Q-Park Piazza — Local services in Manchester

No complaints about the car park itself, though it wasn't particularly clear when driving up to the entrance that you were in the right place. There was a small sign that would be easily missed if you don't have a passenger and are concentrating on looking where you are going rather than searching for discreet signs!

Having decided that it was indeed the correct entrance, the car park was easy to access, with the ANPR recognising our reg. and raising the barrier automatically. We were lucky enough to find a vacant space on the first level, which was easy to get into. The car park was very clean and seemed secure, with coded entry on the pedestrian access door, although signposting to the door wasn't particularly obvious.

Alas, the price for parking here is ridiculously high at up to almost £40 a day, and you should be aware of the following...

The hourly rate that you are charged is determined by your entry time, with different hourly rates determined by your arrival time, as follows:

£2.90/hr for arrival from 00:00 to 07:00 £4.10/hr for arrival from 07:00 to 12:00 £4.50/hr for arrival from 12:00 to 19:00 £3.70/hr for arrival from 19:00 to 00:00

You should be aware however that the rate applicable upon arrival applies for your whole stay, so someone arriving at 7.01am will be charged £1.20 more for every hour than someone who arrived 2 minutes earlier, even if they both stay for exactly the same amount of time.

Also be aware that there is absolutely no point booking (and paying) in advance, as not only does this NOT guarantee you a parking space (you could still arrive and be refused entry because the car park is full), but it is charged at a 10% higher rate than the rate charged if you arrive unannounced and pay at the ticket machine when you return to your car.

Furthermore, the onsite notice of tariffs states that there is a maximum charge of £36 per 24 hour period, and it does not explicitly differentiate between online or on-site booking/payment. However they will charge you £39.60 per 24 hours if you pre-pay online.

Personally I wouldn't recommend parking with Q-Park, particularly in central Manchester where there are many less expensive alternatives within...

EDITING TO INCLUDE MY REVIEW:

The carpark itself is in a great location and everything inside it felt safe and well operated. It was only when we arrived back at the car that we found the entrance to it locked (this was only around 8pm, so it wasn't too late.). This was the entrance down Faulkner Street at the back entrance of the Novotel. A man who had just parked was also trying to get out on the other side of the door but it wouldn't work for him either. I rang the help button and after the 5th attempt, it was answered by a man who didn't even apologise.

He told us that we'd need to walk to the car entrance and go in via the barriers. Fine. A minor set back, so that's what we did. We then tried to use our pre-paid ticket at the machine (which it states to do on the website) but the ticket machine said that my ticket was not valid and that I would have to pay £9.

I'd already paid, so I had to press the help button again. The same man answered and told me that I would need to try it again, so I did, and it did not work. I called back and he told me to drive to the exit and call back there, quoting my registration number and booking reference. So we went and grabbed the car and headed to the exit. I called back on the machine from there and no answer....

The machine rang and rang (for 15 minutes, constantly). In that time, nobody actually wanted to leave behind, which was very lucky as the way this carpark is laid out would have made that extremely difficult with just one exit.

After 15 minutes, I got an answer and quoted the number. No sorry, no nothing, the gate just opened and away we drove.

Poor service.

For a couple of extra quid on a pre-paid booking, I would have just paid the £9 to get out of there with my...

WARNING...even if you pre-book and pay in advance this car park might already be FULL on arrival. This happened to us. Will never use this car park again. Come on Q-Park you really MUST review how this car park operates and the experience of customers paying you in advance, in good faith, to park here.

There are only 2 floors, both were COMPLETELY FULL when we arrived ahead of a visit to the theatre, with cars already parked outside of bays, some of which, as others have mentioned, are EXCEPTIONALLY NARROW.

We were told by a helpful attendant (poor chap, difficult job) to double park, leaving just enough room for a car in a bay to get out, but narrowing a corner turn for cars moving around the car park. We did so as we were desperate, already late for the theatre due to horrendous traffic getting in to Manchester, having allowed 2.5 hours to get from Huddersfield . Also, we had no idea how long it would take to find another car park, in a one way system in the centre of Manchester.

When we got back after the show someone else had double parked opposite us, further narrowing the turn for other cars. By some miracle thankfully our car wasn't damaged.

As others have mentioned, the car park is not secure, pedestrians can enter and exit via the vehicle ramps so what is the point of the QR code to get in and out of the pedestrian exits? That said, would-be thieves would struggle to break into cars parked in the narrow bays and would probably...