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Welcome Break is one of the UK’s leading independent motorway service operators and has 27 sites across the UK. It is the second largest motorway service operator behind Moto. Welcome Break sites are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and attract 85 million motorway customers annually.

1. History Welcome Break was founded in 1959 with the company’s first site under the Forte name being Newport Pagnell, which is situated on the M1 Jct 14/15. Newport Pagnell was also the second service area to be constructed on the newly built UK motorway network. The name Welcome Break came from a chain of rival restaurants to Little Chef, created by Allen Jones. However, these restaurants were either renamed to ‘Happy Eaters’ or closed. The name was then rediscovered when Hanson Trust used it to rename Ross Food’s service stations. The company's portfolio was expanded to five motorway service areas during periods under the ownership of the Imperial Group and subsequently the Hanson Trust before being purchased by Trusthouse Forte in 1986. Under this deal, the Welcome Break name was adopted across the entire estate, with Trusthouse Forte's sixteen existing service areas re-branded as Welcome Break.

1.1 Split from Trusthouse Forte In January 1996, the Forte Group was the subject of a £3.9 billion hostile takeover by the British media group Granada. Due to Granada's existing major presence in the motorway services market, a subsequent investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission ordered Granada to sell 27 of the Welcome Break sites. The company was eventually bought by Investcorp in 1997 for £476m. Investcorp then sold Welcome Break to Appia Investments in March 2008 for £500m.

1.2 Applegreen In August 2018 Applegreen agreed to purchase the majority of Welcome Break, 50.01%, from NIBC for €362m (£326m). In 1992, Applegreen started with the opening of their first service station in Ballyfermot, West Dublin. From there, under the stewardship of CEO Bob Etchingham and COO Joe Barrett, Applegreen expanded in Ireland, growing year on year. Currently, they now have over 368 service stations, employing over 5,300 people – right across Ireland and also in the UK and America. 1.3 Logo In around 1990 the original swan logo with the blue colour scheme was created. There were three versions produced: one with a very pale background and black feet, and the second with a darker background and yellow feet. In 2000 the biggest change came, as more styling was applied, and a sunrise was added to the graphic behind the swan.

In 2006, the swan logo was then replaced by the current green, white and black colour scheme with the words ‘Welcome Break’. This bold change helped to create distinctive branding, stepping towards more modern branding that suited the styling of Welcome Break sites.

In 2015, the Welcome Break logo was amended again. The previous black background has been replaced with a softer charcoal background and the words “your Welcome Break est. since 1959”. The new logo reflects Welcome Break’s aim to give all customers an Unexpectedly Human Experience, whilst reminding customers and team members that Welcome Break has an established history. The ‘your Welcome Break’ reinforces the message that this is the customer’s Welcome Break.

Many sites also have a large mural depicting a local landmark unique to that site. Many of these were commissioned from artist David Fisher. 2. Facilities The facilities available at Welcome Break vary at each site. All sites open 24 hours a day throughout the year. Typically, each Welcome Break comprises a selection of retail stores, branded food outlets, a Starbucks Drive Thru, a hotel and a forecourt. Each station will also include baby changing, coach, caravan and HGV parking, ATM machines and Changing Place facilities at 9 sites. 2.1 Hotels Most hotels at Welcome Break service areas are franchises of Days Inn or Ramada; many of these were once branded under Welcome Break's own brand, "Welcome Lodge". Welcome Break currently has 29 hotels available across their estate.

