Logo for the Portsmouth and Southsea Car Boot Sale

About

The Portsmouth and Southsea Car Boot Sale will return in 2025.

The Car Boot will take place each Sunday from 27 April to 3 August (except 29 June and 27 July) on Duisburg Way, PO5 3SB. There will also be a Car Boot Sale on Castle Field on Sunday 20 April.

The car boot will begin at 7am and end at 1pm. Traders can access the site from 6.30am to 7.30am. Traders will be required to stay on site until at least 11.30am, with load out finishing at 1.30pm

Entry is free to shoppers and there will be a selection of hot and cold food and drink available on site.

As seasoned Car Booters will tell you, this event does rely on the weather. In the case that the event has to be cancelled, organisers will get the message out as early as possible through the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PSCarBoot.

Please read the FAQs below, as well as the Ts&Cs. By entering the site you are agreeing to comply with the terms and conditions.

Ts&Cs

Portsmouth City Council is delighted to be running Car Boots in Southsea for 2025. By entering the site you are agreeing to comply with the terms and conditions as follows.

When are the Car Boots on?

Castle Field - opening weekend only, Sunday 20 April  

Duisburg Way:
27 April
4 May
11 May
18 May
25 May
1 June
8 June
15 June
22 June
6 July
13 July
20 July
3 August​​​​​​

(All are weather permitting)

Note: the car boot location will be Duisburg Way (PO5 3SB) for all dates excluding Sunday 20 April which will take place on Castle Field (PO5 3ST).

If the event is called off due to bad weather, the communication is sent out as early as possible through the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PSCarBoot). There will also be staff and signage on site earlier in the day notifying of cancellations.

Do buyers have to pay an entrance fee?
No. The Car Boot is free entry for all general buyers.

What time does it start?
Traders are asked to arrive from 6.30am to 7.30pm. Buyers are encouraged to arrive from 7am onwards.

What time does it end?
Trading ends at 1pm and the site needs to be completely clear of traders, buyers and vehicles by 1.30pm.

Can I arrive early as a trader?
No traders will be allowed on site before 6.30am. Please arrive at the correct times.

Can I leave early as a trader?
Vehicle movement is restricted until 11.30am to maintain a safe environment. Traffic marshals will escort traders off site in an emergency and when a safe window becomes available after 11.30am. The registration of anyone who leaves without a marshal escort will be noted and that car will not be allowed back on site all season.

How much do pitches cost for traders?
£5 for walk ons (no vehicle)
£10 for a regular car pitch
£12 for cars with trailers and larger vehicles
£15 for vans

Pitch fees are charged in relation to the space that you take up and your vehicle's size and type. Any traders deemed to be taking up extra space will be charged in relation to this. Pitch fees are charged at full discretion of site management.

Which vehicles are prohibited?
Vans with trailers, boxes, cages or flatbeds are not allowed - only closed transit vans or similar.

Can I bring a trailer?
Trailers are welcomed on site for cars only and there will be an additional cost.

Does my vehicle need to be on site while I trade?
Yes, traders are not able to unload their vehicle and remove it from site. All traders must trade with their vehicle on site.

Can I pre-book a pitch or choose where I park and set up?
The car boot operates on a turn-up-and-pay system. Organisers cannot guarantee specific pitches. There is a tight timescale to fit all sellers onsite which requires precision parking marshalling by the stewards.

Where should I enter the site?
Traders for 20th April only - arrive at Castle Field, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 3ST
Traders for all other dates - arrive at Duisburg Way, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 3SB
General buyers and members of the public: use the pedestrian entrances to the area. Buyers are encouraged to arrive on foot but there is car parking available nearby along the seafront.

What if I am running late, can I still get a space?
7.30am is the final cut off for traders' arrival - if space is still available.

Can I unload my car and go home for more goods?
No. Due to the layout of the boot sale, once a car is parked it needs to stay where it is until the vehicle movement window opens. If you have more goods than will fit in your car you can bringing more than one vehicle or do the boot sale several times.

Can I leave unsold items on the site?
No. All traders must take any unsold items away with them. Traders are responsible for leaving their pitch clean at the end of trading. All rubbish must be taken away with the trader as the end of the event.

