People braved cold to queue overnight for beach huts

[dutchman]

More than 20 people braved sub zero temperatures to queue overnight in the hope of securing a beach hut for the summer.

Jane and Roy Young queued overnight on the beach to get a hut.

The group camped outside in temperatures of 17.6F (- 8C) for the huts, which are let on a first-come-first-serve basis in Dorset.

Many of those in the queue were pensioners who survived the freezing conditions by wearing up to 10 layers of clothes and sheltered under a mass of duvets and blankets.

Sat on folding chairs, they huddled around disposable barbecues for warmth and passed around flasks of tea, coffee and even a bottle of brandy to take the chill off.

And at 9am on Friday their efforts were rewarded when the administration office at Avon Beach in Christchurch opened for business.

At the front of the queue was Kim Abbott who had spent the last six nights sleeping in a camper van to make sure she secured the only hut available on a long-term let.

The remainder joined her in the queue from noon on Thursday to snap up the 16 other 6ft by 4ft huts that were only available to hire for six weeks of the summer, costing £400.

Pam and Bob Burrows, both 66, were fourth in queue after pitching up at 2pm on Thursday.

Mrs Burrows, from Bournemouth, said: "There is something wonderfully British about queueing up for a beach hut but even I had to question my sanity last night.

"The weather was so cold, it was too cold to function and talk. There was a really good atmosphere because everyone was in it together.

"People brought barbecues and we were all sharing flasks of tea and coffee. There was even a bottle of brandy.

"But it was the only way we could guarantee getting a hut for the summer.

"I'm sure that when we are sat on a deckchair outside it in the sun in the summer I will be thinking it was all worth it."

Jane Kathcart, of the Avon Beach Company, who owns the huts, said: "The huts are always popular but I wasn't sure if people would queue up for them given how cold it has been.

"But everyone was in good spirits and were really hardy."

[pollyanna]

Only a Brit would do this - don't think I could have been myself

Good luck to them - Hope that we have a decent Summer for them to enjoy it

[dutchman]

It used to be the dream of everyone who visited the seaside in the summer to own a property there at some time in the future. I remember a solitary beach hut at Sea Salter which was more of a bungalow really. It had a view of Sheppey from the window. No one knew who owned it and It always seemed to be deserted. Further along the coast towards Whitstable were the cliff-top bungalows. They looked luxurious in summer but must have been hell to live-in in winter?

[pollyanna]

They do look lovely I must admit - it's a lovely site when you walk along the sea front and see beautifully preserved beach huts. Have often felt envious I must admit.