Motorhome travellers heading home to the UK can now stop overnight at Calais Vins and Olivier Vins — free, authorised, with fresh water on tap, a bakery next door and up to 64 bottles of duty-free beer to load into the van.
Searching for a safe, legal and genuinely useful motorhome overnight stop in Calais before your ferry or Eurotunnel? You've found it — and it comes with a rather compelling reason to stock the lockers.
Finding authorised motorhome parking in Calais has long been a headache. The official aire on the seafront is gone. Cité Europe no longer welcomes overnight stays. And under French law, the moment you deploy a footboard or pull out a chair, you're legally camping — which means you need a designated area. Two wine superstores five minutes from the port have stepped in to fill that gap, and their offer goes well beyond just a patch of tarmac.
Calais Vins (in the town centre, off the A16) and Olivier Vins et Compagnie (in the countryside at Fréthun) have officially authorised their car parks for free overnight motorhome stays. Both come with a fresh water point. Both are a quick hop from the port or tunnel. And between them, they carry over 4,000 wines, champagnes, beers and spirits — including more than 500 beer references alone.
- Free
Overnight Parking No fee, no booking required - 5 min
From Port & Tunnel A16 motorway access both sites - 500+
Beer References Belgian, French, unusual & craft - 64
Bottles Per Person UK duty-free allowance (beer, 75cl)
The Overnight Stop: What to Expect
Both car parks are large, well-lit and officially authorised for motorhomes and caravans. The shops are open daily from 9am to 7pm (10am–6pm on Sundays and French bank holidays), so arriving between 5pm and 7pm gives you time to browse, shop and settle in before the shutters come down.
A fresh water point is available at both sites to top up your tank — a practical rarity among free overnight stops. There are no service fees and no booking required.
Two atmospheres to choose from: Calais Vins sits in an urban setting in the heart of Calais — handy for restaurants, a walk around town and with a bakery directly next door. Olivier Vins at Fréthun is more rural and quiet — ideal if you want a peaceful night with easy access to the Eurotunnel terminal at junction 40.
“By arriving at 6pm, they can enjoy a night's rest and fill up on wine and beer while taking advantage of the tax exemption. The next morning, the adjacent bakery will prepare a last French breakfast — with a croissant on the menu, of course. And to top it all off, the best cheese maker in France is right next door.”
— Jérôme Pont, Calais Vins
Why Your Motorhome's Storage Lockers Have Never Been More Useful
Here's the angle that sets this stop apart from every other aire in the area: space. Motorhomers have it. And UK customs allowances reward those who use it.
Each adult travelling back to the UK can bring 42 litres of beer duty-free. In practical terms, that's 64 bottles of 75cl per person. A couple travelling together can legally load the van with 128 bottles — tax-free — and that's before you factor in wine, spirits and sparkling wine allowances.
Calais Vins stocks over 500 beer references across six specialist ranges:
- Belgian Beer Cellar Trappist, abbey, gueuze and specialty Belgian ales — the finest selection this side of Brussels. Explore Belgian beers
- Northern French Beers Local craft and regional favourites from the Hauts-de-France — rarely found in the UK. Discover Northern French Craft beers
- French Beers A curated selection from independent breweries across France. Browse French Beer selection
- Unusual Beers Limited editions, seasonal brews and hard-to-find styles for the curious drinker. Find rare and unlimited edition beers
- Beer Glasses Branded glassware so your haul is served in proper style at home. Shop official beer glasses.
UK Duty-Free Allowances: The Full Picture
These are the current personal allowances for bringing alcohol back to the UK from France — per adult, per crossing:
| Drink | Allowance (litres) | In Bottles (75cl) |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 42 litres | 64 bottles |
| Still wine | 18 litres | 24 bottles |
| Sparkling / fortified wine (up to 22% ABV) | 9 litres | 12 bottles |
| Spirits (over 22% ABV) | 4 litres | ~5 bottles |
Allowances can be split. For example: 4.5 litres of port + 2 litres of spirits uses half of each category. You can mix and match as long as each category stays within its limit.
The Grape Escape: Claim Your VAT Back
Calais Vins has partnered with two tax-free shopping schemes that allow eligible UK shoppers to reclaim French VAT on purchases — an extra saving on top of the already lower French retail prices.
Skiptax (App-based, fastest)
Download the free Skiptax app, scan your passport and your receipt. At the departure terminal, scan the generated barcode. Your refund arrives within 48 hours. Visit skiptax.com.
Global Blue (In-store form)
Pick up a Tax Free Form at Calais Vins. At the port or Eurotunnel, scan the barcode at a PABLO kiosk — located in the main building after customs (ferry) or in the passenger building (Eurotunnel). More at globalblue.com.