Motorway Services Online

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Stirling services

Location:

M9 at J9
M80 at J9
(also accessible to traffic on the A91 and the A872)

Signposted from the road.

Postcode:

FK7 8EU

map and directions

Access/Layout:

Single site located at a junction.

Rating: See the reviews


In the northern reaches of Scotland's motorway network, Stirling services sits between two motorways, but neither of them are especially busy and as a result the place remains more relaxed than the service areas further south. Even the roundabout at its entrance, which is huge in size, is much less daunting than the equivalent junction in England.

Facilities

Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme Shops: M&S Simply Food, WHSmith Amenities: Travelodge, Full Hou$e, Showers Outdoor Space: Grass banks around site; picnic tables Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2 Forecourt: BP, Shop, Costa Express

Parking Prices

First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £26. HGVs can pay £29 to include a £10 food voucher.

Prices are paid using PayByPhone. The location code is 2464.

The fees are strictly enforced by CP Plus.

This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.

Contact Details

🏢 Address:
Moto Hospitality Ltd
Stirling Motorway Services Area
Pirnhall
Stirling
FK7 8EU

🌍 Operators & Official Websites:


Trivia and History

Stirling2.jpg
The main entrance in 2011.

Camera icon

Opened by Granada 1986
Re-branded Moto 2001

The two signs on the M9 immediately before the exit are both based on Diagram 838.1, which became redundant in 1982 and was supposed to be completely removed by 2005. The tell-tale clue is the old petrol pump symbol, which hasn't been used since the '90s, as well as the lack of any operator branding. There are a few of these elsewhere in the UK, but the others have all been patched to look more modern.

All of the land around the service area was acquired by the Scottish Office during the construction of the two motorways. In the middle was a property called Snabhead, which was cut off by the motorways and served by a long, new driveway from the Bannockburn Roundabout.

The Scottish Office had wanted to turn the Snabhead land into a service area, but the three that had been built in Scotland already were all struggling. The Scottish Office opted to hold back until work on the M9 and M80 had progressed. Informal discussions with prospective developers were held and Granada eventually took the project on.

Opening

Stirling services opened on 17 March 1986, using part of the old Snabhead driveway as its entry road. Following approval from the government, the Granada Lodge here was the first to open on a motorway, opening in May 1986 and charging £20 for a single room.

The small building had its entrance on the right (the far end compared to where it is now). This had a large restaurant area on the left, a shop straight ahead and toilets on the right. The area at the front was supposed to be a landscaped courtyard, and at the back was a viewing balcony with a telescope. A tourist information centre was soon opened outside the hotel.

The service area quickly exceeded expectations. Granada noted in 1988 that trading levels were above target by 120%. The Granada Lodge was particularly successful, with occupancy rates being recorded as 25% more than the national average. It became a Travelodge in 1996.

Scotland captain Colin Hendry opened the motorway network's first mini-cinema at Stirling services in 1998.

Developments

BAA McArthur Glen planned to build a large factory outlet shopping centre on the remaining land to the north of the service area in 1994. Their plans were refused twice by the local authority, on the basis that the development was inappropriate. A large car park would have been provided and a new roundabout would have been positioned behind the petrol station. Moto advertised the land for sale in 2012 as an opportunity to build a business park; signs promoting the land as "Pirnhall Stirling" were still visible in 2016.

In 1997, the restaurant area was extended to include a Burger King. It also experienced a number of changes, from Country Kitchen to Fresh Express and Caffè Ritazza, and then to EDC and Costa.

A major refurbishment introduced a new entrance at the far end of the building in 2012, replacing the outdoor seating area. This created a new corridor running through the middle of the old restaurant - a common tactic in new service area design. The old entrance was boarded up. The main restaurant eventually closed, making space for a M&S Simply Food store.

The tourist information centre lasted remarkably longer than others, until at least 2017, but it was eventually closed and became Greggs.

Moto refurbished the Costa Coffee store here in December 2022 - the first major investment in the main building for almost 10 years. They will also be refurbishing the toilet and shower facilities in November 2023, and intend to add a Changing Places facility too.

Moto's next project could be to build a solar farm next to the eastbound service area, providing power for the facilities and the charging points.

Alternatives

Previous:Next:
Kinross (A977, 26 miles)Services on the M9Dreghorn (A720, 33 miles)
Old Inns (9 miles)Services on the M80end of road
Kinross (A977, 26 miles)Moto servicesnone

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