Tesco customer slams new parking rule as 'not okay' for late night shoppers

A Tesco shopper has shared her frustration at a late-night parking policy

A disgruntled Tesco shopper has voiced their frustration over a new car parking policy being enforced at their local store. The customer took to social media to express their annoyance, sharing an image that detailed new restrictions at the Tesco car park.

According to the notice, parking time from 8pm to midnight is now limited to one hour, and from midnight to 6am it is reduced to just 30 minutes. Daytime shoppers between 6am and 8pm will continue to have three hours to complete their shopping.

The change has irked the customer who valued the option to browse the aisles unhurriedly late at night, as they shared on X, previously known as Twitter: "Hey @Tesco I do my shopping at night so I can wander round without my kids and buy nice things that I can hide and eat by myself. It's a couple of hours to myself once a week. This new policy sucks."

They followed up with another message to clarify: "I'm aware the store is shut 12 until 6am, I'm talking about when I like to go at 9pm for a couple of hours when it's nice and quiet and I can shop in peace."

Tesco has various localised parking regulations across its UK stores, and as always, takes customer feedback into account when assessing changes, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The shopper added: "I know to a lot of people this probably seems petty and not a big deal, but to anyone who either has kids or works weird hours and has to shop in the evening, or for anyone neurodivergent, it's absolutely not okay."

The complaint struck a chord with many, as fellow shoppers quickly voiced their agreement. One commented: "I agree @Tesco I'd need more than an hour in the evening. Have enough stress in work that I don't need to be rushed going shopping too! " Another shopper expressed: "Totally agree, if you're going to have a 24hr store, make the car park 24hrs too! Plenty of people like to do full shops outside their busy hours."

Sharing their personal circumstances, another customer said: "I don't go to this particular @Tesco but as a sole full time carer for my dad who has mobility issues and mixed dementia, I also can only do the shopping on an evening. Similarly, it's two hours to myself once a week. This is a really inconsiderate thing to do. Shame on Tesco."

A Tesco spokesperson responded: "It is important to us that all our customers can find a space when they visit our stores and, where we have parking limits in place, this is to allow us to better manage spaces, and to deter anti-social behaviour in the car park at night, especially outside of opening hours."