Tiny? It’ s like a Tar dis inside

ALEX FLYNN, 35, runs a children’s entertainment company. she lives in steyning, West sussex, with husband, Danny, 44, a landscape gardener and part-time fireman, and daughter, Lily, four.

I NEVER expected to pay £ 9,000 for what amounts to a wooden hut with a barbecue inside. All I wanted was something to fill the space at the bottom of our quarter-acre garden where we’d felled a tree. A pergola with a few climbing roses would have done.

But last summer we went to an outdoor equipment show in the new Forest, and saw a display by Arctic cabins. their cute little shelters are handmade in the UK using Arctic pine, and come with snuggly deerskins on the five bench seats.

Danny was instantly sold and, when he assured me we could afford a 10-metre cabin, I jumped at the chance to indulge my love of cooking outside.

Danny and I are outdoor people and love no-fuss entertaining but I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve organised parties and then had to go stampeding inside with all our guests when the heavens opened. not only were we stressed beforehand, checking forecasts, but moving everything inside messed up the house.

not any more! Our sixsided cabin arrived last september and took just four hours to erect (included in the price). We’ve used it virtually every weekend since. We’ve held a cheese and wine party, and Danny entertained all eight of his firemen pals.

It’s like a tardis, small on the outside but, once inside, it seems huge, and we can grill all- year round. We love sitting round the fire drinking wine — there’s nothing more romantic.

the grill — which you can raise and lower to get the exact temperature you want — is so versatile I’ve cooked dishes like paella and chicken curry.

We’ve made a firm decision not to have electricity, although it would be nice to have a fridge so we could keep the beers and chablis chilled. We’re not the only ones who love our hut — even Alan titchmarsh has one.