Beachlands, Hayling Island car boot
Wednesday, 5.45 am and I hit the road. It’s not yet busy-busy but far from empty as people start their commute earlier and earlier to avoid the rush hour (or should that be the slow hour?) I make good time, arriving at Beachlands, Hayling Island just after 6.30. I pay my pitch money – £8 for my size vehicle – and another guy indicates which line of vehicles to join. Oh good, I’m on hard standing! (The car boot stretches out onto the beach and there the sand gets everywhere. Plus the nearer you are to the sea, the colder it tends to be.) He signals that I need to pull forward. “There’s more room in my bed than we get here,” I hear one woman complain. Certainly there’s not a lot of room between rows: some people with especially wide or posh vehicles guard against the paintwork being scratched by covering the passenger side of the car with a blanket or duvet.
I lock the car and use the facilities. Some traders are chatting over coffee or full English – the cafe does a popular all-day breakfast for £3.80 or an even larger version for around £6.00. I have a “quick wander” and buy a job lot of sewing items for a fiver. There’s quite a few Sylko reels in there, not the old wooden reels but with some age and I’m excited to see that there’s a few that I haven’t come across before. (Sylko labels have a D number together with a description of the colour and I’m putting together a list of them.)
I return to my pitch and set out my stall.
Despite the early hour, there are customers already. But the car boot really gets going once the first bus arrives. I see many of my regulars, including a couple of ladies who also go to Ford. One of my online customers arrives to collect her order. During the summer – when there are even more stallholders – a changing influx of holidaymakers adds to the throng.
The sun gets stronger and off comes the bodywarmer and eventually the jacket. But I’m still thankful for the thick tights beneath my jeans. This is the south of England, not the south of France!
The crowds thin at around midday. I take my lead about when to start packing from the stallholders behind me in the line since it’s difficult to get out before they do. I lock the car and make for the fruit and veg stall – it’s good quality and much cheaper than the supermarket.
On the way home, I fill up at one of the petrol stations on the island which tend to be 3-5p cheaper than most others on the A27. Sometimes I make a day of it and go to nearby Gunwharf Quays but today I go straight home where I arrive at 1.30.
How to get to Beachlands Hayling Island car boot:
Postcode for the satnav is PO11 0AG. If travelling East to West on the A27, look out for the Emsworth exit and take the next exit which is soon after for Hayling Island and Havant. Follow the signs to Hayling Island, take the right fork for Manor Road and follow the signs to Beachlands. If selling, go straight on at the mini roundabout. If buying, park at the adjacent car park.
The car boot is held on Wednesday mornings throughout the year.
Lorraine September 5, 2023 at 7:36 am
Is the car boot sale on this wednesday
Christine Markey September 5, 2023 at 8:24 pm
Yes, should be. I was selling there last Wednesday and there was no indication that it wouldn’t be on this Wednesday. Unfortunately, as far as I know, they don’t have their own webpage or facebook page so there’s no way of checking but there’s only been one instance that I know of when it was cancelled without notice.
Ray March 29, 2022 at 11:52 am
When is hayling island boot sale on as went there last week and not on
Christine Markey March 29, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Hi
I’ve been told that the owners of the car boot sale have recently passed away and the funeral was on Wednesday. I assume that the car boot will resume next week but I’ve no way of checking, sorry.
Ally June 19, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Do you know if carboot has started back up please
Christine Markey June 20, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Hi – yes the car boot has started up again. It was a bit sparse and slow at the beginning of the year but is getting busier with the warmer weather.
David Makriel April 7, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Hi
Can I sell new items or is it second hand items only
Christine Markey March 29, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Theoretically its second hand items only but tbh it’s not strictly enforced.
Beverley Bacon June 22, 2020 at 7:41 am
Hiya
Has the Hayling Booty started again since lock down ?? I would really appreciate your knowledge
Thanks so much
Beverley
Christine Markey June 22, 2020 at 3:29 pm
Hi Beverley – I’m sorry, I don’t know. I guess social distancing might be a challenge there!
Christine Markey June 28, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Hi Beverley – further to earlier reply, while I can’t find a current website or Facebook page for Beachlands car boot I have been checking out the websites for other car boots that I go to and Ford is due to start on Saturday 4th July 2020 so it might be worth checking out Hayling on the following Wednesday, depending on how far you have to travel.
Christine Markey July 5, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Hi Beverley – apparently the Beachlands car boot at Hayling Island on Wednesdays has already started up, according to Caroline the lovely clothes lady who I met today at Ford. She says there aren’t many sellers there atm and social distancing is being managed by a one-way system around the stalls. Best Wishes Christine
Isabelle Tolman June 10, 2020 at 9:10 am
Hello I’d like to know the Beachlands Car Boot Sale will re-open on Hayling Island.
Christine Markey June 10, 2020 at 10:42 am
Hi – yes, so would I! We’ve looked around at various websites and it seems a few car boots are planning to open in the region though how they’re going to enforce social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic is anybody’s guess. The car boot sale at Hayling tends to be tightly packed so it would be even more of a challenge for them. We shall have to wait and see.
Christine Markey July 5, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Hi Isabelle – apparently the Beachlands car boot sale on Hayling Island is already open, according to Caroline the lovely clothes lady who I met today at Ford. She says there are not many sellers there atm and social distancing is being managed by a one-way system around the stalls. Best Wishes Christine
Andy May 8, 2019 at 7:01 am
Having not been yet I was looking for info about Hayling booty. Your blog gives an excellent insight and the postcode/directions are exactly what I needed. Thank you.
Patsy Jenkins June 1, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Hi Christine its Patsy from Hayling. It was lovely chatting yesterday and I have already been out looking for the sewing pattern you shared with me, unfortunately looks like I will have to order it online.
Have not looked at bloggs before so this too is a new experience for me. Yours certainly is very informative and info about bootys is really useful especially as I have only ever visited Hayling!
Keen to start my first simple project (bunting and cushion covers). Will let you know how they turn out and hopefully see you on Hayling in the near future.
And thanks for your help and advice.
Patsy
Michelle April 22, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Sounds like a fund day Christine, glad the weather was kind! X