The Hots for Beach Huts

The British love their beach huts...

... and there are around 20,000 of them dotting the coastline, but this nowhere near satisfies demand, and prices have escalated to silly heights, I read in the Guardian.

While the huts began life during the Victorian era as a place for bathers to change into their stripey swimsuits, they are now a national treasure and considered real estate. Not that you can actually sleep in them, no, they're just for shelter and storing your Beach Gear..., with a few exceptions...

... some larger "residential huts" can be found in certain locations..., there owners are allowed to stay overnight between February and October.

"Beach huts are small but for a lot of us they're the nearest thing we get to second homes", says an owner in a recent interview with the Independent.

Cost? Like with any real estate, it depends on location. In hot spots like Mudeford, Dorset pre-recession hut prices hit £150,000 for the sleep in versions.

And the latest news on the beach hut real estate front comes from Bournemouth, where designer Wayne Hemingway created "The Royal Balcony" pod community. To attract upmarket buyers these are described as having "private balconies" and come furnished for £40,000 each. This is a drop of £5,000 on the original asking price, suggesting the hut market is by no means immune to the downturn.

And lastly..., a blast from the past...

... a book with an awesome cover shot...

... one about history...

... and my favorite poster from Art.com.

Then on my other blog A Beach Lovers Place..., a quick before and after: Throw me a Pillow!