Beach hut owners accuse restaurant

Wealthy owners of Britain's most expensive beach huts accuse local restaurant of turning peaceful idyll into a 'Magaluf rave scene'.

“Wealthy owners of Britain's most expensive beach huts are accusing a local restaurant of turning their peaceful idyll into a 'Magaluf rave scene'”

Mudeford Sandbank beach huts

The wooden cabins that line Mudeford Sandbank in Christchurch, Dorset have long attracted well-heeled buyers willing to shell out over £400,000 to own one.

Temporary kiosk dispute

Residents have become embroiled in a bitter dispute over a temporary kiosk, The Beach House, selling snacks and drinks out of a hatch to queues of visitors.

Hut owners call it 'visual horror'

They branded the shop a 'visual horror', claiming it has turned the golden sands - cut off from roads and seen as its own secluded community - into a 'drinker's paradise'.

“They branded the shop a 'visual horror'”

Hut owners fight for planning permission

Hut owners are fighting a bid to make it a permanent fixture but face a battle against council officers who are recommending its owners be granted planning permission.

60 letters of objection

The plans have sparked 60 letters of objection calling on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) to change its mind ahead of a decision next week.

Sally Harris warns of congestion

Sally Harris, who owns a hut on the stretch, warned that granting planning permission would encourage a slew of other kiosks to open up and 'ruin' the sandbank.

“Sally Harris, who owns a hut on the stretch, warned that granting planning permission would encourage a slew of other kiosks to open up and ruin the sandbank”

Hut owners cite congestion issues

She said: 'All the paraphernalia associated with the temporary use of this hut has caused huge congestion, more deliveries and massive quantities of rubbish'.

“All the paraphernalia associated with the temporary use of this hut has caused huge congestion, more deliveries and massive quantities of rubbish”

Hut owners cite visual blight

Wealthy owners of beach huts in Mudeford Sandbank in Christchurch, Dorset are accusing a local restaurant of turning their peaceful idyll into a 'Magaluf rave scene'.

“The platforms, the signage, the stairs, the lighting all cause visual horror. The beach huts nearest to the cafe are blighted by massive queues.”

350 beach huts on sandbank

The sandy peninsula is home to 350 highly-coveted huts which can be slept in overnight from March to October.

The Beach House history

The Beach House is the only restaurant on the sands and has been housed in temporary shipping containers since the old building burnt down in 2018.

Hut owners want retrospective permission

Owners have added serving hatches, ramps and steps, for which they are applying for retrospective permission - and are now hoping to get permission to serve food.

Claire Bath says it was temporary

Claire Bath said: 'Hut residents accepted this arrangement as temporary because at all times they were told that the shop would return to the main cafe site once rebuilt'.

“Hut residents accepted this arrangement as temporary because at all times they were told that the shop would return to the main cafe site once rebuilt”

Hut owners say no takeaway

The hut owner and deputy chair of the local beach hut association added: 'It was never meant to offer takeaway food, drinks and ice cream'.

“It was never meant to offer takeaway food, drinks and ice cream”

Hut owners cite public nuisance

Takeaway in such close proximity to residential beach huts with children sleeping overnight would cause a public nuisance to neighbours.

Hut owners cite negative impacts

Noise, odours, light pollution, increased commercial deliveries, commercial waste and litter would negatively impact this green belt, open space.

Peter Jones says patience

Peter Jones added: 'Beach hut owners and users have already shown considerable patience over the last seven years whilst plans for the cafe have been developed'.

“Beach hut owners and users have already shown considerable patience over the last seven years whilst plans for the cafe have been developed”

Peter Jones cites increased visitors

During this period they have also experienced increased visitor numbers and footfall, particularly following Covid and the emergence of the cafe as a popular destination.

Amanda Dodd says peaceful enjoyment

Amanda Dodd said: 'As hut owners we are entitled to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the beach and environment'.

“As hut owners we are entitled to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the beach and environment”

Hut owners cite over-commercialisation

This over-commercialisation of the beach means there would be increased delivery activity, more litter, and greater use of public toilet facilities.