**Car Boot Craze: £20 Spree Reveals One Item Dominating Buyers’ Baskets**
Sunshine, bargains and bustling crowds – these remain the hallmarks of British car boot sales, and a recent trip to the long-running event at Bolton Wanderers football stadium proved no exception. Arriving just after 11am, journalist Emma Gill found herself swept up in a sea of shoppers, all eager to lay their hands on the latest bargains. It was an outing that would quickly reveal a surprising, collective obsession: everyone seemed to have their eye on the same unlikely item.
Car boot sales have become something of a British institution, offering everyone from collectors to families on a budget the chance to haggle for hidden gems. Bolton’s gathering, which claims up to 400 sellers at its peak Sunday sessions, is typical of the bustling markets taking place up and down the country. By mid-morning, the venue’s rows of stalls overflowed with a kaleidoscope of goods, ranging from garden plants and DIY tools to toys, trainers, toilet rolls and even the occasional wheelchair.
The diversity of items on offer was matched only by the energy of the shoppers themselves. Parents examined tables stacked with pre-loved toys while keen-eyed buyers rummaged through bric-a-brac in search of valuable antiques. “All ladies clothes 50p!” bellowed one entrepreneur, clearly hoping to shift their stock before lunchtime. Judging by the contented faces of children clutching boxes of toy cars and adults carefully scrutinising every plate and trinket, there were bargains aplenty to be found.
However, amidst the hubbub, it soon became apparent that a single vendor was the star attraction: the so-called ‘meat man’. This entrepreneurial trader, stationed at his conspicuously branded Nationwide Meats lorry, had drawn a notably long queue and the full attention of budget-minded foodies. According to onlookers, his sales pitch, delivered energetically via microphone, could be heard across the car park, enticing carnivores with promises of excellent value.
One customer, observed by Emma, gleefully exchanged £30 for what the meat man described as ‘£80 worth of tomahawk steaks’, and received a bonus roll of beef for good measure. Another left clutching a medley of minty lamb, ribs, and chicken, all for just £20. For those facing the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, such offerings were clearly too good to pass up.
The lure of affordable protein proved irresistible for Emma herself, who set out to make a modest purchase but walked away with a weighty “plenty for £20” bundle. By her account, her haul included 770 grams of peppered steaks, 2.7 kilograms of jumbo sausages and a further 3 kilograms of chicken drumsticks – a quantity that raised immediate questions about storage space at home.
Conversations overheard in the car park only confirmed the meat man’s growing cult-like status among car boot regulars. One woman, seen leaving with an equally generous supply, was overheard excitedly spreading the word about the vendor’s presence that day. It seems word of mouth travels fast as shoppers share tips about the best spots to nab a deal.
The location of the car boot sale itself is a key factor in its popularity. Nestled conveniently beside Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, the football stadium car park is both accessible and spacious, offering ample space for hundreds of traders and buyers alike. Since its inception in 2016, Bolton’s Sunday event has become a reliable fixture, with its recently launched Wednesday edition also drawing considerable crowds — sometimes up to 200 sellers, despite being only a few weeks old.
At a time when Britons are feeling the pinch from rising food and household bills, events like these serve a valuable social and economic role. They provide a lively, communal environment where people can stretch their budgets further, perhaps picking up weekly essentials or stumbling upon quirky treasures that bring a little joy to everyday life.
Beyond the bargains, the sense of community is undeniable. For many, the weekly trip to the local boot sale isn’t just about shopping, but about connecting – with other bargain hunters, veteran sellers and even the entrepreneurial meat man whose deals have become the stuff of local legend.
As the day pressed on and Emma Gill hauled her impressive meat purchase back to the car, it was clear the spirit of the car boot sale remains alive and well. Whether you’re searching for collectables, clothing or something a little more unusual to fill your freezer, one thing is certain: in challenging times, the hunt for a good deal continues to unite communities and provide a little bit of excitement on a Sunday morning.