Beach Hut Buying Basics

by Heather Hilder on
Beach Hut Buying Basics

“Beach Hut Buying Basics”

What you need to know when buying a Beach Hut

Beach Huts’ Attraction

I’ve lived on the South Coast since the age of 11.  In my teens, 20s, 30s and 40s, I consider myself very lucky to have had the joy of sharing our Hilder family beach chalet on Rottingdean seafront.  Now those days are over.  However, working in Hove for the past 14 years, beach huts have become my favourite ‘properties’ for a colourful interlude during the working day.  The beach, the promenade, and rows of  bright and cheerful, one-colour or stripy beach huts are a wonder to behold. (Pity about the ones which haven’t received any TLC in a while.)  So let’s get straight into the beach hut buying basics.

Love them or hate them, I strongly believe Hove’s beach huts are a huge asset to the promenade from Hove Lawns to Hove Lagoon.  This applies especially for those who love spending time in their huts, and to the many visitors from home and abroad who find them utterly compelling and attractive.  Pinterest is full of beach hut images from all around the world.  Also, my ‘ilovebeachhuts‘ feed on Instagram is full of beach hut images.  Feel free to post your own beach hut photos, wherever in the world you may be!

Beach Huts around the UK have attracted much more attention since the lockdown of 2020.  Seen as a refuge from the awfulness of Covid-19 (let it be said that many councils forbade their owners from using their huts during lockdown) beach hut prices up and down and across the breadth of the UK, have soared.  But what are the basics of a beach hut?  What do you get for your money?  Let’s start with Hove’s beach huts and basically, what you need to know when buying one of these cute ‘properties on the prom‘.

Beach Hut Basic – Size

Beach huts on Hove’s promenade are, let’s be honest, ‘glorified’ sheds.  No windows, no ‘modern day indoor facilities’, measuring just 1.83 metres (6′) wide x 1.83 metres (6′) deep with a ridge roof height of 2.46 metres (8′ 1″). Double doors facing the sea, the majority open inwards.  See if you can spot the older beach huts by the specification of the doors! It’s really important for air to circulate around the inside of the hut, so an air vent or two is well advised.  Some older beach huts are secured directly on the concrete of the promenade.  More recent versions are lifted slightly off the promenade so that air can circulate under the hut. This helps to prevent water penetration through the base of the beach hut and the floor.

If you’re looking for a beach hut, remember to read my handy tips when viewing.

Beach Hut FAQs

  1. Do beach huts have toilets? No, but check where the nearest public ‘conveniences’ are in relation to the hut
  2. Do beach huts have electricity? No. They are not connected to power.
  3. Do beach huts have lighting? No.  But enterprising owners use battery powered LED lights, torches and candles which are very pretty as the evenings become darker.  Some beach huts have the benefit of a lamp post close by, which provide a lovely ambient light.  Many modern mobile phones have a torch facility!
  4. Do beach huts have running water? No.  But check where the water fountains are along the promenade
  5. Do beach huts have gas? No.
  6. Do beach huts have storage? Yes.  Some beach huts have wall cupboards, or in-built storage seats.  Always check that you only store bone-dry items, and nothing highly personal or expensive
  7. Do beach huts cost a lot of money annually? That depends on what your views are on ‘a lot of money’.  Brighton & Hove City Council charge an annual Licence Fee.  Then you have to take out insurance for your hut.  Lastly, your hut needs regularly maintenance to stop it from falling into disrepair due to the weather. If your beach hut needs repairing or a complete overhaul, remember to follow the Council’s specifications.
Send your beach hut questions to me, Heather Hilder-Darling, heather@callaways.co.uk