Southwick café says parking charges harming business

Carats Café Bar on Southwick beach, has spoken out on social media after the Shoreham Port Authority raised charges at the seaside car park earlier this year.

The port authority announced it would be purchasing the car park from Adur District Council in October last year as part of a sale which also included a section of the foreshore, promenade, public toilets, beach chalets and other facilities.

The sale was subsequently completed in May.

The café operates independently on the land via a long-term lease. 

An agreement was reached to sell the car park to the Shoreham Port Authority last year (Image: Google)

In a statement published on social media on August 17, a spokesperson for the café said: "Unfortunately, the recent changes to the parking arrangements are having a very real impact — not only on Carats, but on the people who have used and enjoyed Southwick beach for years.

"We are seeing fewer families, surfers, dog walkers and older customers visiting, and many people are telling us directly that the new parking charges and payment system are putting them off coming back.

"We are doing everything we can ourselves, including contributing towards our customers' parking costs, but this isn't a sustainable long-term answer."

The café has operated at the site for more than 25 years.

Continuing their post, the spokesperson said the business would "really like" the opportunity to keep serving the community for another 25, but added a better solution needed to be found.

A petition calling for a review of the charges has also gathered more than 1,000 signatures.

Started by surfer and photographer Giles Hampton, it is calling for a re-examination of the "harmful" charges to create a "more balanced and fair parking management approach".

The new charges, which were implemented on July 1, include increases of up to 100 per cent for certain hourly rates.

A period of two to four hours now costs £6, double the previous price of £3.

The port authority says the new charges bring the car park in line with the rest of the port and enable ongoing reinvestment in the area. 

The café spokesperson said the issue was not about stopping sensible parking management, but a solution needed to be found that worked for both businesses, the community and the port. 

They added: "What we are asking for is a fair, practical parking solution that allows people to continue enjoying Southwick beach and gives businesses like Carats the confidence to invest, grow and remain part of this community."

Tom Willis, chief executive of Shoreham Port, said: "We have been operating the car park at Southwick beach since April this year.

"The car parking prices are exactly the same as all of our car parks along Basin Road which have not changed since January 2025.

"Following feedback that people wanted to be able to park for a short period of time we introduced a one-hour time slot at £1.50.

"This compares very favourably to many beach front car parks in Sussex."