roadchef

Watford Gap…

M1 between Junctions 16 and 17 (separate facilities available in both directions)

Welcome to Watford Gap Motorway Services.

Formerly the famous Blue Boar and opened on 2nd November 1959, Watford Gap celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2009 and now boasts an array of branded catering and retail offers from a relaxing Costa, serving the very best coffee on our road network, to a Wimpy diner, Restbite free flow restaurant and WHSmith store.

In its early days the restaurant offered full waitress service and was a haven for famous rock stars and musicians travelling up and down the M1, from the Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Cliff Richard, Dusty Springfield and Gerry and the Pacemakers. So much so that Jimi Hendrix heard of the Blue Boar so often from his contemporaries that he assumed it was a top club to play in the UK. More recently David and Victoria Beckham, Girls Aloud, Christiano Ronaldo, Orlando Bloom and Russell Brand have been amongst our more illustrious visitors!

Indeed, as part of Watford Gap’s birthday celebrations on 2nd November 2009, the site also played host to the premier of a musical starring staff members from throughout its 50-year history, which was featured on a variety of BBC news programmes on the day.*

On a more ordinary day, however, Watford Gap plays host to a whole variety of leisure, family and in particular business customers travelling up and the M1. Indeed its comfortable Premier Inn accommodation and dedicated Costa business lounge facilities, including free BT Openzone WiFi facilities, are proving to be increasingly popular for a whole variety of business customers on the move.

So the next time you fancy doing some star gazing, whilst you’re travelling up and down the M1, pop in for a visit…you just don’t know who you might bump into!

* To find out more about Watford Gap, it’s history and 50th Anniversary celebrations click on the ‘Latest News’ link below.