in Cheshire, England.

==History== thumb|left|Aerial photograph of Knutsford Services The headquarters of Tarmac for the {{convert|15|mi|sing=on}} North Cheshire M6 section was at Over Tabley. Work on the Cheshire motorway section started on 28 June 1961, officially by Sir Wesley Emberton, from junctions 18 to 20.<ref>''Birmingham Daily Post'' 29 June 1961, page 10</ref>

===Construction=== The contract was awarded to Top Rank on 28 September 1961,<ref>''Times'' 29 September 1961, page 20</ref> for 12 acres, with 48 petrol pumps.<ref>''Cheshire Observer'' 30 September 1961, page 5</ref><ref>''Runcorn Guardian'' 5 October 1961, page 6</ref> It was the second service area awarded to Rank. There would be two 75-seat transport cafes on either side for truckers; one would be open 24{{nbsp}}hours, the other from 7:00{{nbsp}}am to midnight. The main catering would be on the bridge, with a 90-seat restaurant, and a 96-seat cafeteria.<ref>''Runcorn Guardian'' 12 October 1961, page 12</ref> Truckers' meals would cost 4{{nbsp}}shillings; the truckers' menu was formed in consultation with the TGWU.<ref>''Birmingham Daily Post'' 13 November 1963, page 7</ref> There would be parking for 96 trucks and 300 cars. Work on the restaurant began on 29 September 1962, to open in August 1963.<ref>''Staffordshire Sentinel'' 27 September 1962, page 6</ref>

Food options at the time included: * Cheshire Grill, waitress service, from 7.30{{nbsp}}am to 10.30{{nbsp}}pm, with five types of steak, croissant and brioche at breakfast * Bridge Buffet, same hours * Knutsford cafe, 24-hour<ref>''Runcorn Guardian'' 14 November 1963, page 5</ref>

===Opening=== The M6 section opened on 15 November 1963 from Hanchurch to Lymm. The motorway section was officially opened at 12:00{{nbsp}}noon from the Knutsford restaurant, with the Bishop of Chester Gerald Ellison and Sir Wesley Emberton; the motorway opened to drivers at 4:00{{nbsp}}pm. The bishop prayed "that drivers would exercise courtesy and consideration for others, and that without fear or suffering they might come safely to their journey's end". Also at the Knutsford opening was the "lorry driver of the year", Joe Dakin.<ref>''Cheshire Observer'' 22 November 1963, page 13</ref><ref>''Staffordshire Sentinel'' 22 November 1963, page 10</ref> The first manager was Sidney Ash.<ref>''Liverpool Echo'' 17 February 1964, page 14</ref> The site could provide meals for 373 people at once.<ref>''Liverpool Post'' 16 November 1963, page 14</ref>

Knutsford was one of the country's first motorway service stations. As with many services of the time, there are two sites located on either side of the carriageway, linked by a bridge which features a restaurant and shop. Coaches of north-west football fans would call in on their journey to London, and on the way back, occasionally requiring extra police.

The services are now owned by Moto.

The service station has a very short exit slip road, close to the A556 exit slip road on the northbound side of the M6. Slow moving vehicles are often forced to pull into the main carriageway at slow speeds. The station played a pivotal role in comedian Rhod Gilbert's special ''Rhod Gilbert and the Award-Winning Mince Pie''.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

The Cheshire Police Motorway Unit has one of its bases here, situated on the southbound side.

=== Incidents === In 1965 £2,000 worth of cutlery and crockery was stolen.<ref>''Birmingham Mail'' 9 August 1966, page 5</ref>

Cheshire Police made many arrests at the service area for organised crime, and became adept at identifying stolen cars by the early 1970s. It had trained its officers how to identify stolen cars at its training centre in Crewe.<ref>''Times'' 16 March 1970, page 2</ref>

Seventeen year old Aston Villa fan James Townsend, of Cotton Grove in Longbridge, was jailed for six months at Knutsford court, by Sir Lincoln Hallinan, after stabbing another person with a flick-knife on 16 February 1974. Bricks and bottles had been thrown at another coach.<ref>''Birmingham Daily Post'' 7 June 1974, page 24</ref><ref>''Manchester Evening News'' 7 June 1974, page 11</ref>

In May 1974, Liverpool football fans were banned from the service area.<ref>''Liverpool Echo'' 4 May 1974, page 1</ref> In the same week, Keele banned Liverpool, Manchester United, and Everton football supporters. On 12 March 1977, 25 year old Robert Smith was stabbed five times, after an argument with a group of Manchester City supporters.<ref>''Liverpool Echo'' 12 March 1977, page 1</ref> On 3 October 1981, 200 Wolves fans caused £300 of damage when they rampaged.<ref>''Manchester Evening News'' 5 October 1981, page 4</ref>

In June 2019, four bikers were stabbed at Knutsford Services, which led to the M6 northbound being closed off for some time between junctions 18 and 19.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/four-bikers-been-stabbed-knutsford-16400411|title=Four bikers have been stabbed at Knutsford Services on the M6|last=Wise|first=Lauren|date=8 June 2019|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=5 December 2019}}</ref>

==Location== The service area is in Tabley Superior, near Knutsford, about {{convert|1|mi|sing=on}} south of junction 19 of the M6.

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category}} {{Official website|https://moto-way.com/services/knutsford-northbound/}}

{{Motorway service station succession box | road = M6 motorway | labels = s-n | before = Sandbach | after = Lymm (Truckstop) Charnock Richard (full services) }} {{Motorway service stations in the United Kingdom}}

Category:1963 establishments in England Category:Buildings and structures in Cheshire Category:Economy of Cheshire Category:M6 motorway service stations Category:Moto motorway service stations Category:Transport in Cheshire Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1963