2.2 Catering, Retail & Forecourt Brands Catering Eat In was Welcome Break's own brand self-service restaurant. However, these have since been replaced with food courts and branded food outlets. Welcome Break now has 59 years’ experience in the sector and 5,500 employees who strive to proudly and passionately offer its customers world class food and retail brands such as Waitrose, Starbucks, Harry Ramsden’s, WHSmith, PizzaExpress, KFC and Burger King in a friendly and relaxing environment. Welcome Break is a long-standing KFC licensee, operating 27 KFC restaurants. In May 2005, Welcome Break announced a deal with KFC designed to bypass tough UK motorway signage legislation. UK law prevents motorway service operators from displaying additional brand names other than their own company name on roadside signage. To circumvent this restriction, a new subsidiary company “Welcome Break KFC” was registered. However, it is now legal to have up to 6 logos on motorway service station signage. May 2006, a branch of the international coffeehouse chain Starbucks was opened on a trial basis at Corley Services on the M6 motorway. Welcome Break now has 71 Starbucks outlets available across Welcome Break, including Drive Thrus and cafes. Which include16 Starbucks drive-thrus with Cafes, along with 4 new pioneering Drive Thru only stores. Subway was brought to Welcome Break in 2015, and now has 26 outlets within the Welcome Break Estate. Harry Ramsden also arrived at Welcome Break in 2015 and now has a total of 19 Harry Ramsden’s across Welcome Break sites offering world famous fish and chips. Burger King restaurants operate at all Welcome Break service areas except Burtonwood, Derby South and Peartree. Tossed is a healthy food-based restaurant chain at selected Welcome Break services. These are Oxford, South Mimms, Birchanger Green, Warwick, and Fleet. Pret A Manger offers fresh food every day and is found only at South Mimms. McDonald’s operates at Welcome Break Fleet North and Woodall North services. In August 2016 Welcome Break opened their first Noodle Bar, Chopstix, at Birchanger Green. There are now 5 Chopstix across the estate including Leicester Forest East, Sedgemoor, Membury, and Abington. In 2017 Welcome Break also opened the first PizzaExpress restaurant on the motorway network at Oxford. Since then Welcome Break has opened 2 more PizzaExpress restaurants at South Mimms and Fleet.

Retail Waitrose and WHSmith have franchise stores at most Welcome Breaks. Initially launched as a trial store at the Newport Pagnell site in February 2007, W H Smith stores have now been rolled out across the Welcome Break portfolio with 35 stores. WHSmith offers an extensive range of newspapers, magazines, books, cards, gifting and digital travel accessories such as mobile phone chargers, cables and power packs. Fresh sandwiches and pastries are delivered in daily and are accompanied by both hot and cold drinks as well as savoury snacks and confectionery items. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are available in every WHSmith except Sarn park, proudly produced and replenished fresh every morning. Tobacco and a selection of e-cigarettes and vaping equipment are offered throughout with a range of chilled beers, wines and spirits in selected stores. Krispy Kreme is available at all WHSmiths except Sarn Park. There are a total of 27 Waitrose stores across the Welcome Break network, offering a wide selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads and sushi. All stores offer a wide range of take home, eat later meal options as well as a selection of fine wines, ales and chilled beers from selected stores. Aside from groceries, food and drink all Waitrose Welcome Break stores offer floral and seasonal gifting ranges throughout the year. Forecourts The majority of the Welcome Break forecourts are branded as Shell and feature the Shell Deli2Go hot and cold food offer. A smaller number fall under the BP brand- these locations include Warwick and Oxford. All Welcome Break forecourts offer an extensive range of food for now food and drinks, car care essentials (including HGV and trucker options) and key services such as wash rooms and air and water. Key products such as premium fuels, screen wash and Ad Blue are available in all locations. In 2018, four forecourts were part of a substantial refurbishment- Warwick North, Warwick South, Oxford and Telford. These locations saw the introduction of a new food and drink offer, including Upper Crust, Millies Cookies & Pasty Shop, In 2018, Welcome Break introduced Starbucks on the Go, a convenient self-serve coffee experience for travellers that offers premium espresso, fresh milk and both hot and cold drink options containing all year round favourites as well as seasonal variations.

2.3 Gaming Welcome Break Game Zone is a self-branded Adult Gaming Centre with AGC’s located at all Welcome Break sites, except the Welcome Break operated Days Inn and Ramada Hotels. 2.4 Ecotricity In July 2011 it was announced that the green energy provider Ecotricity will be providing fast and normal electric vehicle charging stations at Welcome Break service stations. Ecotricity charging stations are now available at all sites. 2.5 Tesla In 2015 Welcome Break became the first service station to introduce Tesla superchargers into their sites. Tesla offers the world’s fastest charging station, charging Model S in minutes instead of hours. Superchargers are strategically placed to minimise stops for Tesla customers. There are now 19 sites providing this service with the sites including; • Abington • Birchanger • Burtonwood • Charnock Richard • Fleet • Gordano • Gretna Green • Hartshead Moor • Hopwood Park • Keele • Membury • Michaelwood • Newport Pagnell • Oxford • Sarn Park • South Mimms • Telford • Warwick North and South • Woodall