Can I bring goods from my business to sell?
The car boot sale is only open to the general public to bring goods along to sell directly to the buyers e.g. members of the public clearing out pre-used goods. It is not a market and therefore it is not able to support businesses or traders directly selling their goods to the public as an alternative option to the council's market trading sites. Should such traders be found on site they will be spoken to by the Event Manager and, if practical, asked to leave the site and advised that they will not be able to return to future car boot sales.

Strictly no counterfeit goods
It is illegal to sell counterfeit goods anywhere in the UK and the boot sale is no exception.

Can I sell food? I've made some cakes etc.
There are approved food traders on site and organisers do not allow anyone else to sell food or drinks. Anyone reported to be selling food or drinks on site without approval will be asked to remove such items from sale and/or asked to leave and will not be offered a refund. This includes homemade cakes. No form of drink sale is allowed - cans, bottles, freshly made, frozen, alcoholic or otherwise.

Other non-permitted items
No waste transfer; knives (including kitchen knives); lighters; smoking devices including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, pipes, rolling papers, cigars, chewing tobacco and any other smoking-related items; alcohol, inclduing wine or spirits; firearms, air rifles, BB Guns or other dangerous weapons; prescription/pharmacy medicines; fireworks, explosives or other flammable items; or anything deemed illegal under current UK law.

Organisers want the Car Boots to be a safe, family-friendly environment. Anyone found trading in these items at the Car Boot will be removed from the site without refund and, if applicable, the relevant authorities will be informed. Site management reserves the right to remove any item deemed inappropriate for sale.

Are there toilets on site?
Toilets are available nearby with Clarence Parade Pier public toilets opening early. Site stewards will direct you accordingly.

Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are welcome on site but must be kept on their leads at all times.

Zero tolerance for abuse to staff
If staff or security experience verbal abuse it will not be tolerated. Vehicles will be escorted off site and will be banned from future trading and no refund will be given.

Does the car boot still raise money for charity?

After costs are covered, all profits from each Car Boot - generated from your pitch fees and concession fees - is donated to local charities.

To keep up to date with car boot news please like and follow the Facebook page.

Happy car booting!

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Pitches start from £5. Free for browsing.

Book Tickets Online

Map & Directions

Portsmouth and Southsea Car Boot Sale

Type:Markets

Southsea Common, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 3NT

Opening Times

Car Boot Sale (20 Apr 2025 - 3 Aug 2025)
Monday - SaturdayClosed
SundayOpen

* Every Sunday from 27 April to 3 August (except 29 June and 27 July) on Duisburg Way, PO5 3SB. There will also be a Car Boot Sale on Castle Field on Sunday 20 April.
Traders should arrive from 6.30am, the final cut off being 7.30am.
General buyers are encouraged to arrive from 7am onwards.

What's Nearby

  1. Explore Portsmouth on this self guided Mystery themed Treasure Trail. It will certainly…

    0.13 miles away
  2. Three kilometres of promenade links Portsmouth’s historic waterfront.

    0.14 miles away
  3. Clarence Pier Southsea is one of the largest amusement parks on the south coast and…

    0.16 miles away
  1. Hovertravel, the only scheduled Hovercraft operator in Europe, is the quickest way to…

    0.19 miles away
  2. Southsea Rowing Club is committed to providing a healthy, fun, competitive environment…

    0.28 miles away
  3. Turn the streets of Southsea into a 'whodunnit' treasure hunt adventure!

    0.36 miles away
  4. Planning on visiting Southsea?...Click here to get latest information on Attractions,…

    0.36 miles away
  5. Discover this beautiful church in Old Portsmouth, which was partially destroyed during a…

    0.37 miles away
  6. Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is the museum of and for the people of Portsmouth,…

    0.37 miles away
  7. Southsea Common is a vast open space that was purchased from the War Department in 1922.…

    0.37 miles away
  8. See great films, meet like-minded film fans and chat about the latest releases.

    0.38 miles away
  9. Turn the streets of Portsmouth into a 'whodunnit' treasure hunt adventure!

    0.42 miles away
  10. Take a voyage of discovery at Portsmouth Cathedral, and uncover over 800 years of history.

    0.44 miles away
  11. Head to the splash pool at Southsea for safe fun in the water along the seafront.

    0.46 miles away
  12. Take the ultimate undersea adventure at Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth.

    0.47 miles away
Previous Next

Don't Miss