Skip to main contentEnter
Purposeful journalism for people who care about our town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our journalism
Feature

More than a shed: The enduring appeal of Suffolk's beach huts

Retired couple Barbara and Alan have visited their Felixstowe hut "Idle Hours" daily for 24 years, embodying the deep connection many owners feel.

Barbara Grace and Alan Sarfas at their beach hut "Idle Hours" in Felixstowe
Kevin Burch
Barbara Grace and Alan Sarfas at their beach hut "Idle Hours" in Felixstowe

Why it matters: Beach huts represent a unique aspect of British seaside culture, with prices in Felixstowe currently ranging from £15,000 to £40,000 despite being no larger than garden sheds.

Beginning life essentially as changing rooms for Victorian beach goers, beach huts have evolved to become a symbol of the great British seaside and a form of time-honoured escapism.

Barbara Grace and Alan Sarfas at their beach hut "Idle Hours" in Felixstowe
Kevin Burch
Barbara Grace and Alan Sarfas at their beach hut "Idle Hours" in Felixstowe

By the numbers: At the time of writing, 22 beach huts – or "studio houses" as estate agents call them – are listed for sale in Felixstowe, with front row positions commanding a premium over second row locations.

In the podcast: Barbara Grace and Alan Sarfas tell of their beloved Felixstowe hut "Idle Hours" in the latest Suffolk Money podcast, supported by award-winning, independent financial planners Kingsfleet Wealth . As a retired couple, they visit their hut every day and "adore everything about it, from the stunning sea view to the sense of community."

Historian and author Kathryn Ferry, who has written extensively about beach huts and seaside culture, shares fascinating insights about beach huts, including their significance to British heritage.

Jason Lewis from Felixstowe estate agents, Scott Beckett, explains that people "buy for longevity" and that the "humble yet homely beach hut appeals to all generations."

The bottom line: Despite their small size and simple design, beach huts continue to be highly sought-after, offering owners a unique escape and a strong sense of community along Suffolk's coastline.

You can listen to the podcast here.

Kingsfleet

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.

The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Our content is free to read thanks to the generous support of David Button Funeral Directors, Ipswich School and Upside Finance

Farida Rouane of Upside Finance

Improve your financial wellbeing

Based in Ipswich, Upside Finance provides expert mortgage, insurance and pensions advice, with a focus on making financial services accessible and straightforward.
News

SEN Santa sessions at Buttermarket this weekend

Santa will turn down the music and limit numbers at the Buttermarket Shopping Centre this weekend after parents asked for calmer festive events for children with special educational needs (SEN).
by
Continue reading →
News

Suffolk researchers test whether singing can treat Parkinson's 'poker face'

Researchers in Suffolk are launching what they believe is the first UK study testing whether musical-theatre-style singing can rehabilitate facial expression in Parkinson's patients – addressing a symptom that affects around 9 in 10 people but has limited treatment options.
by
Continue reading →
News

Woman fighting for life after hit-and-run on Burrell Road

A woman is in a life-threatening condition in hospital after being hit by a car whose driver fled the scene on Burrell Road in Ipswich this morning, with a man in his 30s now arrested in connection with the incident.
by
Continue reading →

David Button Funeral Directors, Ipswich School and Upside Finance

Farida Rouane of Upside Finance

Improve your financial wellbeing

Based in Ipswich, Upside Finance provides expert mortgage, insurance and pensions advice, with a focus on making financial services accessible and straightforward.
News

Gym manager's childhood inspires hospital toy appeal

A Martlesham gym manager who spent much of her childhood in hospital has launched a toy appeal that has collected nearly 150 Christmas gifts for young patients at Ipswich Hospital.
by
Continue reading →

David Button Funeral Directors, Ipswich School and Upside Finance

Farida Rouane of Upside Finance

Improve your financial wellbeing

Based in Ipswich, Upside Finance provides expert mortgage, insurance and pensions advice, with a focus on making financial services accessible and straightforward.
News

Police appeal for witnesses after Pearl Road burglary

Detectives are investigating a burglary at a home on Pearl Road in Ipswich on Monday evening, where jewellery and bank cards were stolen and used fraudulently.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our content is free to read thanks to
Our content is free to read thanks to
Our content is free to read thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
6,630+ people are already loving it