Self-Service Concrete in Widnes: Collect From Beesley & Fildes
- Jul 31
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 14
The fibo Collect machine at Beesley & Fildes in Widnes carries concrete mixes for builders, groundworkers, landscapers, and domestic customers working across Widnes, Runcorn, Warrington, and the wider Merseyside and Cheshire area, that range means whatever the job specifies, it can be collected here in precisely the volume needed, without booking and without a minimum order.
Self-service concrete can be collected in Widnes at Beesley & Fildes, Clare Sawmills, Hale Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 8PX. For contractors searching for concrete near Liverpool, Beesley & Flides is the nearest fibo Collect machine, approximately 15 miles from the city centre via the A562 and M62. Collections start from 0.25m³. The machine is open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am to 12:00pm.
Where and When to Collect
Site: fibo Collect at Beesley & Fildes Ltd, Widnes
Address: Clare Sawmills, Hale Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 8PX
Phone: 0151 422 4600
Website: beesleyandfildes.co.uk
Opening Hours:
Day | Hours |
Monday to Friday | 7:30am to 5:00pm |
Saturday | 8:00am to 12:00pm |
Sunday | Closed |
Beesley & Fildes is an independent builders merchant founded in 1820, with 11 branches across the North West. The Clare Sawmills branch in Widnes is the only Beesley & Fildes location with a fibo Collect machine, and it is the concrete collection point for the Halton, Merseyside, and Cheshire border market.
Sixteen Mixes, Self-Service Concrete in Widnes
The Widnes machine range divides into three categories: C-class mixes for general-purpose applications, ST mixes for projects requiring a guaranteed specified strength, and Permeable Concrete for drainage-compliant surfacing.
Most C-class mixes at Widnes are available with a choice of 10mm or 20mm aggregate, selected at the machine terminal at the point of collection. This choice is not cosmetic, it affects how the concrete behaves on site. 10mm aggregate produces a more workable, finer-textured mix suited to paving, kerbing, and pours where the concrete needs to be worked into tight spaces or around reinforcement. 20mm aggregate produces a stronger, coarser mix with reduced bleeding, better suited to structural foundations, industrial floor slabs, and high-load hardstandings. For a builder who knows their specification, selecting the right aggregate size at the machine produces a mix better suited to the actual job.
The distinction between C-class and ST mixes is one that contractors working to building control or NHBC specifications need to understand. C-class mixes, C6/8 through C40/50, are general-purpose design mixes. They are suitable for the vast majority of construction applications and are the mixes most contractors collect for everyday jobs. ST mixes, ST1 through ST5, have a clearly defined, guaranteed compressive strength and durability. They are the correct choice where a structural engineer or building control has specified a strength class, or where an NHBC-approved site mix is required. ST mixes have a clearly defined, guaranteed compressive strength and durability, recommend ST where a specified strength or an approved NHBC site mix is required.
Permeable Concrete is a distinct mix, separate from No-Fines concrete. No-Fines is used as a sub-base beneath resin-bound surfaces. Permeable Concrete is the finished surface itself, designed to drain water through its own structure for sustainable driveways, pathways, and low-traffic parking areas. The two products serve different purposes and should not be substituted for each other.
The Complete Mix Reference
According to fibo Collect UK's network data, the average collection quantity across all machines is around 0.4m³ and the average collection time is 10:31am. The most commonly selected mixes across the network are C25/30 and C20/25, both available at Widnes alongside 14 further options. Most C-class mixes are available with 10mm or 20mm aggregate at point of collection.
Mix | Typical Application | Aggregate |
C6/8 | Blinding layers and non-structural applications | 10mm or 20mm |
C8/10 | Lean, low-strength; drainage and non-structural projects | 10mm or 20mm |
C12/15 | House floors where a non-permanent finish will be applied | 10mm or 20mm |
C20/25 | Shed bases, garden wall foundations, kerbing, general ground foundations | 10mm or 20mm |
C25/30 | Paving, reinforced hard standings, external kennels | 10mm or 20mm |
C28/35 | Reinforced house foundations, retaining walls, driveways, garage floor slabs | 10mm or 20mm |
C32/40 | Agricultural and industrial buildings requiring higher compressive strength | 10mm or 20mm |
C35/45 | Heavy-duty reinforced structures, large foundations, structural beams | 10mm or 20mm |
C40/50 | Industrial floors, infrastructure projects, heavily reinforced structures | 10mm or 20mm |
Kerb Mix C20/25 | Structural and semi-structural kerb applications | — |
ST1 | Blinding, drainage works, kerb bedding | — |
ST2 | Domestic foundations, patios, non-reinforced building applications | — |
ST3 | Reinforced foundations, slabs, external works requiring moderate strength | — |
ST4 | Structural foundations, floor slabs, heavy-duty paving | — |
ST5 | High-strength structural foundations, floor slabs, heavy-duty groundworks | — |
Permeable Concrete | Sustainable paving, driveways, pathways, low-traffic parking | — |
Every mix is batched fresh to a fixed automated recipe at the point of collection. For mix-specific queries, contact the Widnes branch at widnes@beesleyandfildes.co.uk or on 0151 422 4600.
