The Westquay Retail Park Car Park is a major open surface parking facility serving the outdoor retail park area in Southampton city centre. Managed privately by Britannia Parking, this flat outdoor facility sits on Pirelli Street and provides immediate doorstep access to large home warehouses, electronics outlets and casual restaurants. This guide covers the latest parking charges, 1-hour free terms, payment options and nearby attractions.
Westquay Retail Park Car Park Southampton Parking Charges
This car park operates on a distinct daytime incremental scale alongside a fixed overnight flat rate. Charging sessions are monitored continuously by camera arrays across the following tiers:
Daytime Tariffs (Monday to Sunday, 08:00 am – 08:00 pm)
| Parking Duration | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | Free* (See rules below) |
| Up to 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Up to 3 hours | £3.00 |
| Up to 4 hours | £4.00 |
| Up to 5 hours | £5.50 |
| Up to 6 hours | £6.50 |
Overnight Tariffs (Monday to Sunday, 08:00 pm – 08:00 am)
| Parking Duration | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour overnight | Free* |
| Overnight Stay flat rate | £5.00 |
*Critical Free Hour Rule: The 1-hour free parking allowance is strictly applicable for total stays of 1 hour or under. If you intend to stay longer than 60 minutes, a valid ticket covering your full planned duration must be purchased immediately upon arrival.
Westquay Retail Park Car Park Southampton Opening Times
The operating schedules and enforcement rules for this outdoor retail zone are detailed below:
- Opening Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Enforcement Window: Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera arrays track vehicle movements 24/7. Payment compliance is strictly required at all times across both day and night sessions.
Where Is Westquay Retail Park Car Park?
The facility covers a sprawling flat surface footprint running along the western sector of the city retail basin, easily accessed from core perimeter avenues.
- Address & Location: Pirelli Street (off Harbour Parade), Southampton
- Sat-Nav Postcode: SO15 1BA (or SO15 1RA for alternative mapping tools)
- Driving Approach: The site is well signposted from major inbound city center arteries. Turn off Harbour Parade directly onto Pirelli Street to cross the entry camera lines.
How to Pay for Parking at Westquay Retail Park Car Park
Britannia Parking uses digital transaction options alongside on-site machinery terminals at this site. You must pay immediately upon entry if your visit will exceed 1 hour:
- On-Site Pay Terminals: Park within an open bay and proceed directly to a terminal machine. These units accept major contactless debit cards, credit accounts and integrated mobile devices including Apple Pay and Android Pay. Cash tokens are not accepted.
- PayByPhone App: Drivers can settle fees digitally by opening the PayByPhone mobile application. The unique location identification code for this specific outdoor retail lot is 801767. Ensure your payment is fully finalized before walking away from your vehicle.
Facilities and Space Information
As a flat, outdoor surface facility, it presents open layout parameters compared to local indoor multi-storeys:
- Number of spaces: 700 flat, open-air surface parking bays.
- Disabled spaces: Allocated, wider accessible bays are positioned close to store entrances for Blue Badge holders. Standard tariff rules apply, and enforcement runs continuously.
- Height restrictions: There are no physical overhead clearance bars, height restriction gantries or barrier gates at this location. This makes it a popular destination for high-top vans, trade commercial transport, and large utility SUVs collecting oversized purchases.
Places Near Westquay Retail Park Car Park
Parking here aligns you directly alongside major big-box outlets and central leisure hubs:
- Westquay Retail Park Stores: Located right on the perimeter of the spaces, giving immediate trolley access to large storefront branches like Matalan, Boots, Currys, and local home design warehouses.
- The Quays Swimming & Leisure Complex: Situated directly opposite the western boundary line, making it a very practical layout for sports, diving sessions or health club appointments.
- Westquay Shopping Centre: Accessible within a short 3-minute walk eastwards across the street crossing to reach the primary multi-level fashion mall.
- Southampton Central Train Station: Located a brief 4-minute walk northwards, offering an alternative flat outdoor location near the rail tracks.
Alternative Parking Options Nearby
Due to the retail park’s popular home stores and casual food units, the flat bays can become congested during weekend trading hours. If the surface spaces are occupied, local alternatives include:
- Old Toys R Us Car Park (SO15 1QJ): An expansive, flat open surface lot managed by Euro Car Parks located just across the street. It offers an alternative open outdoor footprint with no height ceilings and an economical £4.50 24-hour rate.
- Marlands MSCP (SO15 1BA): A large council-run multi-storey facility situated just slightly northeastwards on Harbour Parade, providing over 800 covered, secure spaces under standard municipal scales.
- Westquay Multi-Storey Car Park (SO15 1ST): The massive multi-level covered structure integrated with the main shopping center, providing thousands of secure card-only spaces.
Is Westquay Retail Park Car Park the Best Option?
This car park is a highly practical choice for drivers seeking flat, open-air city-centre parking close to the northern business and dining districts.
- Convenience: Unmatched flat surface access. You can wheel shopping trolleys directly to your car boot without managing elevators, multi-storey stairwells or steep concrete vehicle ramps.
- Value: Highly economical for rapid, under-an-hour retail errands since it allows you to park completely free of charge for up to 60 minutes.
- Limitations: Highly strict camera enforcement rules mean that extending a stay beyond 1 hour without pre-purchasing a ticket upon entry will trigger an automated postal parking charge notice (PCN). It offers zero weather shielding from rain or winter frost.
Westquay Retail Park Car Park Southampton FAQs
Does this car park have an entry ticket barrier?
No. Westquay Retail Park features a completely open perimeter entry line with no physical barrier poles. Inbound and outbound movements are recorded automatically by Britannia Parking’s overhead ANPR tracking camera network.
Can I pay with cash at the retail park machines?
No. The terminal machines on site function entirely on a card-only framework. You can complete transactions using a contactless bank card, standard credit accounts, or mobile options like Apple Pay and Android Pay.
Can Blue Badge permit holders park for free?
No. This private commercial car park does not offer free or extended parking for disabled motorists. Britannia Parking applies standard tariff rules and ANPR enforcement hours across all vehicles utilizing the designated accessible bays.
What happens if I stay for 70 minutes without buying a ticket?
Because the 1-hour free parking window only applies to total stays of 1 hour or under, staying for 70 minutes without pre-purchasing a ticket upon arrival represents a violation. The ANPR system will flag the overstay from entry to exit and automatically generate a postal parking fine.
How do I appeal a parking fine issued at this retail park?
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued at this site are handled entirely by Britannia Parking. You must submit your appeal formally through their dedicated digital portal within 28 days of notice correspondence. Do not settle the fee prior to appealing, as completing a payment waives your right to challenge the fine.
