Beach hut prices are making a splash – but it’s a bargain to rent one for the perfect seaside base

The cost of buying a beach hut has hit the headlines this summer, with their average national cost topping £45,000 and their price in Dorset averaging a whopping £102,451. However, a leading holiday expert says that renting rather than buying a beach hut is the ultimate holiday bargain. They make the perfect heatwave sun shelter for a few days by the sea and, even better, many are still available for a last-minute booking this August –including the Bank Holiday.

When a national newspaper recently made a splash about the average price of a beach hut being over £45,000, with some of the most desirable topping £450,000, lovers of the traditional British staycation could have been forgiven for panicking. However, a leading holiday expert says renting a beach hut for a day or a week is still incredibly good value and is as cheap as chips – ideally the ones to go with your locally caught fish.

Johanna Jernberg, a travel and holiday expert from the specialist booking service BeachHuts.com, says: ‘While the cost of buying a beach hut can be considerable, especially in sought-after locations such as Mudeford in Dorset, where prices can top £450,000, renting a hut for a few days is still one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a seaside holiday in the UK. As a last-minute staycation venue, few places can beat a beach hut for value.

‘For example, while the average cost of a Dorset beach hut is an eye-watering £102,451, you can rent a hut in Dorset’s Branksome Chime for just £30 a day, even at the height of August. That’s a little more affordable!

‘The weather this summer is proving to be memorable. New figures show that an increasing number of people are choosing to squeeze in a last-minute staycation. The campsite finder Pitchup.com says a quarter of this year’s camping bookings were made with just two days’ notice. Beach hut owners are seeing a similar boom in last-minute bookings.

‘As we bask in the current glorious weather, it’s no wonder that beach huts are enjoying an August boom. Where else can people be right on the beach but able to change in privacy, store their stuff, eat sandwiches minus the sand, chill a few cheeky Pinots and relax with a paperback or their new Switch 2?

‘Renters can enjoy the best beach views without being crammed against other sunbathers and with plenty of shade to escape the worst effects of the heat. When it’s 32 degrees and there’s no cloud cover, an open-fronted hut stocked with chilled drinks is the perfect place to enjoy both the waves and heatwaves.

‘This August, for example, Beach Hut 392 at Boscombe Beach in Dorset is a bargain. Renters can enjoy stunning sea views from this elevated beach hut with a private terrace that is shared with a handful of neighbouring beach huts. It’s conveniently located next to toilets and facilities – always a good thing to keep in mind when choosing the location of a beach hut! It’s also fully equipped with a gas burner, kettle, tea and coffee-making supplies. There’s even a curtain for added privacy if you don’t want to close its wide double doors. It’s still available from £30 a day this August.

‘At the other end of the beach hut market, Sea Angel Vintage Beach Chalet at Gwithina Beach in Phillack, Hayle, in Cornwall is a place to step back in time. It can accommodate up to four guests and you can stay in it overnight. Ideal for beating the heatwave, it’s on the sand dunes of the award-winning Gwithina Beach and has a fridge, shower and everything you need for a literally chilled holiday by the sea. You can book it from £150 a night at the end of August.

‘For the perfect seaside holiday, Pretty Polly is a stunning hut. With a distinctly tropical theme, she is bold, bright and full of cheer! The hut is located in the Essex seaside town of Walton-on-the-Naze, with its wonderful Blue Flag sandy beach and fabulous coastal views. There are several cafés along the promenade serving, among other things, cold drinks that are perfect for a flaming hot August. Pretty Polly is in an elevated position four rows from the promenade, close to the beachfront, taps and toilets. Renters have fabulous views of the beach and coastal scenery, with a very short walk to the pier. Complete with a gas stove, tables and chairs, kids’ games etc, it costs just £60 a day this August.

‘Buying a beach hut may cost a significant sum but renting one for a few days represents the ultimate in good-value, last-minute staycation venues. With plenty of shade and places to store chilled drinks, they are the perfect heatwave beach base. Many even welcome pets. For more information about the huge range of beach hut locations available across the UK, see: https://www.beachhuts.com/beach-huts-for-rent-by-area.html