Inside bizarre space-age service station left to rot at the side of major UK motorway with huge ‘UFO’ tower
The unusual road-side structure has been left abandoned for over 30 years and still has old furniture scattered across its floors
A BIZARRE space-age style service station that served guests lobster and steak has been left to rot on a major UK motorway.
The funny looking hexagonal building was built in 1965 and welcomed Grade II listed status in 2012.
Forton Services sits on along the M6 connecting the Lancaster bypass and Preston bypass, and included the Pennine Tower which was the service’s most “futuristic” part of the development.
The 90ft building offered guests views of Morecambe Bay and the fells, came equipped with an observation platform and at the time was Britain’s highest motorway restaurant.
It could seat 150 people at any one time and hoped to entice hungry drivers to pop in for some fine dining, reports
The fanciful restaurant had serious ambitions to be known for top quality dinners, and cut no corners when it came to what was offered to visitors.
Its menu included grilled rainbow trout, fillet steaks, lobster, as well as some more local favourites like Lancashire Hotpots and Morecambe Bay potted shrimps.
When it was first built the alien-like shape caught Brits off-guard so much that some were angry because it would often be mistaken for a real UFO, although no evidence was ever uncovered to prove the wonder.
Unfortunately the idea of a fine dining restaurant parked at a service station didn’t quite catch on, and a damning review of the food on offer was slammed by acclaimed food critic, Egon Ronay.
According to , he claimed the restaurant’s platefulls were “an insult to one’s taste buds” before rating the service “appalling”.
Years later It was converted into a trucker’s lounge but was then closed off to the public entirely in 1989.
The motorway firm revealed images of the now decaying building a decade ago – and ghostly images show the spooky remains of what was supposed to be Britain’s best service station restaurant.
The images show dusty discoloured floors and walls, misplaced furniture and broken debri scattered across the ground – but it wasn’t that long ago that the same room was filled with Brits getting their fill during a long journey.
Even though the restaurant didn’t last long after closing for good, lots of former visitors have shared memories of the building from their younger days.
Road enthusiasts on SABRE roads forum (The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts) have penned what they remember of Pennine Tower.
User mikehindsonevans, wrote: “Viewed through the prism of a child’s eyes in the 1960s, Forton was fantastic to a Gerry Anderson fan with imagination. Forton was the point where the holiday in the Lakes began.”
Other users mentioned it’s “disappointing” that people can no longer eat at the restaurant or “experience” the tower.
Another user said it was the first building they “grew to love” and would “love to see it” re-opened.
NOT THE ONLY ABANDONED BUILDING
This once-thriving seaside holiday park where thousands of Brits made lifelong memories now sits empty all year round.
The Pontins holiday site closed earlier this year and new images have revealed its lonely looking remains.
Elsewhere, spooky photos show the sad demise of a theme park that was once more popular than Buckingham Palace.
The derelict ruins of the Mr Blobby theme park – named Crinkley Bottom – are now all that remains of the adventure centre based on the BBC‘s hit show ‘Noel’s House Party’.
And, an old abandoned mansion has been discovered hiding a treasure trove of vintage cars worth £20million.
The country house – located near Chester – was built in the 1800s and has been abandoned for years.
