'I tried Premium Parking and £217 car valet at the Trafford Centre - and my jaw dropped'

The Trafford Centre's first pay-for car park opened for business this week, and yes, I was among the first through the barriers to give it a try. The new Premium Parking service launched on Wednesday, ahead of what is expected to be a busy first weekend as shoppers throng to the mall in the run-up to Christmas.

The newly resurfaced car park now has bigger spaces set to appeal to "premium shoppers" with larger luxury vehicles. It will also offer a host of "luxe" car valet services as well to suit those with larger luxury wallets.

If you're just parking your car there, you'll be shelling out from £4 an hour to park here on weekdays, and from £7 an hour on weekends. However the longer you stay the cheaper the hourly rate becomes - with a maximum stay of 12 hours costing £14 on weekdays and £21 on weekends.

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But if you fancy the full "Premium" experience you can also get your car cleaned as well while you park there. Although you're looking at (gulp) £96 for a "luxe valet" clean, or a truly eye-watering £217 for the "ultra valet" clean which gives you the full works. Oh, but that price does include your parking fee though you'll be pleased to hear.

Now, as I breezed into the new barriered section of the Upper Peel 5 car park at the Trafford Centre on Wednesday morning I could certainly see why this new service might persuade you to part with your cash.

Yes, I know we've all been used to parking for free at the Trafford Centre for the past 20-odd years across some 11,000 spaces. But the new scheme dangles the carrott of a spot right next to one of the main (and most central) entrances into the shopping mall, by posh department store