• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Jeremy Walton
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Amazing New Audi Centre Opens in Dorset

Author/Source: Kim Henson

29th July 2016

Poole Audi Heading shot

A Car Dealership – But Not as We Know it; Poole Audi’s State-of-the-art New Centre Opens its Doors to the Public.

Words and photographs by Kim Henson.

Poole Audi has been operating in the east Dorset town for the last 16 years, and has grown steadily during that time, to the extent that it has outgrown its previous premises. It has therefore relocated into a brand new, up-to-the-minute base, which has to be experienced to be believed, in fact representing Britain’s biggest Audi Centre – and one of the largest in Europe.

Since early 2015 the huge, 65,000 square feet Centre has been built on a four acre brownfield site in Poole, and will open its doors to customers on Monday 1st August.

Part of Poole Audi Centre’s new showroom, as viewed from the first floor balcony.
Part of Poole Audi Centre’s new showroom, as viewed from the first floor balcony.

At the recent press launch some 200 invited guests consumed a range of canapé and hors d’oeuvre creations from Michelin-star chef Russell Brown.

This was followed by an entertaining, comprehensive talk and ‘Question and Answer’ session given by Allan McNish. He has been three times winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race with Audi, in addition to having delivered many other motor racing successes during his highly-respected career to date.

Allan McNish described what it's like to race for hours on end...
Allan McNish described what it’s like to race for hours on end…

He gave a fascinating insight into the physical endurance and deep concentration required by drivers in long-distance races such as the Le Mans 24 Hours event.

David Kelly, Managing Director, welcomes guests to the press launch of the new Poole Audi Centre.
David Kelly, Managing Director, welcomes guests to the press launch of the new Poole Audi Centre.

David Kelly, Managing Director of Poole Audi, told guests that since opening Poole Audi in 2000, the firm’s staff numbers have grown from 27 to 110, as the business has expanded. He expressed delight with the way in which the firm has achieved enviable levels of customer service in that time (in fact, in customer satisfaction surveys the business has consistently been rated top within Audi UK). He went on to say, “We are bringing together a unique team in a new environment more suited to the 21st Century. This is a very special place to do business”.

Mark Laming, Head of Business and a director of Poole Audi, spoke with enthusiasm about Poole Audi and its dedicated staff.
Mark Laming, Head of Business and a director of Poole Audi, spoke with enthusiasm about Poole Audi and its dedicated staff.

Mark Laming, Head of Business and a director of Poole Audi, said that he was very excited about the new Centre and its future prospects. He advised that the firm’s customer base had increased to over 12,000 people in the Poole area (and many customers travel from much further afield too).

Talking about the fast expansion of the business he commented, “The secret of our success is belief in the firm’s staff, who genuinely care about their customers”. He mentioned also that staff retention rates are very high.

The evening was concluded by a brilliant, soulful live performance by vocalist and West End star Beverley Knight MBE, who is well known and respected for her numerous charitable efforts, in addition to her highly successful career in music.

Beverley Knight wowed guests with a varied selection of her songs (including tracks from her latest album), performed live.
Beverley Knight wowed guests with a varied selection of her songs (including tracks from her latest album), performed live.

IMPRESSIVE FACILTIES

I have visited car dealerships great and small, over many years, but Poole Audi’s new Centre is certainly one of the most interesting and well-equipped that I have seen.

When a customer buys a car from the new Poole Audi Centre, the handover will take place in a room like this, with dealership staff taking time to familiarise the buyer with their new vehicle.
When a customer buys a car from the new Poole Audi Centre, the handover will take place in a room like this, with dealership staff taking time to familiarise the buyer with their new vehicle.

The spacious, stylish new showroom can accommodate and display 24 new Audis, and the new Centre also features three hand-over bays for car-buying customers, plus two HD display configuration rooms and two MoT zones with full valet and SMART repair facilities. There is room on-site for over 90 used cars too…

The vast service workshop features a total of 24 ramps (there’s a technician for each ramp), and much high-tech equipment. This includes sophisticated diagnostic tools, ‘automatic’ MoT test machines, and a ‘stand-alone’ geometry ramp. Heavy duty ramps have been provided for looking after the larger Audis, including the Q7 and R8.

An Audi R8 is seen here in the 24 bay servicing centre at Poole Audi’s new premises.
An Audi R8 is seen here in the 24 bay servicing centre at Poole Audi’s new premises.

In addition the facilities include three climate-controlled drop-off and pick-up bays, for all service, MoT and sales operations to be able to take place under cover.

The workshop is equipped with very latest electronic and mechanical equipment required to keep modern Audis running at their best.
The workshop is equipped with very latest electronic and mechanical equipment required to keep modern Audis running at their best.

I spoke to Tom Phillips, Workshop Controller for the new centre, who told me about his enthusiasm for the new Centre and the way it has been set up; he said that he was very much looking forward to working in the new Centre’s workshop.

More usually found in top class hotels than a car dealership, are a top class fully-equipped gym, plus a spa and relaxation lounges, as well as an elevated, relaxing bar area (overlooking the showroom) with complimentary refreshments being provided.

While your car is being serviced or repaired, the fully-equipped gym is available…
This is Poole Audis’ new beauty salon/spa facility. There are relaxation lounges too.

Poole Audi stresses that customers will be able to enjoy the new facilities while safe in the knowledge that they will not be affected by higher service prices.

(Kim says, “For an update on the latest 66-plate registrations and a new, associated event at Poole Audi’s new centre, please click HERE“).

Save Post as PDF

Categories: Kim Henson, News & Views

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us

Recent Posts

A summer of fun at Beaulieu

Lakeland Motor Museum kicks off the start of The Club Triumph Coast 2 Coast Run

The Motor Ombudsman marks nearly one million contacts as ADR Regulations reach a decade of service

INEOS Grenadier ups its game with portal axle collaboration

New Chief Executive Officer for The British Motor Museum

Legacy of Austin pedal cars honoured with Blue Plaque at original factory site in Bargoed

Kia EV3 GT Line S – Road Test

National Motor Museum to take Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird to Wales for the World Land Speed Record centenary

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Tags

hatchback The Motor Ombudsman Suzuki Compact SUV road test estate British Motor Museum City car large SUV Tyres EV all-electric crossover National Motor Museum Hybrid 4x4 First Impressions Kia five door hatchback Beaulieu MPV Electric plug-in hybrid Estate car PHEV Coupé saloon luxury SUV Seven seater SUV SUV

All Tags ››

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Please share our website

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Copyright © 2025 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive