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Red Beach Hut

Live Life Full of Joy

Author: Kim Moore

Tips to keep your dog happy at the beach

Helpful tips

It takes a bit of thought to keep your dog happy at the beach. Just like we need some sunscreen and extra water to stay hydrated, our K9 friends have needs too. Dogs and well-behaved owners are welcome in our huts, and we are on the dog-friendly side of the pier. Here are some tips to keep your dog happy at the beach:

  1. Bring a lead and/or a long leash. If you are happy letting your dog off the lead, keep them
    under close control – (Marley and Me comes to mind here) and keep an eye out for any beach debris that dogs can sniff out a mile
    away! When it is busy, we always keep our dogs on long leashes.
  2. Bring a brush – and brush your dog’s coat before you go on the beach. This will make it
    much easier to keep clean and prevent the build-up of sand.
  3. Don’t forget poop bags – but if you do forget, we have some in the hut that you are
    welcome to use.
  4. Bring plenty of towels – also great for tired dogs to snooze on while you relax
  5. Beware of hot sand – if it is too hot for you to walk on, then it is too hot for your dog. The
    same goes for the tarmac of the promenade.
  6. Use the hut for shade when it gets too hot – that’s why we love having a hut when we are at
    the beach with our own dogs
  7. Consider canine sunscreen – some dogs are more prone to sunburn than others so we
    provide this at the hut for you to try.
  8. Get a dog first aid kit. We have a dog first aid kit in the hut which we hope you won’t have to use – if you do need it, please let us know what items you have used so we can replace them for the next pups
  9. Provide plenty of water to drink and watch out for them drinking sea water. We have
    provided a water bowl in the hut for you.
  10. Rinse your dog with cool water before you go home – this will stop them from licking too much
    salt off their coat and make it much easier to groom later. Please feel free to use the
    conditioning spray in the hut but don’t forget to leave it for the next doggy resident!

Dragon Hut caters to our K9 friends, and you’ll find a basket of dog goodies waiting for you – treats, poo bags, canine sunscreen, conditioning spray, and a water bowl, as well as a dog first aid kit for emergencies. We really do think of everything so all members of the family can have the perfect day at the seaside.❤️

You can view photos of Dragon Hut and book a day.

Beach Hut Hire Update

Uncategorised

If you have heard the rumours that Tendring District Council is not allowing beach hut rentals – this post serves to explain how we are responding to this. 

Please continue reading. ❤️

For many decades the Council has always allowed rentals. The communication to hut owners on this change of stance was without prior discussion, without notice and with unaltered license conditions to previous years.

As the conditions of this year’s license remain unaltered, we are continuing to accept bookings. 

There are no changes to bookings that have already been made. Your bookings are fine. ❤️

Please be reassured that if at any point we are forced to stop hiring, you will be issued a full refund.

The Council is preparing a new beach hut strategy. This new strategy will reveal new guidance around rentals. As a member of the Beach Hut Rental committee, we are pleased to be working with the council on this.

We are confident the Council recognises the value of beach hut hires to the local and wider community and we are hopeful this will be resolved so everyone can continue to enjoy beach hut life this summer and in future summers.

Please bear with us whilst we await clarification. And most importantly enjoy your time at the hut. 

Dates are available for booking. ❤️

6 Tips to Keep Your Children Safe at the Beach

Helpful tips

Planning the perfect day at the beach for the whole family can feel exhausting, and when you get there all you want to do is relax and switch off. But there are some important things you need to remember to keep your children safe at the beach this summer. Remember that the sea can be unpredictable, be prepared by following these 6 tips.

  1. First things first it is important to stay calm if anything does happen. On a busy summer day, kids do tend to get lost in the crowd very easily. You need to remember that it’s not your fault and they won’t have gone far. The most important thing you can do is remain calm in a difficult situation.
  1. Make sure your kids know where they are. When you and your family arrive at the beach make sure to identify your surroundings, are there any noticeable landmarks that you can set up near? Tell your child to keep an eye out for these landmarks so that if the worst happens and your child wanders off, they will be more likely to find their way back. The Red Beach Hut is the perfect landmark as your kids can always remember to head to the only red hut! 
  1. Get a wristband or write your details on their hand. If your child is an explorer it can be hard to keep track of them while they go on an ‘adventure’. This is why we have created Red Beach Hut child wristbands. Red Beach Hut Child Wristband You can buy them now in our shop and have them ready at the hut for you when you get there. With the hut number on the wristband, if your child is lost and needs help, others can help to guide them back to the right place to find you. Otherwise you could write your details on their hand, just remember that if they spend the day in the sea and sand then this may rub off after time. 
  1. Avoid inflatables. Inflatables may seem like a great idea but perhaps are best saved for the swimming pool rather than the beach. They can easily float out to sea, even if there is only a slight wind. We know that the kids might not like this idea but safety should always come before fun.
  2. Take a seaside snap! Not just for the memories, taking a snap of the family at the beach when you arrive is a great idea so that in case your child goes missing you know exactly what they are wearing that day which can be very helpful in a search.
  1. Find or call the lifeguard. If your child does go missing, find or call the coastguard right away. To reach the coastguard call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

It is very unlikely to lose your child.  But if you remember these tips then know you are prepared and your family can have a relaxing day at the beach. We want to make sure every day at the beach is a great day at the beach. For more information on have a read of how the RNLI keeps beaches safe and learn more about the Walton and Frinton Lifeboat station located in Walton.

Photo: Supplied by Red Hutter

Why I love a cold water swim despite hating getting wet or cold

Activities

Have you ever felt like your head was so fuzzy, so full of brain fog that you couldn’t focus, couldn’t make decisions? You started to worry… worrying about your memory loss, headaches, eyesight – worrying so much that it started to impact your sleep and then your energy level? 

Stress and anxiety can make it difficult to think clearly. We get brain fog. 

This was me for YEARS. 

Then a friend coaxed me into a cold water swim at the seaside at sunrise.  I love a sunrise, I just never thought I’d see it while in the water in the North Sea, in December!

But I went. 

We met at the hut, changing inside, getting bundled up into a towel and heading down to the sea.  When the cold hit my feet… woa, but I don’t want to chicken out. I had come so far, and I knew I’d kick myself if I didn’t do it. So I kept going…. 

Soon, I couldn’t feel my feet. It was cold. So cold… 

Laura continued to encourage me in. 

Goodness knows what expression was on on my face. 

I kept going. 

Splashing water on my legs on my chest on my arms, acclimating myself bit by bit as I stepped forward, the water rising up my legs.  Ohhh , 

it hit my crotch, then my belly 

Ho ho ho ho ho

My breathing intensifies and deepens

Oh my god. 

The cold water was high enough for me to immerse my body and get my feet off the ground… 

This is it. 

1

2

3

Go.

swoosh … the water hits my face and i close my eyes. 

I’m swimming. 

I turn onto my back, getting the full sun on my face. 

Wooohoooo 

Holy **c* 

I’m in the water in December. It’s cold

But that’s not what I notice. 

I notice feeling alive.

I’ve got the biggest grin on my face

Woooohooo! 

I’m awake! I’m alive. 

There’s no brain fog! 

I floated around for a few minutes. I think about 4. Then I was ready to get out. 

Walking out of the water

You start to feel the fire  on your skin. 

Then you wrap up

And made my way up to the hut, my lovely little red happy place, all cosy warm, with the oven on ready to bake some pastries. 

We change our clothes then relax with a cuppa. 

“You are nuts!”

That’s the most common thing I hear when people hear my story or see my photos of my early morning swims in the sea. 

I always say, I hate getting wet and getting cold, 

But I do it because of how it makes me feel. The pleasure i get from feeling ALIVE far outweighs the momentary discomfort from getting cold

Ask anyone who does open water swimming. They’ll have a similar story. No more brain fog. 

The benefits of cold water swimming are well researched and documented. 

