Humble beach hut becomes a hit

They say that an Englishman’s home is his castle, but now a beach hut has become the property of the moment, showing that small is not just beautiful but noteworthy too.

Grandma’s Little House on the seafront at Felixstowe has won the national Towergate Beach Hut of the Year award and its story shows it is a real family affair.

Owner Joy Reeve said that her grandson named the hut which has been in her family for generations. She has used it as a base to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

One of the judges, historian Kathryn Ferry, said that it is a great example of how the humble beach hut has united young and old to enjoy simple seaside pleasures since the 1890s. The judging panel called it homely, comfortable, welcoming and well-loved.

‘I am so delighted to win this, it’s wonderful to think that the hut my father bought and where all my extended family has had so much fun has been voted the best in the UK. All my six grandchildren love it so much, and the rest of my family and friends all share it and love it. We’ve had lots of birthday and anniversary celebrations here too,’ said Joy.

‘Everything changes so fast these days and moves so quickly, but at Grandma’s Little House all of us slow down, relax and enjoy the simple things. There’s nothing better than a swim followed by a cup of tea in the hut,’ she added.

Joy, who lives in Felixstowe, swims regularly up to the end of October with a friend, and a couple of years ago they decided to try raising money for charity as they enjoyed their post swim cuppa.

They provide hot drinks and home-made cake for visitors to the hut, who leave charity donations in return, so far raising nearly £5,500 and this community use of her hut is one of the things that stood out for the competition judges.

Another of the judges, Phil Spencer of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location said he loved the hut. ‘It really is a place that is made the most of all year round rather than just on a few warm days in the summer, not just by Joy and her family and friends but also for the benefit of lots of others. It’s very clear that the hut is enjoyed by lots of people and this fact really shone out for the judges,’ he explained.

Ferry is an expert on the history of beach huts and believes that they have now reclaimed their status as family favourites after falling out of favour for a period in the 1980s when the British seaside became unfashionable.

‘Then they were seen as the preserve of old folks sitting out their retirement years. ‘That has all now changed and they have reclaimed their role as an intergenerational hub. These colourful little structures are the vibrant backdrop to extended family get-togethers with older owners like Joy just as likely to be swimming in the sea as their grandchildren. The Victorians used their huts for brewing up a pot of tea by the beach, and that is something that has never changed,’ she added.