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Cooper’s Roundabout is a locally recognised landmark at the junction of Botley Road and Charles Watts Way in Hedge End, Southampton (SO30 2WA).
It earned its name from the Peter Cooper Motor Group, which established its first showroom on this corner in 1981.
For over 40 years, the dealership's reputation for trust and family values led the community to unofficially name the junction after the business.
If you’ve lived in the Solent area for any length of time, you’ve likely navigated the gateway to Hedge End. While your GPS might show a standard intersection between the A27 and local routes, most Sotonians simply call it "Cooper’s Roundabout."
The name wasn't a result of a council meeting or a marketing campaign; it was an organic community tribute.
In 1981, our founder Peter Cooper, opened his first Volkswagen showroom on this very corner. He believed that if you provided expert service with a personal touch, the community would support you. He was right.
For four decades, we have been the first thing people see as they enter Hedge End, and the landmark name has stuck ever since.
"We aren't just a business that happens to be near a roundabout; we are part of the very geography of this town," says Darren Cooper, Managing Director.
"When a local gives direction and says, 'turn at Coopers,' they are referencing forty five years of trust."
The automotive industry has seen massive consolidation over the last 40 years, with many independent dealers being swallowed up by national chains.
Peter Cooper Motor Group has remained a proudly independent, family-run institution, a statistically rare feat.
According to data published by The Harvard Business Review, roughly 70% of family-owned businesses fail or are sold before the second generation can take over.
We are proud to be part of the 30% that transitioned successfully. Since Darren Cooper took the helm in 2006, we haven't just survived; we’ve thrived.
We’ve grown from that single corner in Hedge End to a group of nine locations across Hampshire, West Sussex, and Dorset, employing over 300 local experts and looking after more than 50,000 customers.
To maintain our "family-first" feel while operating a large regional group, we hold ourselves to a specific standard of conduct.
We call it the PETER framework, an acronym that honours our founder’s name while setting a clear expectation for our team.
As Business.com notes in their analysis of long-term retail success, "Trust is the ultimate differentiator in the modern economy."
By sticking to these five pillars, we ensure that the "Peter Cooper experience" is the same today as it was in 1981.
Our 45-year journey at Cooper’s Roundabout has taught us that we are only as strong as the community around us. That is why we launched the Peter Cooper Foundation.
To date, the Foundation has raised over £40,000 for local causes that matter to our neighbours.
We’ve provided specialised sensory equipment for the Rosewood School in Southampton, supported the Saints Foundation’s vital work, and partnered with Sholing FC on "Project 5000" to encourage local sport.
We take our role as a "local institution" seriously. When you see our name on a charity event at the Utilita Bowl or supporting a local food bank, you’re seeing our heritage in action.
We believe that driving a business forward should also mean driving the community forward.
While our heart will always be at the iconic "Cooper’s Roundabout" in Hedge End, our family has grown to cover the entire South Coast.
We offer a true "one-stop shop" for every motoring need, including sales, all-makes servicing, our, electric vehicle battery competence centre and the provision of manufacturer-approved parts and accessories.
Looking Ahead: The Next 40 Years
Motoring is changing, but the values that put our name on the map (and the roundabout) are not.
Whether you are visiting us for a new electric vehicle or bringing in a family car for its annual service, you can expect the same neighbourly expertise that Peter Cooper promised back in 1981.
At Peter Cooper Motor Group, we have spent over 40 years proving that a business can grow without losing its soul.
What started as a single vision at a Hedge End roundabout has blossomed into a regional family of 22 businesses, but our definition of success hasn't changed.
It is still found in the smile of a customer driving away in their first car, the reliability of a service that keeps a local business moving, and the positive impact our Foundation makes on Hampshire life.
As we look toward the next 40 years, welcoming new partners like Kia, Kia PBV, Jeep, Omoda, Jaecoo and XPeng into our family, we invite you to experience the difference that "Family-Run" makes.
Whether you're a lifelong customer or visiting us for the first time, you’re not just a number on a spreadsheet; you’re part of the legacy.
Ready to experience the Peter Cooper difference? Call us to book a friendly chat.
FAQs
Yes. Founded by Peter Cooper in 1981, the group is now led by his son, Darren Cooper, ensuring our founding family values remain central.
Yes. While we are Volkswagen specialists, our Bosch All Makes Service Centres provide expert maintenance and MOTs for all makes and models
It is our charitable arm that supports local causes like the Saints Foundation and Rosewood School, raising over £40,000 to date.
It is the local name for the junction of Botley Road and Charles Watts Way in Hedge End (SO30 2WA), right by our flagship site.
Yes. You can browse, reserve, and finance your vehicle online, or visit us in person for a coffee and a chat!