Coach Driver Information
Advice for coach drivers:
- Locking Road Coach Park is likely to be closed from Monday 9th November 2026 up to and including Saturday 14th November 2026. Limited coach parking is available at the Madeira Rd Car Park (BS23 2HA) but not on the 13th (the day of the Carnival).
- On Friday 13th November official coach parking for the Carnival is on Marine Parade (BS23 1BE). Our map shows the route to Marine Parade and the official coach parking area for Carnival night. Coach parking is available from 12.00 noon.
- No other coach parking is available in the town on Carnival Day and town centre roads close at 5.00pm.
- To avoid the Carnival road closures follow the signed route to the Seafront or the directions given below.
- All Carnival coach parking, VIP or otherwise, can only be accessed through the coach registration point at the Royal Sands entrance to Marine Parade (BS23 4HN).
Reception Centre Location: Royal Sands Reception Centre
- Royal Sands and Marine Parade to the Beach Office will be closed to general traffic throughout the day. The route will be staffed by carnival marshals from 07:00 hrs with access gates remaining closed except for authorised coaches. All arriving coaches report to the Reception Centre before entering the controlled area.
- Once checked-in, both VIP and pay-on-the-day coaches will be directed by carnival staff to their respective parking areas. Entitlement to park will be provided as part of registration. Coaches trying to avoid the registration point will be refused entry.
VIP Coaches
Arrival Procedure
- VIP coaches must be pre-booked.
- Each coach is allocated a unique Carnival Coach Number prior to the event.
- Coach operators receive advance instructions requiring the number to be displayed prominently in the offside front windscreen.
On arrival:
- Coach details are checked against the booking list.
- The driver is signed in.
- A registration receipt is issued.
- The receipt must remain displayed within the vehicle.
Marshalling
Once registered:
- Coaches are directed along Marine Parade.
- Coaches are held in a designated VIP holding line.
- Marshals dispatch coaches in a controlled sequence behind a marked marshal vehicle.
Promenade Parking
At the Grand Pier:
- Documentation is checked to confirm registration at Royal Sands.
- Coaches are then parked on the offside of the Promenade.
- Parking extends from The Cabot towards the Grand Pier.
- Coaches are parked nose-to-tail.
- Maximum capacity: 20 coaches.
VIP coach operators are strongly encouraged to arrive and be parked no later than 16:30 hrs, and in all cases before the 17:00 hrs road closures.
Late arrival may result in the coach being unable to access the Promenade parking area.
VIP Coach Exit
Following Event Control authorisation:
- Coaches parked on the Promenade are released first.
- They proceed:
- North along the Promenade towards Knightstone.
- Along Knightstone Road.
- Held at The Thatched Cottage until released.
Standard Drop-Off Coaches
Registration
Standard drop-off coaches are not required to pre-register, although this is encouraged where possible.
Upon arrival at Royal Sands:
- Coach details are recorded.
- Registration is completed.
- Marshals direct the coach onto Marine Parade.
Passenger Drop-Off
- Coaches are parked on the nearside of Marine Parade.
- Passengers safely disembark.
- Coaches remain parked nose-to-tail in the same location throughout the carnival until passengers return.
Post-Carnival Coach Departure
All coach movements are controlled by Event Control.
No coach departs until authorised.
Marine Parade Coach Exit
Coaches on Marine Parade remain stationary until instructed to move.
They then proceed:
- Along A370 Beach Road
- To The Cabot
- Merge with VIP coaches
- Continue via:
- The Boulevard
- Milton Road
- New Bristol Road
- Motorway network
This follows the established Summer Coach Exit Route.
The Carnival Route
The change of route last year was well received so it will remain the same for 2026.
- Starts and finishes at the Locking Road Car Park. It then goes through the bus hub turning left at the cinema and then right onto Oxford Street to the seafront. At the seafront it turns left and then around the small lawn before turning right along the main A370 past the Pier and Winter Gardens turning right at Wetherspoons along South Parade into Waterloo Street, The Boulevard and then right into Alfred Street returning to Locking Rd car park.
- Between Locking Road car park and the pedestrian crossing in the Bus Hub is a sterile area, so not a viewing area for security reasons.
