Motorhome Parking at Supermarkets.

At the end of December 2006, requests were sent to the major supermarket chains asking if it would be possible to obtain details of their stores which it is possible (or not possible) for motorhomes to access, either by including a link to the company's own web site or incorporating a list of the stores on this web site. At the time of writing results have been variable as detailed below.

A couple of words of warning.
Before you leave your vehicle check to see if there are any notices in the car park displaying restrictions on parking - for example, time limits, parking within bays (including any ban on overhangs).
Remember that when you park in a private car park (such as those owned by supermarkets) you are entering into a contract based on the conditions displayed and failure to comply with the conditions renders you liable to a charge for breach of contract (to which you have agreed by parking).
Some companies are now installing CCTV cameras, which use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), in their carparks to identify vehicles that stay for more than a set time and then issue bills for staying too long.

User Contribution: Some supermarkets with height barriers, if you ring ahead, they sometimes can lift up the barrier, so you can come in to do your shopping (Thanks to FD/RA for providing this information on 21 March 2007).
Contributions from users of the web site regarding individual branches of supermarkets have been included on the county pages with the council statements.

Aldi

Response to the request still awaited.
There is a store location search facility on the Aldi Web Site.

Asda

On 28th December 2006, Asda stated "We were very interested to hear your suggestion and have passed it onto the relevant team here at ASDA House who will look into the ethics of having this on our website.".
There is a store location search facility on the Asda web site Here.
User Contributions:
Asda fuel stations 3m height restriction.
Thanks to PU for this information, received 6 July 2011.
I know this is not a parking issue but I think other motorhome owners should be made aware. We were disappointed to discover a height limit of 3m. at Asda's Carlisle petrol service - we need 3.2m clearance for our coachbuilt motorhome - I emailed Asda to ask if all their fuel services have the same restriction.
Reply from Asda on Wednesday, 6 July, 2011
Thanks for getting in touch about our Petrol Stations. I'm sorry to hear you are unhappy with the height limit of 3m at our Carlisle store. I appreciate you need a 3.2m clearance for your coachbuilt motorhome, and can understand your disappointment. I have been in touch with our Petrol Team and all of our Petrol Stations have a 3m height restriction. I know this won't the news you want to hear, and I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience it will cause you. Thanks again for your contact and if there's anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

Co-op

Response to the request still awaited.
There is no store location search facility on the Co-op Web Site.

Lidl

A representative of Lidl rang on 11th January to discuss the request for information. The details requested are not held centrally, have not been asked for previously and collating them could take quite a lot of work but the company will give consideration to making the information available at some time. Most car parks at stores on their own sites should be accessible but stores in shopping centres may not have their own car parks (and centre car parks may be multi-storey).
There is a store location search facility on the Lidl Web Site home page.

Morrisons

A very helpful representative of Morrisons rang on 9th January 2006 to discuss the request for information. Details requested were supposed to be provided within a couple of weeks but were never received.
There is a store location search facility on the Morrisons Web Site home page labelled "Store Finder".

Netto

Response to the request still awaited.
There is a store location search facility on the Netto Web Site under "Find your Netto" at the top of the home page.

Sainsburys

On 3rd January 2007, Sainsburys stated that "our car parks should not be used for overnight parking. However, If motor home users need to use them to do their shopping, we would advise them to call ahead to see if there is access room for vehicles of that size.".
There is a store location search facility on the Sainsburys web site Here.

Tesco

On 5th January 2007, Tesco stated "Most of our carparks are managed by outside companies. I am not aware of any restrictions apart from a time limit on parking. Their parking Terms & Conditions are displayed in the carparks."

On 11th June 2011 a message was received from a user of this web site, pointing out that the Dover Extra store now has "No overnight parking" signs. A message was sent to Tesco asking whether they do have a policy of allowing overnight motorhome parking (with the store manager's permission) and whether this extends to all stores with suitable car parks or is limited by other factors.
The following reply was received from Tesco on 15 June 2011:
Since my colleague's last email on this chain back in 2006, there have been many changes to our car parks and how we manage them. The majority of our stores now have Auto Number Plate Recognition cameras on the entrance and exit. What happens is all vehicles are photographed entering and exiting our stores. Based on the time spend then and the time limit, any cars which exceed the time limit are sent reminders of the limit and, if required, a parking charge for persistent overstays. At no time during the day are the cameras turned off and, therefore, should people leave their cars overnight they could end up with a letter about overstaying the limit. In the Dover store in particular, since the inception of the cameras, there has been some problems with HGVs receiving said letters hence the sign about no overnight parking. Each store can add number plates to an internal system which, when cross referenced with overstays, can be cancelled as a registered visitor. Due to the space in car parks, there is certainly room for overnight parking but it would be at the individual store's discretion as to whether they'll allow this. My advice would be to any follower of your website, to pop into the store and speak to the Duty Manager and see if they'll allow you to park overnight and, where applicable, taking the registration details to be included on the store's database for overstays.
There is a store location search facility on the Tesco web site Here.
User Contributions:
See above for official information from Tesco, June 2011.
1) You can camp overnight in any Tesco's if you ask the manager. This came about because the Managing Director has a Motorhome. I was told of this and I and my friends in the MCC Kent group have tried it out and it has been OK. (Thanks to MN for providing this information on 16 November 2007).
2) Just to update you on Tesco and overnight parking, I e-mailed customer service and received a very helpful phone call shortly afterwards advising me that it is important to obtain the consent of the site Security Manager as many of their car parks are CCTV controlled and the Manager would ensure that a vehicle he had given permission to would have to be exempted from recording for the time limit. (Thanks to IC for providing this information on 5 May 2011).

Waitrose

Response to the request still awaited.
There is a store location search facility on the Waitrose web site Here.

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Last updated: 6 July 2011