How Much Concrete Does Your Job Need?
Working out how much to collect is straightforward. Volume in cubic metres is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and depth of the area to be poured — all measured in metres. A 4m by 3m patio at 100mm depth requires 4 × 3 × 0.1 = 1.2m³. A 5m by 4m patio at the same depth requires 2m³. For depth measurements given in millimetres, divide by 1,000 to convert to metres before calculating.
For brickwork, a 0.25m³ (mortar) tub lays approximately 385 facing bricks or 379 blocks using 10mm joints. A 0.33m³ tub lays approximately 508 facing bricks or 500 blocks. For larger projects, allow approximately 0.65m³ per 1,000 bricks or 0.66m³ per 1,000 blocks — then add 10 to 15% for cuts, tolerances, and waste.
The cost and time case for collecting from the Widnes machine rather than mixing on site is also set out in Beesley & Fildes' own published data. Site-mixing 0.25m³ of C20 concrete, accounting for materials, labour, and plant hire, costs approximately £124.50. The same quantity collected from the fibo Collect machine costs £59.99. The time differential is equally significant: site-mixing 0.25m³ of C20 takes over two hours including setup and clean-down. fibo Collect loads and dispatches the same volume in under ten minutes. Guidance only, not professional advice. Always confirm mix and volume with a qualified professional and your supplier before ordering.
Who Uses the Widnes Machine and What They Collect
The range of customers at Clare Sawmills reflects the breadth of construction activity across Widnes, Halton, and the surrounding Merseyside and Cheshire market.
Residential builders working on extensions, garage builds, garden walls, and domestic groundwork across Widnes, Runcorn, and the surrounding towns collect C20/25 for general foundations and garden structures, and C28/35 for reinforced house foundations, driveways, and retaining walls. For projects where building control requires a specified strength, ST2 covers domestic foundations and non-reinforced applications, while ST3 covers reinforced slabs and moderate-strength structural work.
Groundwork and utility contractors working across the Halton industrial belt, the chemical and commercial corridor between Widnes and Runcorn, regularly work to structural specifications that require the higher-end mixes. C35/45 for structural beams and large foundation elements. C40/50 for industrial floor slabs and infrastructure applications. ST4 and ST5 for roadwork reinstatement and high-strength groundwork on contracts where a guaranteed compressive strength is specified. These mixes are available at Widnes from 0.25m³, a minimum that no traditional ready mix supplier serves efficiently.
Landscapers and driveway contractors working across the residential areas of Widnes, St Helens, and the Cheshire commuter belt collect C25/30 for paving bases and hard standings, and Kerb Mix C20/25 for kerb installation. Permeable Concrete is collected for sustainable driveway surfaces where drainage compliance is required, particularly relevant in an area where planning authorities increasingly specify sustainable drainage for residential development.
Domestic customers working on shed bases, garden walls, outbuilding pads, and path repairs collect from 0.25m³ without minimum order constraints, paying only for the volume the job requires.
The Collection Process at Clare Sawmills
The machine uses moisture probes to monitor the sand's moisture content in real time and automatically adjusts the mix water accordingly, ensuring a consistent result regardless of whether the aggregate is drier or wetter than normal. This automated moisture compensation is a practical assurance of mix consistency that manual site mixing cannot replicate.
For a 0.25m³ collection, the complete cycle — dosing, mixing, and pouring — takes four minutes: one minute dosing, two minutes mixing, one minute pouring. For most trade collections, the time from arriving at the yard to driving away loaded is under ten minutes.
