‘I’m Britain’s dullest man and I’ve discovered the best car park in the country’

A university car park in the West Midlands has been named the best in the country by the self-proclaimed dullest man in Britain.

The University of Warwick’s Kirby Corner, in Coventry, has been awarded the accolade of "Car Park of the Year" by Kevin Beresford.

Kevin has dedicated several months for the past two years scouring the entire nation reviewing the car parks on offer between Scotland and Cornwall. And he decided Kirby Corner - which boasts 1,300 spaces over five floors - was "the zenith of car park design" and a worthy winner of this year’s award.

The structure is notable for its solar panels which generates an impressive 10 per cent of its energy as well as its "sleek" visual appeal. It has also ditched pillars and embraced wide parking bays which includes a row of electric car charging points.

Outside, motorists can find designated areas for car-sharers surrounded by picturesque greenery and hedgerows. The University of Warwick has since thanked Kevin for the "prestigious acknowledgement".

Kevin has previously produced calendars featuring car parks, village notice boards, roundabouts and most recently allotments. The 71-year-old, of Redditch, Worcestershire, is also president of the Car Park Association Society.

Kevin said: "From the very first viewing of the Kirby Corner car park, the initial impression was, what a sleek building it is, with its clean-looking lines. The building gets better as you enter. A very up-to-date construction at the zenith of car park design.

"There are no pillars, which can be a real pain the backside when you’re parking, so there’s plenty of room. The bays are extra wide too which is handy. Its green credentials also really impressed me because it is solar powered and uses sustainable lighting. I think it was a worthy winner."

Kevin says he takes into consideration factors including lighting, price and aesthetics of the spaces when judging what makes a good car park. However, members of the public can only sample the facilities at Kirby Corner during fresher’s week or graduations because it is usually a private car park for staff only.

He added: "I think first and foremost if I had to design a car park myself it would have to be brightly lit. That is so important and something that is often overlooked. A dark car park is scary especially at night. Also a lot of the car parks were designed years ago for small cars. Now you have big 4x4s, so a lot of the small parking spaces are not adequate really anymore."

A University of Warwick spokesperson said: “On behalf of the University of Warwick, I am thrilled to express our heartfelt gratitude for the honour of being awarded ‘Car Park of the Year’ for our Kirby Corner, University House car park. This recognition marks our commitment to sustainability, convenience, and aesthetics. We thank you for this prestigious acknowledgement.”

The University of Warwick’s Kirby Corner features in Kevin’s 2024 calendar ‘Car Parks of the UK’, which costs £12.50 and can be bought at: DullKev.com.