Brightly coloured on the outside, the perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea on the inside – no wonder Kent’s beach huts are so popular. We take a look at their history and meet some of their owners
For many, Kent beach huts are a whimsical reminder of our love for a day at the beach and a nod to bygone times. Or so you may have thought...
The truth is today, the love for beach huts is rapidly returning – waiting lists to rent one throughout the county are growing, making them a once more vital part of Kent life.
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Possessing some of the UK’s best beaches and over 120 miles of charming coastline, is it any wonder we adore this seaside staple? After all, they are a rather unique phenomenon.
Though we’re used to seeing beach huts throughout many coastal towns in Britain, we are one of the very few countries to have them. It’s not known for certain why this is, though some have attributed the unpredictable British weather as the reason.
As committed beachgoers, in the sun, grey skies or biting breezes, it’s thought that beach huts may have emerged to help provide some warmth and shelter. They were likely also built to encourage city dwellers to visit the seaside during Victorian times.
Back then, a lot of money was invested to improve seafronts to help entice visitors, and beach huts were part of the movement to ‘pretty-up’ our coast. Though we’re uncertain of where the very first ones popped up, we know their original design was relatively simplistic and much more compact.
These early huts were often referred to as ‘bathing boxes’ as they were primarily used as private changing spaces. Since then, beach huts have become more lavish, and our expectations have grown.
Sandra Fowle, the owner of the dog-friendly tearoom Bosuns in Queenborough, has loved decorating and styling her beach hut at Minster Leas.
“We painted the hut’s interior in Farrow and Ball strong white, then included a narrow bathroom unit along one edge and installed a sink and small camping stove, allowing us to make a cup of tea,” Sandra shares.
The chic interior reflects the bright, playful vintage décor that’s trending on Instagram, and that many associate with modern, luxurious beach huts.
“In our tearoom, which opened just over two years ago, we also have a small gift shop which includes gifts by local artisans, and we run a book club and crafts group. It’s the pretty charm and the little details of the tearoom and crafts that inspired my passion for interiors and the work we’ve done at the hut,” Sandra says. “We love nothing more than spending a quiet evening at the beach hut, sitting near a small gas fire, enjoying fish and chips, and just watching the world go by.”
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Another beloved and trendsetting tradition of the beach hut aesthetic is its candy-coated pastel exteriors. You could guess they’re painted that way to better reflect the sun on a hot day, but mostly, it seems more likely it’s because it looks so adorable. Does anyone else always fancy an ice cream after walking past a row of them?
There is certainly no shortage of places to spot them in Kent. Along the tranquil shores of St Margaret’s Bay, you’ll discover a row of charming pastel shacks and more line Kingsdown’s secluded shingle beach. Others can be found in Ramsgate and Margate, as well as the many bays of Broadstairs. Beach huts line the soft sands of Viking Bay, where you’ll also discover, peering across the harbour, Bleak House, where Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield.
Your Leisure manages the beach chalet hire service at several bays in Kent, including Dumpton Bay in Ramsgate, Louisa, Viking and Stone Bay in Broadstairs, Westbrook Bay just passed Margate, and on West Bay and St Mildreds Bay in Westgate. They were one of the first to witness a return in popularity for beach huts. At Your Leisure, customers can rent private plots and provide their own hut or hire one seasonally, annually or weekly for a rental fee.
A spokesperson from the company said, “Due to events over the last couple of years, Your Leisure has seen an increase in demand for weekly hires. When people weren’t able to travel abroad for their holidays, they looked closer to home, and since then bookings have remained high.
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“The majority of our private and long-term rental customers are locals and waiting lists for these types of huts are incredibly long, with some reaching between an eight to 10-year wait. Our huts available to rent weekly, are incredibly popular with people visiting on holiday and those that live in the area. Huts available to book over the summer holidays virtually sell out in one day online.”
Your Leisure’s weekly huts are available to hire during April and September. You can also book some for winter hire (from October to March) and rent others as well as private plots annually or for the season from May.
Ramsgate and Broadstairs are not the only areas in Kent to have witnessed a growing demand for beach huts.
A spokesperson from Swale Borough Council explains their potential plans to install an additional 12 huts in Minster Leas and 14 huts in Leysdown as part of Phase One plans. Phase Two plans could see a further 46 huts being installed at Minster Leas.
They said: “Currently we have 35 huts on Minster Leas, and 20 at Leysdown, all of which are either owned or long-term rented, and all our current huts are occupied. We have the desire to build more and are discussing plans to do so, as we have just short of 400 people on the waiting list for one. The island is a popular tourist destination for people from all over the UK, especially London.
“Having the council involved with managing the beach huts is a benefit to the area, as we work hard with Parish Councils, national and local organisations, residents and the wider community to help preserve the beach and maintain our sea defenses. It’s a delicate balance between managing the interests of residents, the wider community and those of tourists and local businesses.
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“Demand for beach huts in Kent is rising. We’ve noted an increase in how much beach huts are selling for in recent years. The value of the original huts was between £5,000 and £7,000, but recently these were revalued at £14,300, and another recently sold for £20,000.”
According to research by digital home information pack provider, Moverly, beach hut prices across England have risen on average by 43 per cent in the last year. Kent is ranked as one of the second most expensive places to buy one, with current asking prices reaching up to £42, 257.
Jo Youll, the owner of Whistable Dreams, a beach hut hire company in Tankerton, thinks hiring a beach hut is one way everyone can partake in the experience, as purchase prices for huts rise.
“With beach huts becoming so expensive to buy nowadays, I think renting is a great alternative and makes it an accessible experience for all. I enjoy running the business and love hearing what memorable days people have spent at the hut,” Jo says. “Tankerton Beach is a hotspot for visitors as it’s so close to the high street and harbour, and has been awarded Blue Flag status in the past. I think hiring a beach hut can elevate people’s experience. They’re a great base if you plan on taking part in watersports, for family and friends to get together, and a great shelter if you’re planning a trip out with an older relative or newborn baby.
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“It’s also an incredibly romantic destination for couples to take in the views, sit back and relax. I’ve had people hire the hut to celebrate their engagement and birthdays.”
Jo’s hut is available for day hire and is equipped with coffee facilities, a gas hob and kettle, a large decking area overlooking the beach and all the essentials needed for an idyllic daycation.
It certainly seems like the perfect way to make the most of the beach, absorb the views from across the channel and make the most of the wonderful weather this summer! Especially as it would appear, our region’s once humble huts have become somewhat of a must-have and can carry a rather large price tag to buy, which is great news for those lucky enough to own one of these beautiful beach cabins.
Though if you don’t, there’s no need to fear, as it seems there are plenty of ways to have your own beach hut fun, even if it is just for a day! It sounds like now is the perfect time to get booking and stock up on sun cream!
