🚗 Marina Lock Side Car Park – The Complete Portishead Parking Guide
Affordable Portishead Marina parking – steps from waterfront cafés, shops & coastal trails. All you need for a stress-free visit.
🚗 Type: Public Car Park (Pay & Display, privately managed)
🕒 Open: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (closed overnight)
🌟 Rating: ~3.7/5 (Google Reviews)
💰 Pricing & Permits
- Cost: £1 per hour (first 15 minutes free).
- Payment: Pay at machine (coins or card) or via RingGo app (parking code on site).
- Permits: Marina berth-holders park free with prior vehicle registration. No public season tickets.
- Future Changes: No announced fee increases. EV charging considered for future installation.
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | ~60 unmarked bays |
| Surface | Flat tarmac (some potholes/puddles) |
| Lighting | Minimal (dim at night) |
| Security | ANPR cameras + CCTV monitoring |
| Height Limit | None (open-air, van-friendly) |
♿ Accessibility
Level tarmac surface with dropped kerbs at the entrances. No dedicated blue-badge bays marked within this car park. The nearest clearly signed accessible bays are at the Waitrose car park on Harbour Road (~3-min walk). Drop-off is possible just outside the entrance on Newfoundland Way.
🔌 EV Infrastructure
- On-Site Charging: None.
- Nearest Chargers:
- Waitrose (Harbour Road): 1×50kW rapid + 7×slow chargers – 5-min walk.
- Portishead Park (Harbour Road): 2×50kW rapid – 8-min drive.
- Sainsbury’s (Serbert Way): 2×7kW slow chargers – 5-min drive.
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 8–10 AM | ~60% | Commuters/locals |
| Weekdays 12–2 PM | ~70% | Shoppers/lunch-goers |
| Saturdays 10 AM–4 PM | ~90% | Visitors/Families |
| Evenings (after 6PM) | ~30% | Diners/pub-goers |
Pro Tip: When Marina Lock Side is full, Waitrose and Station Road car parks are reliable nearby options.
🚶 Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Portishead Marina (Quays) | 1 min | Immediate access to waterfront views and boating scenery |
| Royal Inn (waterside pub/restaurant) | 2 min | Scenic dining by the quay |
| Waitrose & Harbour Rd shops | 4 min | Groceries, pharmacy, post office |
| Battery Point Nature Trail | 10 min | Coastal woodland walk with harbor panoramas |
| Portishead High Street | 8 min | Boutiques, cafes and convenience stores |
🛒 Nearby Amenities
- Essentials: Public toilets on Harbour Road (~5-min). ATM at Portishead Post Office (Station Rd, ~5-min). Pharmacy: Boots (Station Rd, ~5-min).
- Food Options:
- La Marina Restaurant (2-min walk) – Italian/seafood.
- The Royal Inn (2-min walk) – waterside pub with terrace.
- Spicy Aroma (8-min walk) – popular curry house.
- Venga (7-min walk) – casual Mediterranean tapas.
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waitrose Car Park | 0.2 mi | Free (2h) | 2 hours | Free for shoppers |
| Station Rd Car Park | 0.2 mi | £0.90/hour | 3 hours | Larger public lot |
| Sainsbury’s Car Park | 0.3 mi | Free (2h) | 2 hours | Free short stay |
| Portbury Wharf (Quayside) | 0.4 mi | £1/hour | 24h | Scenic, secure |
⚠️ Important Notices
- ANPR enforcement with 15-minute grace. Exceeding time without payment leads to fines.
- Overnight parking not permitted (gates close at 10 PM).
- Car park can be very busy on weekends, holidays, and event days (e.g., Portishead Christmas Lights).
📌 Expert Tips
- Arrive before 8:30 AM on weekdays to guarantee a space.
- Park toward the west end to avoid puddles after rain.
- Use RingGo for quick, paperless payments.
- Use supermarket car parks (Waitrose/Sainsbury’s) for up to 2 hours free if shopping.
🔮 Future Developments
- Portishead railway station is due to reopen (MetroWest project, 2025), which will increase demand for local parking.
- EV charging points are under consideration for installation at marina sites in future upgrades.
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