Beach huts provide a great day out by the seaside – but most require somewhere else to stay at night. However, the tide is now turning and it’s increasingly easy to book cosy overnight stays. A leading expert says more local authorities should consider allowing overnight beach huts, which would boost local restaurants, shops and businesses.
Beach huts are back in style and, while the majority are still owned by councils and leased to local people, there are also many freehold huts across the UK. These have soared in value by 100.5% between 2022 and 2023 in some areas and now cost a hefty £123,524 on average. Yet Brits can book a week in a hut in, for example, Dorset’s beautiful Branksome Chine from as little as £49 a day this month, making them astonishing value.
However, there’s a catch to what sounds like the ideal staycation destination. Historically, it’s not been possible to stay overnight in many huts. That’s because most traditional beach huts, or the plot they stand on, are owned by local councils and leased to people under the condition they are daytime use only.
The good news is that a leading expert says this isn’t the case for all freehold huts, many of which can offer overnight accommodation. It is now far easier for people to get in touch with owners and book overnight stays than in the past.
Lily Smith, a travel and holiday expert from the specialist booking service BeachHuts.com, says: ‘Many holidaymakers would love to hear the waves lap on the beach right outside their hut while they lie cosily in bed. Traditionally, that was only a pipe dream for most staycationers because of strict local authority controls banning overnight stays.
‘Thankfully, it is now significantly easier for holidaymakers to find freehold beach huts and chalets whose owners offer overnight accommodation. Many such places feel straight out of a nostalgic Enid Blyton adventure. If you fancy watching the sun set with Timmy the dog, opening some ginger beer and tucking into a tongue sandwich – or perhaps a glass of something colder with some fresh crab pasta – an overnight hut could be the perfect holiday destination.
‘We’d love to see more local authorities grant freehold tenures for beach huts with no night-time occupancy restrictions, so that more Brits have the chance to stay overnight in huts and chalets, right on the beach, while supporting local restaurants and shops in the area. Of course, this change won’t happen, well, overnight, but it should be considered by local councils who control coastal areas and want to see a boost in revenue.
‘There’s no doubt many UK staycationers would love to book chalets by the sea and, happily, although we’d like to see many more, a wide range is already available. Most overnight huts sleep at least two people in comfort and many feature kitchens, facilities and showers, etc.
‘The impossibly quaint Sea Angel vintage beach chalet at St Ives, Cornwall, is undoubtedly the place for that true Enid Blyton experience. Nestled on top of a cliff, it features Cath Kidston-style decor. It’s a three-minute walk through the sand dunes to the award-winning Gwithian Beach and comes complete with a double bedroom and bunk bed galley. It’s not all about nostalgia, however; there’s a microwave, fridge and TV as well!
‘One area with a number of overnight beach huts is Mudeford Spit, a beautiful sand bank in Dorset, near Hengistbury Head with views over the Solent and Christchurch Harbour. For example, Hut 409 was completely refurbished and double-glazed in 2022, making it comfortable from March to October. It has views of the sea and the harbour nature reserve. Not only does it come with a new kitchen with fridge-freezer etc, but more unusual equipment includes the owner’s kayaks and bodyboards!
‘Events such as beach hut picnics, complete with balloons and cushions, are some of the new experiences trending with kids and young adults alike. They help make an overnight stay something truly memorable and turn a hut into the beach lover’s equivalent of glamping.
‘Sadly, as I’ve mentioned, not all areas allow overnight beach hut stays, but here’s some areas that do: Bognor Regis; Bournemouth; Camber Sands, Christchurch, Gwithian Beach near St Ives; Millbeach near Maldon, Minehead, Mudeford Sandbank near Christchurch, Newquay, Seasalter Beach near Whitstable, Shaldon near Teignmouth, St Ives Bay and Whitstable.
‘We’d love to see yet more coastal areas allow owners to turn their beach huts into overnight accommodation to increase the availability of this perfect holiday staycation. With some resorts struggling with low visitor numbers this summer, it would be a great way to boost tourism and help support local businesses. For more information about renting an overnight beach hut in locations across the UK, see https://www.beachhuts.com/overnight-beach-huts-for-rent.html
