Britain’s most expensive beach huts go up for sale: Five wooden cabins on the same stretch of sand are all on the market for a total of £2.1m despite having no toilets, running water or mains electricity
- Five of the sought-after beach huts have gone on the market at the same time
- The timber cabins sit on the exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset
- No running water, mains electricity or toilets with washing in communal block
Britain’s most expensive beach huts have gone up for sale – for a stunning £2.1 million.
Unusually, five of the sought-after huts have gone on the market at the same time – two for £450,000 each and the other three for £440,000, £430,000 and £395,000.
The timber cabins sit on the remote and exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset.
Their prices are more than the price of a four-bedroom house in many parts of the country.
The beach huts can be slept in from April to October but they have no running water, mains electricity or toilets and washing facilities are in a communal block.
Unusually, five of the sought-after huts have gone on the market at the same time – two for £450,000 each and the other three for £440,000, £430,000 and £395,000
The exclusive timber cabins sit on the remote and exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset
The beach huts can be slept in from April to October but they have no running water, mains electricity or toilets and washing facilities are in a communal block
Cars are banned on the isolated sandbank, and it can only be reached by a 20-minute walk, a ride on a novelty land train or a short ferry trip across Christchurch Harbour.
The new owners would have to be cash buyers as it is not possible to get a mortgage on the huts.
They will also have to fork out an extra £4,500 a year in ground rent and fees to the local council.
Hut 131 is the joint most expensive of the cabins up for sale. It was only built last year and sits in a ‘truly unique position’ as it does not have neighbouring huts to either side, giving the new owners space to ‘spread out’.
However it does have huts in front of it and behind it, meaning its sea and harbour views are partly-obscured.
The hut, which sleeps 6-8 people, is insulated with double glazing and has solar power panels running a fridge/freezer, a gas cooker and water pumped into a sink.
The interior has been finished to a high standard with marble worktops in the kitchen.
It also has a raised sun deck and storage space underneath the hut for equipment like canoes or paddleboards.
Hut 131 (pictured)is the joint most expensive of the cabins up for sale. It was only built last year and sits in a ‘truly unique position’ as it does not have neighbouring huts to either side, giving the new owners space to ‘spread out’
Hut 14 up for £450,000 is on the harbour side of the sandspit with a ‘sociable sandy area’ behind it. It also sleeps up to eight and was built about a year ago, with a decked sun terrace. Unlike many of the huts, it does have a WC with a compost toilet and small sink
Hut 170, which sleeps 5-6 people, is listed for £440,000. It views over both the harbour to the front and the beach at the rear, as well as being close to the toilet and shower block
The other £450,000 hut is on the harbour side of the sandspit with a ‘sociable sandy area’ behind it.
It also sleeps up to eight and was built about a year ago, with a decked sun terrace.
Unlike many of the huts, it does have a WC with a compost toilet and small sink.
Hut 170, which sleeps 5-6 people, is listed for £440,000. It views over both the harbour to the front and the beach at the rear, as well as being close to the toilet and shower block.
Hut 196a, which is listed for £430,000, also has dual-aspect views.
The lowest priced of the four is a nine-year-old hut on the sea-side of the sandbank, which sleeps up to eight.
There are 360 huts at Mudeford and the prices for the desirable holiday boltholes have increased rapidly in the past 20 years because the demand far outstrips supply.
In 2002 the huts sold for just £73,000 but the following year one broke the six-figure mark for the first time.
Hut 196a, which is listed for £430,000, also has dual-aspect views
This dark blue beach hut is for sale for £395,000
Cars are banned on the isolated sandbank, and it can only be reached by a 20-minute walk, a ride on a novelty land train or a short ferry trip across Christchurch Harbour
By 2014 they were selling for as much as £270,000 and four years later they hit the £300,000 mark.
The Covid pandemic saw demand surge to a new high as the inability to travel abroad meant people were prepared to pay a premium for staycations – but things do not seem to have eased off since.
Tim Baber, a local resident and former hut owner, said the huge prices are worth it. He said: ‘The new owners are buying in to a family friendly place – there hasn’t been an arrest there for years whereas there are arrests at Bournemouth beach every year.
‘The rates are really high – £4,500 and increasing – but there are people that will pay them.
‘I sold mine in 2005 for £120,000, when we thought prices couldn’t possibly go any higher and now they’re up to £400,000, which is absolutely bonkers.
‘The thing is it is worth it. The memories you make there will last all your life.’
Stephen Bath, who has owned a hut at Mudeford for many years, added: ‘The appeal of Mudeford is the island feeling. You can only get there by boat or a long walk so it’s like you are in a different world, away from it all.
‘There’s also the social aspect – there is a slight commune feel to it, you get to know your neighbours well because they aren’t on the other side of a fence or wall and you are all pretty happy there. It’s like an exclusive club.
‘I think there is also that feeling that you don’t really own one, merely look after it for the next generation – like the Patek Philippe watch advert.
‘A lot of people who have inherited them don’t feel they can cash it in as they owe it to pass it on to their children and grandchildren to treasure as much as they do.
‘People who have been brought up on Mudeford beach as children remember it as the most magical place in their lives.
‘For £400,000 you could buy a 60ft Sunseeker in pretty new condition with its own toilet, shower, main bedroom. That is an extravagant asset but a beach hut at Mudeford is a way of life.’
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