Seaside fun huts with style in spades
GREAT BRITISH BOLT HOLES
BEACH HUTS AT THE BEACHCROFT HOTEL WEST SUSSEX
WHEN the good people of Bognor Regis learned that entrepreneur and hotelier Peter de Savary was building four swish beach huts as part of The Beachcroft Hotel, they knew to expect something special.
These are not beach huts as you know them. Step inside and you’ll instantly feel a sense of fun and space. A white ceiling fan gives a hint of exotic climes, a modern Art Deco swimming painting on a bright white wall dominates while a jade corner sofa below it sits perfect for lounging. Look up and you spot the mezzanine sleeping level.
De Savary’s secret weapon is Kathleen Fraser, an American interior designer with a smart, sassy and fresh touch – so the nautical/ English seaside theme inside is vibrant but not tacky.
From the bucket-and-spade set for kids to the complimentary sloe gin decanter for parents, every little detail has been thought through, down to the Nespresso machine. The power shower is a knockout ( no bath) and just the thing after a dawn/dusk dip.
Your charming view is of Felpham beach – do bring your dog (De Savary is a dog lover) – or head off with the walking guide along the seven-mile coastal path.
Alternatively, jump aboard a hotel bike and head towards Littlehampton. Or just relax, watch dinghies race from Felpham yacht club, go for a swim in the hotel pool or order an aperitif and relax at the hotel’s new Blakes Terrace and Bar and watch the sun set.
In the morning, watch it rise through the porthole from your bed.
USP: How often can you go to sleep to the sound of the sea? Each hut comes with its own entrance and parking space.
The rooms: A cute whitewashed bunk-bed room with duvets is perfect for children, while the glam mezzanine level has a designer double bed with desk/dressing table.
The food: Unexpectedly delicious. Take meals at The Beachcroft’s fruit, pastries, yogurts one day and faultless scrambled eggs and kippers in the restaurant the next. A picnic lunch was an indulgent hamper of charcuterie, olives, bread, juices and prosecco. For dinner the bistro offers fresh fish and traditional fare.