In increases alertness British Journal of Sports Medicine

Strengthens the immune system  PLoS One

Boosts your mood Medical Hypotheses

Quicker cooling after sports Journal of Athletic Training

Improves physical recovery Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

Reduces pain  North American Journal of Medical Sciences

Join me for a cold water swim. You might just come alive, more alive that you ever thought you could  feel 

Sunrise Swim filled by breakfast in the hut.

Beach Huts for sale in Walton-On-the-Naze

Stories

We’ve seen a tremendous surge in beach huts for sale in Walton-On-the-Naze and across the country in general. The increase in staycations, caused by the pandemic and uncertainty around summer holiday plans fuelling the rise in demand.

Recent News Articles:

As a result of this rise in demand, beach huts are in the news!

Market Watch has called beach huts the hottest commodity on the British real-estate market.

BBC Essex covered the story Walton-on-the-Naze: ‘People are almost panic buying beach huts’

The time covered the story Staycations fuel bidding war in beach hut boom.

Property Reporter tells the story of Staycations see beach hut prices surge by 41%.

Country living reports Beach huts sell for £325k in Dorset as demand soars ahead of summer staycations.

Metro reports Beach hut with cheery red interiors goes on sale for £70,000. It’s interior is no where near as nice as our little red happy place!

Beach Hut Desirability

Beach huts have always been desirable, and those who have them, often don’t let them go. I’ve started to get to know my neighbours and I’m loving the stories I’m hearing. So much so that I plan to write a book! The reasons for spending tie at the hut vary from person to person, but the sound of the sea tends to be something that we all love.

The list of stories about beach huts for sale is endless, but one thing is certain, I’m not selling my Red Beach Hut no matter what you offer me. The positive impact it’s had on my wellbeing, my mental health, and my recovery from losing my husband to alcoholism…. well you just can’t put a price on it.

Unfortunately, these high prices have made buying a beach hut even more out of reach for many families. That’s why I will continue to open my doors and share my happy place with you with my beach hut hire options. Make it your home away from home too. Everyone deserves the chance to create memories by the seaside. ❤️

Beach hut hire in Walton-On-the-Naze

Helpful tips

Looking for the perfect beach hut to hire in Walton-On-the-Naze? Wanting to find the beach hut of your dreams? It can be difficult to find beach huts to hire as they are so in demand, and unfortunately, as much as I would like to, I cannot welcome everyone to the Red Beach Hut as there just aren’t enough days to go around!

After the loooong covid restrictions that we all endured,  I know so many of us are in desperate need for that escape, to make time for ourselves and enjoy our summer! The beach is the perfect place to do just that, and with the uncertainty of travelling abroad I am already getting floods of messages from people wanting to book the perfect staycation day. 

Beach hut Hire at Walton-on-the-Naze

Seeing as there is only just one Red Beach Hut, and so many of you want to book a hut at Walton-On-the-Naze, I thought it would be useful to let you have a full list of beach huts available to hire at Walton and across the coast.

First things first, why is it so difficult to find a beach hut to hire in the first place?

Many find it hard to find beach huts to hire as their marketing doesn’t get out to enough people, they often don’t have their own website and so this can make finding and booking the perfect hut a nightmare. I own a marketing agency, so I have put my marketing skills to good use with my beach hut, creating an easy booking experience for my Red Hutters! 

The main aim of the Red Beach Hut is to help as many people to live life full of joy and to create a community that call the Red Beach Hut home away from home! This is why we have a growing Facebook community and I am constantly thinking of new events where we can meet up at the hut and get to know one another. Take a look at our Mindful events. 

Beach Huts to Hire

There are so many stunning beach huts to hire in the area, and as soon as you are by the sea, whether at Mersea, Frinton or Walton-on-the-Naze you will be taken aback by the rainbow of huts lining the beaches. I always find myself admiring the huts at Walton from afar…it’s hard not to! Here are some of my favourite beach huts you can hire across the east coast and why!

Walton-on-the-Naze

There is so much to do at Walton and the long sandy beach makes it ideal for families. Whether you decide to hire a hut in Southcliff or Eastcliff you will not be disappointed  by the wide range of things Walton has to offer. Here are some of the best beach huts to hire in Walton-on-the-naze

The Red Beach Hut (Obviously top of the list!)

