Newport Pagnell services
| Newport Pagnell Services | |
|---|---|
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  Newport Pagnell services (Buckinghamshire) | |
| Information | |
| County: | Buckinghamshire |
| Road: | M1 |
| Coordinates: | 52°04′59″N 0°44′55″W / 52.083066°N 0.748508°WCoordinates: 52°04′59″N 0°44′55″W / 52.083066°N 0.748508°W |
| Operator: | Welcome Break |
| Date opened: | 26 November 1959[1] |
| Website: | Welcome Break |
Newport Pagnell Services is a motorway service station between junctions 14 and 15 of the M1 motorway near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. It is owned and operated by Welcome Break.
History
Newport Pagnell Services were the second service station to be opened in the UK, but as the Watford Gap services were originally only for trucks, Newport Pagnell was the first to open for all traffic. It opened on 26 November 1959, the birthday of Charles Forte, Baron Forte.[1] Like the motorway, the site was designed by Sir Owen Williams (engineer).
The service station is one of fourteen for which large murals were commissioned from artist David Fisher in the 1990s, designed to reflect the local area and history.[2]
In popular culture
Scenes from the BBC soap-opera EastEnders and the film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels were also recorded there.
The short comedy sci-fi film Blake's Junction 7 starring Martin Freeman, Johnny Vegas and Mark Heap was set and filmed at this service station.
There is also a scene set in the toilet here in the 1988 film For Queen and Country starring Denzel Washington.
Facilities
Newport Pagnell offers a range of facilities including Burger King, KFC, a coffee shop, a hotel, a retail shop, BT Openzone, a games arcade, a Link ATM and a petrol station operated by Shell.
In the news
On 3 September 2007, a National Express coach from Birmingham to Luton airport and Stansted airport (making an unscheduled stop) failed to make a turn on the approach road and overturned. A number of people including the driver were seriously injured. The driver was subsequently convicted of drink driving and dangerous driving.[3]
References
- 1 2 Motorway Services Trivia - Chronology - Accessed 16 February 2009
- ↑ http://www.davidfisherartist.co.uk/achievements.html
- ↑ BBC News, M1 coach crash driver is jailed.
External links
- Official Web Page
- Motorway Services Online - Newport Pagnell
- Motorway Services Trivia Website - Newport Pagnell
| Next southbound: Toddington |
Motorway service stations on the M1 motorway |
Next northbound: Northampton |
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