BEACH HUT HEAVEN Designer Pearl

Beach Hut Heaven

Designer Pearl Lowe reveals why the rows of cherished and much-desired huts in all their hues and forms on Britain’s beaches make her heart sing, and how one in particular chimes with her love of whimsical, eclectic interiors

There is something so quintessentially British about a beach hut. These simple single-storey structures are a legacy left to us by our Georgian and Victorian ancestors. Despite relishing the benefits of a restorative dip in the sea, they were quite prudish when it came to changing out of their high-necked, ankle-scuffing attire into their swimwear, so much so that they invented the “bathing machine” in the 1750s. This device, when wheeled down the sands by an attendant, would take bathers from the shore to the water without compromising their modesty. For more than a century, the machines were very popular among the wealthy and aristocratic – including Queen Victoria herself, who had one of her own on the Isle of Wight. In later years, that concept would evolve into the beach hut, still a place where you could change in comfort, but one that was more accessible to the masses. Not for that generation the struggle of wriggling out of your wet bathing suit behind a strategically placed towel.

ABOVE What makes this beach hut really special is that it is at the end of the row. This means that, unlike the other cabins, it has a dual aspect via windows at the front and on one side of the structure.

Even though the space is small, it is filled with so much character and personality. Flags on the ceiling and a crocheted hanging bring colour to the roof and doorway. An old wrought-iron hospital bed has been covered in the prettiest of throws and topped with a vintage eiderdown to make it all the more inviting. It is the perfect spot to settle down for an afternoon snooze, a good read or just to lazily admire this incredible view of the sea.

That said, beach huts have, thankfully, remained with us and are very much part of the landscape of our coastline. In fact, they are now so popular that in some areas there are long waiting lists for them and a modest beach hut can cost the same as a sturdy deposit on a one-bedroom apartment. Despite the expense, most are still used simply as a place to change, and as a storage space for seaside items – deckchairs, buckets and spades, possibly a kettle and a couple of mugs – for holidaymakers and weekenders: nothing more than glorified, albeit prettily painted, sheds by the sea.

But that is not the case when you visit the beach hut belonging to the artists Claire Fletcher and Peter Quinnell, in St Leonards-on-Sea. They own a house in Hastings but their hut, just a 10-minute cycle away from the town, is very much their home from home. This is the place they come to when they have time to swim, to relax, to eat, for a lungful of sea air and even to work, no matter what the season or the weather. And as soon as you walk into their hut, you can see that they have filled it with their innate sense of style, their personalities and so much love. 

ABOVE This magical little cabin has a timeless feel to it. Also, unlike so many beach huts, which are used simply for changing or storage, this is very much a home from home and is in use throughout the year.

ABOVE Towards the back of the cabin the couple have installed this charming tiny retro kitchenette. A 1950s-style cabinet gives them storage for cutlery and a surface for food preparation. Above the window, a simple wooden shelf provides room for their collection of commemorative and souvenir mugs. ABOVE Peter, who creates wonderful art installations, loves to collect old salvaged signs such as this one advertising ‘Donuts’, which is attached to the back of the door. BELOW On this wall hangs a tambourine, onto which Claire has painted this wonderful picture of a mermaid – a motif that runs through much of her work as an illustrator.

The hut has an old-worldliness to its design but it is actually a relatively new build, as with most of the huts you see dotted around our coastline. That is because, thanks to our cold and rainy climate, not to mention the salty sea winds, these structures rarely weather the elements for long. The wood eventually has to be replaced and the cladding will need to be restored and repainted every couple of years.

But when you first look at this enchanting hut, you’d be forgiven for assuming it was constructed long before you and I were born. That feeling extends into its interior, from the 1950s-style kitchenette and the paraffin lamps to the vintage furniture and the artworks. It is as though you have been transported back in time. n

READER OFFER

This is an edited extract from Faded Glamour by the Sea by Pearl Lowe, published by Ryland Peters & Small (£25). Photography by Dave Watts © Ryland Peters & Small

Readers of The English Home can buy a copy for the special price of £20 (RRP £25). To order, go to rylandpeters.com and use code BYTHESEA20 at checkout. Offer valid until 31 May 2022. Free UK P&P.