Daisy Chain

Roisin’s Happy Beach Hut 

Flip Flop Inn

Frinton

Frinton is just a stroll away from Walton-on-the-naze and offers a beautiful quaint town to explore. The only issue with Frinton is that it can be hard to find ice-cream and other amenities nearby the hut (depending on the hut location). Frinton is ideal if you want a quiet, undisturbed day at the beach and don’t mind walking to get some ice cream. Here are some lovely huts to hire in Frinton. 

Cool Coastal Huts – Frinton 343

Polly’s Beach Hut

Elaine’s Hut 

Mersea

If you are Colchester based like me, Mersea Island is a good option if you don’t want to travel too far. Mersea has lots of on-the-beach huts to hire, and lots of infamous delicacies you can try (the wonderful shellfish and oysters from the Company Shed is a must). Mersea is a great option, just be careful about finding parking in the busy season and please don’t get stuck on the strood like so many others (check the tide time). 

Cool Coastal Huts 

The Little Beach Hut Company

Sandy Toes Beach Hut

Lovely Surprise Beach Hut

Mersea Mogo Hut

Hopefully, this list will help you to find your perfect beach hut hire (for when we are fully booked of course)! We are currently taking bookings so  take a look at our availability and book your perfect staycation now!

12 Reasons to Hire a Beach Hut For The Day

Helpful tips

There are lots of reasons to hire a beach hut for the day, from getting cosy with a cup of tea to having a secure base to keep your things while you explore. The beach is the perfect place for a family day out, and while beach huts aren’t for everyone, they offer so many benefits that help to create the best staycation!

12 Reasons to hire a beach hut for the day

  1. A beach hut gives you a base for the day. Friends can find your hut easily and there’s no worry of leaving your belongings on the open beach while you take a dip. The beach hut is the perfect base to call home for the day as you explore the area.
  1. A beach hut provides shelter from the weather. It’s easy to wish for sun, sun, sun but sometimes it can be too much and you need to get out of the heat for a while. The hut is the ideal place to keep out of the midday sun and stay cool in the shade. On the other hand, if the weather turns a little colder, you can cosy up indoors and still enjoy your day at the beach.
  1. Anxiety and worry melts away at a beach hut. We have all had a stressful year to say the least and as a parent I see how anxious it makes our kids. Why not hire the beach hut after school and help them reduce their (and your) anxiety, even just for an afternoon. Breathing in the fresh sea air does wonders!
  2. Watch the sunrise from a beach hut. It might be difficult to envision yourself out of bed that early but i promise you it will be worth it. A beach hut is the perfect place to watch the sunrise while you enjoy a delicious, well earned breakfast. You can hire the Red Beach Hut for a sunrise session and enjoy your morning with us.
  1. No lugging chairs and umbrellas to the beach. Sometimes it can look like you are a bit of a pack horse, juggling bags, chairs and kids as you struggle to find an empty spot on the beach. No more! The hut is fully equipped with everything you might need.
  2. The ideal base to eat your fish and chip dinner and watch the sunset. You can hire the hut for the evening and have the hut until the end of the day. It makes the perfect place to sit and eat your scrumptious fish and chips while admiring the view. You can even eat your fish and chips at the table, on a real plate with a knife and fork. Gone are the days of balancing a paper bag on your knees, does it get better than that?
  1. A beach hut provides privacy. You’ve basically got your own private changing room where you can slip into your swimwear for a splash in the sea. No more coming to the beach in your swimwear and awkwardly trying to change under a towel! Whether you hire for the day or want an early morning sunrise swim, the beach hut is the ideal base to go swimming!
  2. The perfect date night. The beach hut is the ideal place to have a romantic date. Set up with twinkling lights and candles, there is nothing more romantic than taking a moment to enjoy each other’s company in the peace and quiet of the beach. You can hire the Red Beach Hut for the evening and book time for you!
  1. Make time for you at the beach hut. The beach hut is the ideal place to sit back, relax, and take time for yourself by the seaside. Take a book and sit and listen to the waves, you definitely deserve to take time for yourself.
  1. Get a holiday in a day! A day at the beach hut is the perfect way to have a holiday in just a day! Especially in a year where we still don’t know whether we will get abroad, the beach hut is the perfect place to get away without actually getting away!
  2. Enjoy the evening. You can stay at the beach later than you might usually. Snuggle up in the hut in the evening with a hot chocolate and enjoy the sunset. You could even bring your pyjamas and get ready for bed before you carry the tired kids to the car.
  3. Finally, you’ve got the best view ever! Not that there is any explanation needed for a wonderful view, but this is the best place to find inspiration and take time for restorative rest. All you have to do is sit by the hut window and take in the view. 
  • beach hut hire
  • beach hut hire

