Hilton Park Service station area on M6 Essington, showing old Moto logo pre-2021
Image details
Contributor:
Tony Smith / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2JM9P4MFile size:
54.1 MB (1.2 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5328 x 3552 px | 45.1 x 30.1 cm | 17.8 x 11.8 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
4 August 2022Location:
M6 Hilton Park - Essington, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, WV11 2ATMore information:
The service area was ready to open in 1967, but due to delays completing the M6, they didn't open it until 1970. Hilton Park features a large tower structure which used by Top Rank to house a restaurant. It closed and has been empty since the 1980s. It became the UK's busiest service area, and was an obvious target when Granada wanted to add retail units to the front of their service areas. These units have changed brands many times over the years, including being used as a Trucker's Lounge and Moto's first KFC. They are mostly closed now, though one is used by the Central Motorway Policing Group. The southbound service area has a picnic area far from the main building, with its own car park, which most people miss because they're looking for the main facilities. It is a legacy feature of some older service areas and only actually has one table left. Most of the parking spaces have now been turned into a Tesla charging area.