2.6 Washroom services Welcome Break provides baby changing and Changing Places facilities. All baby change units at Welcome Break sites are unisex, and there are disabled toilets on every site, along with male and female toilets. Welcome Break introduced Changing Places in 2016 to allow space and comfort for people who need the help of a carer to go to the toilet. Changing Places toilets facilities are state-of-the-art assisted accessible toilets, including a height-adjustable changing bench and ceiling tracking hoist, as well as additional space and a peninsular toilet with space for carers on either side. Changing Places facilities are available at the following sites: • Corley North • Charnock • Gordano • Hopwood • Fleet • Keele • Membury East • Newport Pagnell North • Sarn Park • South Mimms

Welcome Break was awarded Platinum at the Loo of the Year 2017/18 Awards for the facilities at Corley, Gordano, Hopwood, Sarn Park, Warwick, Newport Pagnell, and Membury. Welcome Break was awarded Gold for the facilities at South Mimms.

2.7 Children in Need Welcome Break chose BBC Children in Need as its official charity, and has raised millions for BBC Children in Need over the last ten years. In 2017 they raised £775,000 for the charity. Welcome Break works very closely with BBC Children in Need, fundraising throughout the year across the estate. The money raised goes directly towards changing the lives of disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK. Pudsey often visits Welcome Break sites

Locations • Abington - M74 J13 • Birchanger - M11 J8 • Burtonwood - M62 J8 • Cardiff Gate - M4 J30 • Charnock Richard - M6 between J27 and J28 • Cobham - M25 between J9 and J10 • Corley - M6 between J3 and J4 • Derby South - A50 between J1 and J2 • Fleet - M3 between J4a and J5 • Gordano - M5 J19 • Gretna Green - A74(M) between J21 and J22 • Hartshead Moor - M62 between J25 and J26 • Hopwood Park - M42 J2 • Keele - M6 between J15 and J16 • Leicester Forest East - M1 between J21 and J21a • London Gateway - M1 between J2 and J4 • Membury - M4 between J14 and J15 • Michaelwood - M5 between J13 and J14 • Newport Pagnell - M1 - between J14 and J15 • Oxford - M40 J8a • Peartree - A34 junction with A44 • Sarn Park - M4 J36 • Sedgemoor (Northbound) - M5 between J21 and J22 • South Mimms - M25 J23, A1(M) J1 • Telford - M54 J4 • Warwick - M40 between J12 and J13 • Woodall - M1 between J30 and J31 3. Fleet In December 2016 Fleet Services on the M3 caught fire which caused the South side to be permanently shut. 100 fire fighters were sent to the scene to prevent any further spread of the fire. Fleet services has since been renovated and rebuilt. The brand new site reopened September 6th 2018. 3.1 The Scott Mills Bridge The Scott Mills Bridge was officially opened on March 14th, at Welcome Break’s Fleet services, by Chris Stark, co-presenter on the Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1. Welcome Break made the decision to re-name the footbridge at its Fleet Services after a campaign by Chris to get as many things named after Scott as possible. The opening ceremony saw the unveiling of an official plaque. The event was broadcast live on BBC Radio 1 across the afternoon, and received a huge response across social media networks, at one stage trending above George Osbourne and the Budget announcement on Twitter. Luckily, The Scott Mills Bridge was not affected by the Fleet services fire and remains the footbridge between junction 4a and 5 on the M3.

4. See also • RoadChef • Moto • Extra • Motorway service station 6. References ^ Jump up to:a b "Motorway services provider Welcome Break sold". Caterer Search. Retrieved 11 July 2006. 1. Jump up^ KFC, Welcome Break, UK. 2. Jump up^ Welcome Break joins KFC to bypass ad ban, CatererSearch, 26 May 2005. 3. ^ Jump up to:a b WH Smith to open 33 travel stores at Welcome Break motorway service areas, Forbes.com, 05/02/07. 4. Jump up^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012. 5. Jump up^ David Fisher — Somerset Artist Archived 25 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine.. 7.External links • Welcome Break • Motorway Services Online – Welcome Break

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Welcomebreak123 ( talk) 11:33, 8 July 2019 (UTC) reply