Well there are my 12 reasons to hire a beach hut for the day…have I convinced you? You can book a day at the Red Beach Hut here. 

hiRE THE RED BEACH HUT NOW

Kim x

How to Plan the Perfect Day at a Beach Hut

Activities

Planning is always key…even when going to the beach. There are lots of things that you need to think about so that you can have the perfect day! Here is a useful guide on how to plan the perfect day at a beach hut.

What to pack for the perfect day at a beach hut?

First things first it is important to know what to pack so that you are prepared for the perfect day. While the hut provides much of what you will need for the day, there are some things you may want to bring from home. 

  1. Food and drink
    Whether you are planning to bring all of your own food and have a special picnic or treat yourself and eat out for the day, bringing your own snacks and drinks is always a good idea (especially if you have kids who are always hungry). Staying hydrated is also really important, particularly if you and your family are running around the beach all day. We have water at the hut, so no need to pack bottled water, but you may want to bring some squash for the kids to make sure you are all drinking enough!
  2. A cool bag
    This is kind of in line with the food and drink but it is useful to pack things into a cool bag. Why not fill some plastic bottles with water and freeze them, they make the perfect ice blocks to keep everything cold and over the day as they melt become nice cool drinking water.
  1. Blankets
    Although many huts have throws and blankets available normally, many (the Red Beach Hut included) have had to remove them due to the pandemic. This means you may want to bring your own home comforts, ready to get cozy if it gets colder and as the evening draws in. Bundle up in the hut with blankets and a hot chocolate, what’s better than that!
  2. Beach Towels
    It’s important to remember to bring some warm, soft beach towels to help dry you down post a dip in the sea. Whether you use them as blankets on the beach or to wrap up in as it gets colder, beach towels are definitely an essential.
  3. Talc powder
    Talc powder is a great way to get rid of the sand on you. Just dust yourself with talc and the sand will come off as you rub it all away…so simple, so effective. No more sand-covered cars!
  4. Change of clothes
    You never really know what the weather will be like, so it is always a good idea to pack an extra change of warmer clothes. That way you can also change out of your day clothes into some warm cosy clothes in the evening.
  5. Activities
    A good beach hut is fully stocked with lots of games and things to use at the beach, but you may want to bring some things from home to keep the whole family entertained.
  1. Pegs to hold towels down in the sand
    One of our amazing Red Hutters gave us this genius idea to bring tent pegs with you to pin down your towel in the sand…no more worrying about your towel flying away in the wind!

Obviously, there are some more essentials that are a little more obvious, suncream, hats, sunglasses, and of course your beverages of choice, but hopefully, this list has given you a better idea of what to bring with you for the perfect day at the beach hut. 

Travelling to the beach hut

Planning the perfect day at the beach hut starts with planning how you are going to get there. Plot your journey taking peak traffic times into account. Avoid the traffic and get there early. You may need to take coins for parking too. The Red Beach Hut is in the perfect position so that you can easily travel by car or by train. 

There are large car parks dotted around Walton-on-the-Naze and the best one for access to the beach hut is the Church Road car park which is right near the station and pier. 

Food and Drink

It wouldn’t be the perfect day at the beach if you didn’t indulge in the seaside treats. From fish and chips, to ice cream, to fresh doughnuts, the beach has so many delicious delicacies for you to try. Do some research for amenities at the beach you are headed to.

