End of the ‘gateway to the north’: the iconic Watford Gap petrol station on the M1, where the Rolling Stones, Beatles and Jimi Hendrix stopped on their way to gigs, is being demolished to make way for a travel hub with charging points for 150 electric cars points
The name was thrown around so much that Jimi Hendrix thought the British were talking about a fancy London nightclub.
Watford Gap was the stopping point on the M1 for the Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, The Beatles and Hendrix, among others.
But now the iconic petrol station – which was the first of its kind in Britain when it opened alongside the M1 in 1959 – is slated for demolition.
Operator Roadchef plans to replace the ‘Gateway to the North’ in Northamptonshire with a low-carbon travel hub with 150 electric car charging points.
Mark Fox, chief executive of Roadchef, said the service station – once known as Blue Boar Services – is “past its sell-by date” and needs to be redeveloped.
The iconic Watford Gap petrol station will be demolished and replaced with a modern travel hub. Above: The southbound services
In 1963, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was pictured there when the band stopped on the way to ATV Studios in Birmingham.
In addition to a petrol station and charging points, Watford Gap offers McDonald’s, Costa Coffee, WH Smith and hotel chains Days Inn and Regus Express.
Originally called the Blue Boar Cafe, the location opened on November 2, 1959.
It was initially run by Blue Boar Limited, a family business that also owned the Blue Boar petrol station on the nearby A5.
A review of Watford Gap’s services in the Daily Mail in 1968
It expanded rapidly in the 1960s and became known as the place where some of the most iconic musicians of the era could stop over while traveling between gigs.
During a visit to ATV studios in Birmingham in 1963, members of the Rolling Stones were caught buying food.
Keith Richards was pictured in a smart suit and tie, standing next to the counter.
To show what a celebrity hotspot it was, former employee Beatrice England – who worked the night shift at the petrol station – collected a series of impressive signatures in a booklet.
In addition to Richards, the signatories included Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Dusty Springfield, Sir Cliff Richard and members of The Eagles.
Other names in the book included that of Shirley Bassey, and the stars of bands such as The Animals and The Kinks.
Folk singer Roy Harper even went so far as to write a song about the services.
The text contained the main line: Watford Gap, Watford Gap, a plate of grease and a load of c***’.
Customers are seen at Watford Gap in the 1960s. As car ownership increased, services expanded
In 1993 the service’s cafe was awarded for making what was considered the best cup of tea available at any motorway stop in Britain. Above: The Tea Council chief executive pours a cup of tea for award winners Lynanne Bamford and Shirley Milne, from the Blue Boar in Watford Gap
In 1993 the service’s cafe was awarded for making what was considered the best cup of tea available at any motorway stop in Britain.
Brian Poole, 68, of the 1960s band Brian Poole And The Tremeloes, spoke at the service’s 50th anniversary in 2009 and had fond memories of the early days.
“We traveled a lot in our Ford Thames van and always stopped at the services – so did all the musicians,” he said.
‘It was open all night, serving hot fry-ups – just what bands like us wanted – and we were often asked for autographs there.’
He added: ‘It was definitely the place to be seen and quite glamorous in fact. It made a delicious tea and was always served in a good cup.’
Roadchef manages both the northbound and southbound locations. It plans to demolish the building complex and replace it with modern facilities.
In addition to double-deck parking and charging points, there could also be an airport-style executive lounge for business travelers.
Mr. Fox told it the Telegraph that the site should ‘simply be demolished and rebuilt’.
He added: “It’s past its sell-by date, especially the southbound which was the first to open. We’ve spent money on it over the years and it’s pretty good inside.
“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 raze the old one to the ground.”
Travelers are seen operating Blue Boar Services on the M1 in 1968. By then, the setup was a hub for famous musicians stopping between performances
Blue Boar Services opened alongside the M1 in November 1958
A Roadchef spokesperson added: ‘We are proud to run Britain’s most iconic petrol station, Watford Gap on the M1.
‘We recognize that the site needs to evolve to meet the growing and changing needs of UK road users, and ensure it is fit for the future of road traffic.
‘It’s no secret that we want to invest in the site to significantly increase EV charging capacity and offer motorists a better all-round experience.
“We continue to negotiate with the Department for Transport to extend our lease for Watford Gap, after which we can move forward with our extensive development plans.”
However, Catherine Croft, the chief executive of the Twentieth Century Society, said the demolition would be a great loss.