- The main procession starts at 19:00.
Directions to the Carnival Coach Park Avoiding Town Centre Road Closures From M5 J21:
- Follow A370 to Airport Roundabout – take 1st exit onto Locking Moor Road
- At the 1st roundabout – take 2nd exit onto The Runway
- At the next roundabout – take 1st exit to stay on The Runway
- At the next roundabout – take 2nd exit to stay on The Runway
- At the next roundabout – take 1st exit onto Winterstoke Road [M5 South, Taunton, Burnham]
- At the mini-roundabout – take 2nd exit onto Broadway [ M5 South, Taunton, Hospital]
- At the Uphill/hospital roundabout – take 3rd exit onto A370 [Weston-super-Mare, Town Centre]
- Continue along A370 until reaching the signed Coach registration point
From M5 J22:
-
- At the exit roundabout take 3rd exit onto A38 Bristol, Weston-super-Mare
- At the roundabout take 1st exit Weston-super-Mare
- At the hospital roundabout take 2nd exit onto A370 Weston-super-Mare.
- Continue along A370 until reaching the signed Coach registration point.
VIP On-Route Coach Parking Permit and Price
A limited number of spaces are available for coaches to park in reserved places along the Promenade route of the procession. These VIP Permits must be purchased in advance and are not available on-the-day.
-
- The fee for 2026 is £180 for coaches and minibuses (no camper-vans). Please complete and return the 2026 Carnival Coach Parking application form below.
- VIP coaches must arrive and check-in at the registration point where your parking permit will be verified. Coaches arriving between 12.00noon and 3.00pm will be held in a temporary waiting area until the VIP area opens. Passengers may leave the coach at this stage. Parking-up in the VIP area will not be allowed until approx. 3.00pm and will stop at 4.30pm – so please arrive no later than this. But, if you do, an alternative off-route parking place will be offered.
- Please note: No coaches will be allowed on the promenade surface unless the operator has a ‘spill kit’ or absorbent matting. Vehicles with oil leaks will be refused entry by North Somerset Council who will do inspections on the day.
Pay-on-the-day Off-Route Coach Parking
- £80 for coaches, £25 for minibuses (17 seats or under). Sorry – no-camper vans. All coaches must arrive and check-in via the official registration point where officials will collect your parking fee (CASH or CARD payments accepted). You will be given a receipt and a parking permit and directed to your parking position where your coach will remain until after the Carnival has passed and roads have re-opened. There is no need to pre-book.
- NEW FOR 2026: Pay in advance by 23.59 on 10th November and your non-VIP parking fee will be £70.00 instead of £80.00. You will need to pre-book using the attached 2026 Coach Parking application form. You will be parked up in the order of coach arrival.
Note: ALL coach the parking fee goes to carnival charity funds.
Important:
No coaches will be allowed on the promenade surface unless the operator has a ‘spill kit’ or absorbent matting. Vehicles with oil leaks will be refused entry by North Somerset Council who will do inspections on the day.
VIP Coach Permits are only available in advance from:
Jeremy Birkett
High tides or adverse weather may lead to North Somerset Council deploying flood defences.
This will result in the carnival procession using an alternative route and permit only parking being moved to a different location. Coach drivers are advised to follow the directional signage and parking staff will advise of any changes on the day.
Check Latest News or visit https://www.facebook.com/WestonsuperMareCarnival/ before travelling
We will update our FAQs on our Facebook Page as we get closer to the parade night – Friday 13th November 2026, the main parade starts at 1900hrs
“Coach Driver Information” is available to download and includes a map and procession route for guidance.
OFFICIAL COLLECTORS
Each and every collector will wear an OFFICIAL YELLOW SASH. Each collecting tin or bucket will carry an OFFICIAL NUMBER on the tin or bucket. Official Collecting carts will also appear in the procession. Please give your donations to OFFICIAL COLLECTORS ONLY.
Our collection total from the last carnival was £23,964.00
Official Carnival programmes will be on sale for £2 each at various locations including Tesco town centre store and McColls newsagents.
#WestonCarnival 2025 – proudly sponsored by:
Services:
Contact details:
Address:
Phone: 01934 812342
Email: kim@westcountryparks.co.uk
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