Every Month I Write A Kev's Column for the Torbay Times. In this month's edition I take a look at how the Beach Hut is becoming a hit in the bay:
Without giving a firm an undue plug most residents will recall a catchphrase of “Hit the Hut” being promoted a few years ago, yet in 2014 it seems the Hut will be the hit.
The Beach Hut is one of the symbols of summers in the bay. Preston Sea Front becomes a colourful camp of wood as each season starts, with the view created being one of the most recognisable in any postcard sent home. Yet this year the hut became the star of a chilly Christmas, rather than a sunny summer, as instead of just sitting in a winter store a number were placed in Castle Circus to form a quite unique attraction.
The Beach Hut Christmas Market was a great example of different thinking about how to use what makes the bay unique to promote it, rather than just follow the pack and spend cash producing a copy of something that somewhere else does well. Combined with the Christmas Unwrapped project it was a low cost, but effective way, of bringing Christmas cheer.
Yet 2014 will see the development of huts that are a world away from the basic wooden frame many wait for years to get a chance to rent. Business Tycoon, Peter De Savery, has unveiled a £1.5m investment plan for the Cary Arms in Babbacombe, with new Beach Huts being a key feature. These will not only have fantastic sea views from the cliff side, but also be some of the most luxurious in the UK. Whilst at Meadfoot Beach the Council will be rebuilding the huts there, incorporating items like wifi. Torbay is doing to the beach hut, what “glamping” has done to the tent.
2014 presents lots of opportunities, plus real choices, about what direction the bay should head as the completion of the link road draws nearer, the economy continues to recover and new business is created. Yet developing should not mean losing what makes the bay unique, but rather using that as the reason to invest here. If the humble beach hut can be a hit, then there is a lot else we have to offer that can be the next one.
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