Pub Parking Schemes & Brit Stops for Van Life
Sleeping in a pub car park is a classic UK van life hack. Here is the guide to pub parking schemes, Brit Stops, and how to do it right.
Brit Stops
Brit Stops is a membership scheme (£35/year) that lists 900+ pubs, farms, and breweries that allow campervan overnight parking. Members get a directory with location, facilities, and contact details. The expectation: you arrive in the evening, eat at the pub, and leave in the morning. How it works:
- Join at britstops.com (£35, digital directory)
- Find a stop on your route using the app or PDF
- Arrive before 8pm (the pub wants to serve you dinner)
- Park in their car park (signposted or as agreed)
- Eat and drink at the pub
- Sleep in your van
- Leave by 10am (or whenever the pub opens) Cost: £35/year membership. No charge for parking (you buy dinner, typically £15-25 per person). Coverage: Strong in England and Wales. Less coverage in Scotland. South West (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset) has the most stops.
Going Direct (Without Membership)
You do not need Brit Stops membership. You can approach any country pub directly:
- Look for a pub with a large car park (check Google Maps satellite view)
- Arrive at 6-7pm (early enough for dinner)
- Go inside, order food, ask the landlord: "We are travelling in our campervan — would it be OK to stay in your car park tonight?"
- 9 times out of 10, they say yes
- Eat, drink, sleep, leave by 10am The key: Ask before you park. Park before you eat. Spend money at the pub. Do not arrive after 9pm (the pub will be closed or cleaning up).
Best Types of Pubs for Van Parking
- Country pubs (not town pubs). Town pubs have small car parks and residents nearby.
- Free houses (not chain pubs). Greene King and Wetherspoons rarely allow it. Independent pubs are more flexible.
- Pubs with large car parks. Check Google Maps. A car park with 20+ spaces probably will not miss one.
- Pubs with accommodation. They already expect overnight guests. Your campervan is no different.
Pub Etiquette
- Buy dinner and at least one drink per person
- Do not park in a way that blocks the pub's trading (avoid the front entrance, the delivery area, and the beer garden access)
- Do not use the pub's toilet after closing time (they lock up)
- Do not set up an awning, put out chairs, or light a barbecue (you are a customer, not a camper)
- Leave the car park as you found it (no litter, no tyre marks on the grass)
- Leave a positive review on Google or Park4Night (helps other van lifers)
Brit Stops vs Going Direct
| Factor | Brit Stops | Going Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £35/year | Free |
| Guarantee | Listed pub expects you | Landlord may say no |
| Number of stops | 900+ | Unlimited (all of them) |
| Facilities listed | Water, toilet, etc. | Unknown |
| Booking | Call ahead recommended | Arrive on the night |
| Best for | Planning ahead | Spontaneous stops |
Verdict
Brit Stops is worth the £35/year if you plan pub stops regularly. The directory saves you the anxiety of asking. But you can get the same result for free by asking any country pub with a large car park. The etiquette is the same either way: buy dinner, be discreet, leave early.