Walton has lots of places to get great fish and chips, you are never far from the intoxicating smell of the salt and vinegar. Why not read Tripadvisors edit of the best fish and chips in Walton to find the best place for you.

Things to do in Walton-on-the-Naze

There are endless things to do in Walton and I couldn’t possibly add them all in this blog. Obviously the main things to do is to spend time at the beach, soaking in the sunshine and splashing in the sea, but if you want to go further afield and explore the town there are so many activities for you and your family to get stuck into. I have listed just a few here for you to think about.

Tide Times 

You won’t get very far if you don’t check the tide times and plan your day around that. You can check the tide times here and make sure you don’t arrive and have no time on the beach (the sea rises all the way up the beach so please be careful to leave the beach when the tide comes in).

I hope that this blog post has helped you to plan the perfect day at the beach hut, but of course the perfect day at the hut starts with actually booking the beach hut and you can now book for this summer. I cannot wait to see you join the Red Hutter community. When you do, we will send you our Guide to Planning the Perfect Day at the Beach.

HIRE THE BEACH HUT

The Red Beach Hut is a Tourist Attraction in Essex

Stories

I had my first experience of people debating the Red Beach Hut as a tourist attraction in Essex. ❤️

It made me smile. I’m so grateful for my little Red happy place on the Essex coast. 

A friend from my running group sent me a screenshot of a chat in a Facebook group. The question was posed if The Red Beach Hut was a tourist attraction. The person who created the post said in all his 30 years of living in Walton-On-the-Naze….

Our little red happy place was the topic of conversation and I wasn’t the one that started it! I was so chuffed. 
Our Google Business page has the hut categorised as a Tourist Attraction. I choose that category because it seemed the best suited to me. After all, Canadians have come to see The Red Beach Hut and that makes it a tourist attraction in my books.

What else could it be? 

Accommodation? Not really because you can’t sleep in it.
A leisure facility? Not really unless lifting a cuppa or a drink counts as exercise. 

Ask any Canadian, it’s a tourist attraction for sure, after all, there are no beach huts in Canada so Canadians want to see what all the fuss is about and they do travel a long way to see it.

We also have this amazing window and we are determined to make it the most instagramable window.

After the 12th of April 2021, Make sure to take your photo in front of our window, or in the window when you hire the Red Beach Hut for the day. Use the hashtags #theredbeachhut #happyplace ❤️

Silver linings this winter

Activities

Silver linings… 

Now is the time to connect with your family and find wonderful things to do together. 

Walton On the Naze is in a High alert area. 

What does this mean for beach hut use? 

Well… 

A beach hut has 4 walls and a roof. 

This means that the INDOORS guidance applies, so you cant have two households mixing in the hut at the same time.

Indoors… 

  • individuals are more likely not to follow government guidance for hygiene rules, we tend to relax…
  • they will touch the same surfaces, 
  • they will use the same towels and utensils. 

Outdoors, 

  • you must follow the rule of 6   
  • You have to socially distance, 2M apart, this may be difficult with the limited space outside the beach hut. 

And let’s face it, with the weather… if it rains, you’ll all want to cram inside. (you know this will happen)

I feel the responsible thing is to limit the use of the beach hut to one household and apply the rule of 6 indoors (not in the guidance) and outdoors (rule of 6 applies) as the use of the beach hut includes both…

so

only ONE HOUSEHOLD will be allowed on each beach hut hire. 

Many of you have already opted for this anyway, so I am pleased to see that we are all on the same page, keeping each other safe.  Please feel rest assured that the hut is cleaned between each rental. I’ve even started to use Virusend UK which is proven to kill COVID-19. 

Remember to bring your own towels, blankets, pillows, for comfort during your stay.  I can assure you that if you bake a batch of cookies in the oven, you’ll keep toasty warm. 

There’s plenty of ways to enjoy the seaside safely during these dark and crazy times.  Go on, book yourself a day. You’ll be glad you did. 

See you soon. 

with love ❤️

Kim

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