'UK's best car park' chosen by 'Britain's dullest man' after two-year search

05 October 2023 , 10:48

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Car Park Association Society president Kevin Beresford (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

A university car park has been crowned the best in the UK by the self-proclaimed "Dullest Man in Britain" – who has dedicated his time to reviewing car parks across the country.

After months of meticulous research, Kevin Beresford declared the University of Warwick's Kirby Corner car park in Coventry, which houses 1,300 parking spaces, as "the zenith of car park design". The car park is notable for its solar panels that generate 10% of its energy and its visually appealing design. It also features wide parking bays, electric car charging points, and designated areas for car-sharers, all surrounded by lush greenery.

The university has expressed gratitude for this "prestigious acknowledgement" after it was awarded "Car Park of the Year". Mr Beresford, a 71 year old from Redditch, Worcestershire, is also the president of the Car Park Association Society and has previously produced calendars featuring car parks, village notice boards, roundabouts, and allotments.

He said: "The building gets better as you enter. A very up-to-date construction at the zenith of car park design. There are no pillars, which can be a real pain the backside when you're parking, so there's plenty of room. The bays are extra wide too which is handy.Its green credentials also really impressed me because it is solar powered and uses sustainable lighting. I think it was a worthy winner."

Car Park of the Year (Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Mr Beresford says he takes into consideration factors including lighting, price and aesthetics of the spaces when judging what makes a good car park. However, members of the public can only sample the facilities at Kirby Corner during fresher's week or graduations because it is usually a private car park for staff only.

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He added: "I think first and foremost if I had to design a car park myself it would have to be brightly lit. That is so important and something that is often overlooked. A dark car park is scary especially at night. Also a lot of the car parks were designed years ago for small cars. Now you have big 4x4s, so a lot of the small parking spaces are not adequate really anymore."

Kirby Corner, University House Car Park at the University of Warwick (Emma Trimble / SWNS)

A University of Warwick spokeswoman said: "On behalf of the University of Warwick, I am thrilled to express our heartfelt gratitude for the honour of being awarded 'Car Park of the Year' for our Kirby Corner, University House car park. This recognition marks our commitment to sustainability, convenience, and aesthetics. We thank you for this prestigious acknowledgement."

The University of Warwick's Kirby Corner is featured in Kevin's 2024 calendar 'Car Parks of the UK', which is priced at £12.50 and can be purchased at Dull Kev - Ambassador for the Mundane.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Adam Dutton