Portsmouth and Southsea Car Boot Sale

The Portsmouth and Southsea Car Boot Sale is back at Duisburg Way in Southsea, with the next one running this Sunday 28 June. It's a regular fixture on the calendar, and this is just one of the dates they've got lined up for the summer: 5, 12, 19 and 26 July, then 6, 20 and 27 September. It's a weather-dependent thing, so if the forecast looks a bit dodgy, they'll post updates on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PSCarBoot, and put staff and signs on-site to let you know if it's off.

If you're going as a buyer, it's free entry, and you can start hunting from 7:00. The sale wraps up at 13:00, so you've got a decent window to pick through the stalls. Dogs are welcome, provided they stay on a lead. If you're thinking of selling, it's a 'turn up and pay' setup on the day, and the price depends on how much space you need: £5 if you're walking in without a vehicle, £10 for a car, SUV, 4x4 or small van, and £15 for a delivery van, camper or vehicle with a trailer. Just a heads-up that you'll need to keep your vehicle on-site while you're selling—you can't just drop your gear and drive off. And when you're done, you'll need to take everything that hasn't sold with you and leave your pitch tidy.

There are a few things to keep in mind before you pack up. It's for second-hand goods, not businesses, so no commercial trading. You can't sell food or drink—homemade included—without getting permission first, and alcohol is a no-go. There's also a long list of things that aren't allowed: no fakes, weapons, ammo, prescription meds, fireworks, explosives, tobacco, lighters, child seats, motorcycle helmets, or anything else illegal under UK law. As for vehicles, closed delivery vans and the like are fine, but no vans with trailers, boxes, cages or open-sided flatbeds. If you bring a car with a trailer, that'll cost a bit extra.

One of the better things about it is where the money goes: once the costs are covered, all the profit from the pitch and concession fees is donated to local charities. So, whether you're there to clear out the garage or to find a bargain, it's doing something decent in the background. Traders can get in from 6:30, with the final cut-off at 7:30, and the site needs to be clear by 13:30.