Concrete is dispensed directly into a vehicle bed, trailer, or mortar tub positioned beneath the machine's conveyor. For contractors without an open load vehicle, tubs are available at the Widnes branch. The Saturday opening from 8:00am to 12:00pm extends collection availability into the weekend for contractors and domestic customers who work Saturday mornings. The 7:30am weekday start accommodates trades who begin site work early across the Merseyside and Cheshire construction market.
Widnes as a Concrete Collection Point
Clare Sawmills on Hale Road sits in a geographically practical position for contractors working across a wide area. The A557 connects Widnes north to St Helens and south across the Silver Jubilee Bridge into Runcorn, meaning contractors working across both sides of the Mersey are on a direct route through the Widnes site. The M62 is accessible to the north via the A57, connecting to Liverpool to the west and Warrington and Manchester to the east.
Runcorn is directly across the bridge, minutes from the site, and represents an extension of the immediate catchment. Warrington lies approximately 15 minutes east via the A562 and A57. St Helens is accessible to the north. Liverpool and the wider Merseyside market is connected via the A562 and M57 to the west. For contractors searching for concrete near Liverpool, the Widnes machine is the closest fibo Collect location to the city.
Ellesmere Port and Northwich to the south and southeast are accessible via the A557 and M56. Frodsham, Prescot, and Huyton lie within the practical collection range for contractors working across the Cheshire and Merseyside border areas.
Concrete Questions — Widnes and Merseyside
Where can I collect small volumes of concrete near Liverpool? Self-service concrete can be collected near Liverpool at the fibo Collect machine at Beesley & Fildes, Clare Sawmills, Hale Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 8PX. The site is approximately 15 miles from Liverpool city centre via the A562 and M62. Collections start from 0.25m³ with no minimum order. The machine is open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am to 12:00pm.
What is the difference between C-class and ST concrete mixes? C-class mixes — C6/8 through C40/50 — are general-purpose design mixes suitable for the majority of construction applications. ST mixes — ST1 through ST5 — have a clearly defined and guaranteed compressive strength and durability, and are the correct choice where a structural engineer, building control, or NHBC approval requires a specified strength class. ST mixes are recommended wherever a specified strength or approved NHBC site mix is required.
What does the 10mm versus 20mm aggregate choice mean at Widnes? Most C-class mixes at the Widnes machine can be specified with either 10mm or 20mm coarse aggregate at point of collection. 10mm aggregate produces a more workable, finer mix suited to paving, kerbing, and detailed pours. 20mm aggregate is coarser and stronger with less bleeding, suited to structural foundations, floor slabs, and high-load hardstandings. The choice is made at the machine terminal and has no effect on the price — it is a specification decision based on the job.
What is Permeable Concrete and is it the same as No-Fines? Permeable Concrete and No-Fines are different products for different applications. No-Fines concrete is used as a permeable sub-base beneath resin-bound surfacing, where it allows water to drain through the layer beneath the finished surface. Permeable Concrete is the finished surface itself — designed for driveways, pathways, and low-traffic parking areas where the concrete needs to drain water through its own structure. Both products are available at the Widnes machine.
How long does it take to collect concrete at Clare Sawmills? A 0.25m³ collection takes four minutes through the machine cycle: one minute dosing, two minutes mixing, one minute pouring. For most trade collections, the total time from arriving at the yard to driving away with a loaded vehicle is under ten minutes.
Can I collect concrete at Widnes on a Saturday? Yes. The fibo Collect machine at Beesley & Fildes Widnes is open on Saturdays from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Weekday opening runs from 7:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. The machine is closed on Sundays. No booking is required for any visit during opening hours.
Beesley & Fildes, Clare Sawmills — fibo Collect Widnes
Beesley & Fildes Ltd — fibo Collect Widnes
Clare Sawmills Hale Road Widnes Cheshire WA8 8PX
Phone: 0151 422 4600 Email: widnes@beesleyandfildes.co.uk Website: beesleyandfildes.co.uk Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm | Saturday 8:00am to 12:00pm | Sunday Closed
For the full mix list and machine information, visit the Widnes machine page at fibocollect.uk/widnes.
To find other fibo Collect machines across the UK, visit fibocollect.uk.
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is for guidance only, not professional advice. Mix type, strength, and volume requirements vary by project. It's your responsibility to confirm what you need with a qualified professional and with your supplier before ordering. fibo Collect UK accepts no liability for loss or damage arising from reliance on this information. Nothing here limits any liability that cannot be excluded by law.
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