This may be of interest to some road warriors who missed the low key opening.
"A new service station on the M25, , has opened to motorists.
The new Cobham service area near junction 10 at Wisley in Surrey ( about half way between J10 and J9) fills a 65-mile gap between service stops on the motorway."
www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2120543_new_m25_services_open_for_business_at_cobham
"Starbucks, McDonald’s, Greggs, KFC, M&S Simply Food, WHSmith and a gaming outlet have all taken a unit in the main building. The 75 bedrooms in the Days Inn hotel are also ready to be used"
motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Cobham
Photos and map for those who cannot wait to be excited at their visit.
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Had a surreal experience on Thursday last week at the services.
It all looked quite promising driving in, I had wondered if it would be open. I dashed through to the loo and suddenly heard about 100 people cheering. It turned out I was there at the official opening and the cheer was for the cutting of the ribbon in the food hall which, along with a massive balloon arch, I hadn't noticed on my way in! Had wondered why so many people were walking round with champers at 6.50am though... Declined the interview with the BBC radio team who were there chatting to people- I'm not a morning person....
All looks lovely and shiny at the moment, but I guess it won't be long before it is just another enormously overpriced place selling inedible rubbish :)
Whilst there I though the petrol station looked HUGE, then saw a report that said (if I remember correctly) it is the largest forecourt in the UK with somthing like 36 pumps.
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Back in my mini-cabbing days, I remember driving the farmer who owned the land on which the service area was built. He was going to an Elmbridge Council Planning Committee meeting to discuss the application to build a MSA.
This would have been in the summer of 1993!
These things don't take long do they. ;-)
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>> These things don't take long do they. ;-)
As you know, being a local, there have been a LOT of objections from the snotty locals in Cobham.
Edit: opps sorry, makes it sound you are a snotty cobhamite. I know you are not.
Last edited by: Zero on Sat 22 Sep 12 at 11:36
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>> Had a surreal experience on Thursday last week at the services.
>>
>> It all looked quite promising driving in, I had wondered if it would be open.
>> I dashed through to the loo and suddenly heard about 100 people cheering. It turned
>> out I was there at the official opening and the cheer was for the cutting
>> of the ribbon in the food hall which, along with a massive balloon arch, I
>> hadn't noticed on my way in! Had wondered why so many people were walking round
>> with champers at 6.50am though... Declined the interview with the BBC radio team who were
>> there chatting to people- I'm not a morning person....
It actually opened the week before the official opening.
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I went there last Saturday. Signage is still poor, but the place itself is OK.
Could not get over how many food retailers there are in there though. KFC, McD's, Mexican, Eat (traditional), Starbuck, Papa Johns, Greggs, a noodle bar, etc (I think there was another one). Spoilt for choice.
Had a great Burrito at the mexican joint as the big two retailers had long queues .Always surprising to see a very obvioius design flaw in a new building though. The bins have an orifice that is not as wide as a tray, so you can't just tip all your rubbish away. I'm a bit sad like that.....
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Do people actually use MSA's for anything other than a quick loo stop when there are usually far more pleasant facilities within a few minutes drive, without the car parking cowboys to hassle you for months after your stop should you overstay their time limit
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 24 Sep 12 at 13:33
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>> Do people actually use MSA's for anything other than a quick loo stop when there
>> are usually far more pleasant facilities within a few minutes drive, without the car parking
>> cowboys to hassle you for months after your stop should you overstay their time limit
Clearly they do, you go to any of the other three M25 services and they are never not busy.
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>> Clearly they do, you go to any of the other three M25 services and they
>> are never not busy.
>>
Sheep. :-)
I have even seen them queuing to get into the MSA's on the M5 during the holiday peak times when there are facilities at the next junction.
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Depends if its business or pleasure.
If I'm on business and in a reasonable hurry then I will use them (its all on expenses) however, if I'm with the family then I may look elsewhere
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There's almost always a Sainsmordaco near or just off motorway junctions which lead to towns. Cheap cafes and free parking, usually clean bogs too. Cheap sarnies for later on what's more.
No brainer.
Edit - Oh and cheaper fuel of course
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Mon 24 Sep 12 at 19:14
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>> There's almost always a Sainsmordaco near or just off motorway junctions which lead to towns.
>> Cheap cafes and free parking, usually clean bogs too. Cheap sarnies for later on what's
>> more.
When the kids are in tow we often use Sainsburys Reading or Bracknel
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Good call Mikey, provided you can keep the little treasures away from the PS3/XBox games section...Works out a whole lot more expensive than the motorway services that does !
P.S. What do you use to tow the children in? Sounds like a bit of a plan that !
:-)
Last edited by: Humph D'Bout on Mon 24 Sep 12 at 19:25
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I only use MSAs that have an M&S food place. You can at least get a sandwich at a reasonable price or one of those pasta dish things.
Trouble is, when on a tacho, time is often so precious you can't go looking for supermarket off the motorway.
Mind you, a Sains, Tesco or Morrison's breakfsat for £3 or £4 can keep you going all day!! (Roughly the same price as a Costa coffee at the MSA!!)
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There's a Sainsburys just off the M1 at the Thorpe Park jct near Leeds. Good one for anyone passing that way.
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>> I only use MSAs that have an M&S food place. You can at least get
>> a sandwich at a reasonable price or one of those pasta dish things.
>>
Waitrose too up market ?
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New M25 services open for business at Cobham - hillman1
