WH Smith & Welcome Break

WH Smith PLC
02 May 2007


                                                                      2 May 2007

               WH Smith PLC to open 33 stores with Welcome Break


WH Smith PLC announces an agreement with Welcome Break to open travel stores in
all 33 of Welcome Break's motorway service areas.

Today's announcement follows the successful trial of a WHSmith Travel store at
the Welcome Break service area on the M1 at Newport Pagnell.

The existing stores at the 33 Welcome Break locations will be refitted and
re-branded as WHSmith during 2007 and will be operated on a franchise basis. The
new units will enhance WHSmith Travel's existing network, which comprises 259
units in key air, rail and motorway locations.

Commenting on the announcement, Kate Swann, WHSmith Group Chief Executive, said:

'We are delighted to be working with Welcome Break to extend our motorway
service area offer, bringing WHSmith products and services direct to the
motorist.'

Rod McKie, Welcome Break's CEO, said:

'The last two years have seen significant growth in customer revenues at Welcome
Break and this has been due, in no small part, to our introduction of proven
high street brands into our motorway service areas. Today's deal with WHSmith
represents an exciting further step in this strategy and the partnership will
allow us to offer our customers the best in the travel retail sector.'


                                    - Ends -


Enquiries:

WH Smith PLC

Sarah Heath   Media Relations        020 7851 8850
Mark Boyle    Investor Relations     020 7851 8820
                                     

Brunswick

Tom Buchanan                        020 7404 5959
Pamela Small

FD (PR Adviser to Welcome Break)

Ben Foster                          020 7831 3113



NOTE TO EDITORS

WH Smith PLC is made up of 543 high street stores and a further 259 retail units
in airports, rail stations and motorway service areas. The High Street business
sells a wide range of newspapers, magazines, stationery, books and entertainment
products, while WHSmith Travel sells a tailored range of newspapers, magazines,
books and confectionery products for people on the move. In addition, WHSmith
Direct - www.whsmith.co.uk - serves customers on the internet 24 hours a day.

Welcome Break is the second largest motorway service area operator in the UK,
with a portfolio of invested sites and associated lodges. The company offers
motorists services, goods and amenities including fuel, restaurants, retail
shopping, rest areas, leisure facilities

and overnight accommodation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The company was
acquired by global investment firm, Investcorp, in 1997. Since then the business
has benefited from a substantial capital investment programme exceeding £170
million.





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange