News: Welcome Break opens £55m services in Rotherham

After a slight delay caused by the weather, the new multimillion pound motorway service area (MSA) on the M1 in Rotherham is now open.

Rothbiz revealed in 2021 that Welcome Break, one of the UK’s leading motorway service operators, was to take on the site after outline planning permission was secured by Irish firm, Applegreen, for a new development at Junction 33 of the M1 at Catcliffe.

The first MSA opening in over 20 years for Welcome Break, sees the company investing €66m (£54.7m) in Rotherham.

Brands include Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Waitrose, a standalone Starbucks Drive Thru, Pret a Manger, WHSmith, Chopstix, The Good Breakfast, and a convenient forecourt.

Welcome Break said in a statement: "Designed to look and feel just like a Yorkshire village, Rotherham is a completely new concept for our estate and one that makes stopping at Welcome Break a truly unique and memorable experience for our customers.

"Alongside top of the range facilities and dining options, the new service area has created approximately 230 new jobs – building our world class team, significantly boosting the local economy, and supporting the local community."

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Plans showed a main amenity building measuring 32,000 sq ft with seven concession units, a retail area, gaming area, toilets, seating and a kid's play area on the ground floor. A mezzanine floor includes an eighth unit, further seating and a business lounge / remote working hub. The site also includes 458 parking spaces, 28 EV charging points and dedicated HGV driver facilities.

Joe Barrett, CEO of Welcome Break posted about the opening on LinkedIn. He said: "Last week we opened Welcome Break’s £55 million state-of-the-art new Rotherham Motorway Service Area (MSA). It’s Welcome Break’s first new MSA in 20 years and showcases an entirely new concept for the brand.

"The new services area will create about 230 new jobs and more than 500 people worked on the construction phase of the project.

"It has been a really mammoth task to bring Welcome Break Rotherham to fruition, and I’d like to congratulate the entire Welcome Break team and all of its suppliers and contractors who put in such a huge effort to deliver a wonderful product for our customers."

Adrian Grimes, Commercial Director at Welcome Break, said: "Opening our 60th service area in Rotherham is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the journey experience for motorists across the UK. This new site will not only provide a variety of dining and retail options but also play a vital role in supporting the local economy through job creation. We are proud to contribute to the Rotherham community and look forward to serving travellers at this strategically important location."

Welcome Break website

Images: Welcome Break / LinkedIn

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News: Opening date revealed for new Welcome Break in Rotherham

The new multimillion pound motorway service area (MSA) on the M1 in Rotherham is set to open later this month.

Rothbiz revealed in 2021 that Welcome Break, one of the UK’s leading motorway service operators, was to take on the site after outline planning permission was secured by Irish firm, Applegreen, for a new development at Junction 33 of the M1 at Catcliffe.

In the UK, Applegreen is growing its Welcome Break business, which operates 58 sites, including 34 motorway service areas, and 31 hotels.

It is investing €66m (£54.7m) in Rotherham where around 300 jobs are being created.

The opening date has been confirmed as January 10.

With state-of-the-art facilities, the new MSA has been given the address of Orchard Road. Brands were revealed by Rothbiz first when recruitment got underway in 2024. These include Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Waitrose, a standalone Starbucks Drive Thru, Pret a Manger, WHSmith, Chopstix, The Good Breakfast, and a convenient forecourt.

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Plans showed a main amenity building measuring 32,000 sq ft with seven concession units, a retail area, gaming area, toilets, seating and a kid's play area on the ground floor. A mezzanine floor includes an eighth unit, further seating and a business lounge / remote working hub.

Built by lead contractor HML on scrub land on either side of the motorway (where previous plans for a hotel and pub were approved but never implemented), the Welcome Break includes HGV parking and amenities to the north of the M1, with customer parking and amenities for other motorway users to the south of the M1, accessed via an underpass.

To access the 24-hour service area, visitors will use a new junction installed just before the A630 Rotherham exit of the roundabout. To exit, drivers will use a signal-controlled new access road joining the Rotherham - Sheffield Parkway where it has been recently widened just before the roundabout. An alternative exit for HGVs is being created via a new slip road to the A630 Rotherway.

Welcome Break website

Images: Welcome Break

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News: Rotherham Welcome Break brands revealed

The brands set to open at the new £40m motorway service area (MSA) on the M1 in Rotherham have been announced by the operator as recruitment gets underway.

Rothbiz revealed in 2021 that Welcome Break, one of the UK’s leading motorway service operators, was to take on the site after outline planning permission was secured by Applegreen for a new development at Junction 33 of the M1 at Catcliffe.

The £40m investment is set to create 300 jobs.

Welcome Break runs 59 Motorway service areas and 31 hotels across the UK's motorway network, including Woodhall on the M1 in Rotherham.

At Catcliffe, the company has confirmed that the new MSA will open in January 2025.

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An update from Welcome Break reads: "We're opening an impressive line-up at Rotherham - Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Waitrose, a Starbucks Drive Thru, Pret a Manger, WHSmith, Chopstix, The Good Breakfast, and a convenient Forecourt.

"We're on the lookout for around 250 friendly faces to join our team across these brands."

Licences are also beeing sought for two of its "Game Zones" which include adult gaming machines.

A hiring event is schduled to be held at the Holiday Inn, Rotherham on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of October 2024.

On the scrub land on either side of the motorway where previous plans for a hotel and pub were approved but never implemented, the Welcome Break includes HGV parking and amenities to the north of the M1, with customer parking and amenities for other motorway users to the south of the M1, via an underpass.

Main contractor HML Construction began work on the development in 2023.

The main amenity building, measuring 32,000 sq ft, will include seven concession units, a retail area, gaming area, toilets, seating and a kid's play area on the ground floor. A mezzanine floor includes an eighth unit, further seating and a business lounge / remote working hub.

Separate plans were approved for a standalone drive thru unit for global coffee chain, Starbucks.

Access to the MSA is coming from the roundabout via a new arm junction between the M1 Southbound off slip and A630 Rotherway.

Exit for the majority of traffic would be via a new access to the Parkway some 300m from the junction. This exit will create new traffic lanes on approach to the junction. An alternative exit for HGVs would be created via a new slip road to the A630 Rotherway.

Welcome Break website

Images: Carwright & Gross Architects / HML

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