In this episode, Natalie interviews Stuart Robinson, the Director of St Anne's Beach Huts Apartments in the charming Victorian seaside town of Lytham St Anne's. Stuart shares his inspiring journey from a corporate telesales job to transforming the traditional beach hut experience into a modern, family-friendly getaway. Stuart discusses the challenges he faced in reintroducing beach huts to the area, including navigating council regulations and overcoming initial skepticism. With a focus on community and sustainability, Stuart highlights the unique appeal of the beach huts, which have become a beloved destination for families and even celebrities.

KEY TAKEAWAY

1. Stuart's love for beach huts stems from his commitment to family and community, emphasising the importance of creating memorable experiences for visitors at St Anne's Beach Huts.

2. The journey to establish the beach huts involved navigating numerous obstacles, including council regulations, environmental assessments, and financial hurdles.

3. The beach huts operate on a rental model, allowing visitors to book them for the day, which fosters a unique experience for families and groups.

4. Residents play a crucial role in the success of the beach huts by helping to monitor and protect them, fostering a sense of community ownership and pride in the beach hut project.

5. Utilising social media effectively helped raise awareness and attract visitors to the beach huts, demonstrating the significance of modern marketing strategies in building a successful business.

BEST MOMENTS

"My wife and I were walking on the promenade one day... we thought, you know what, this could really work if we can manage to pull it off."

"It sounds like persistence and consistency are the things to keep you driving at."

"We approached the council with the idea... but it wasn't as easy as that. We spent an awful lot of time and an awful lot of money."

"There's nothing better than proving someone wrong. In fact, it's probably the worst thing you can do for me, is tell me I can't do something."

"It's a service industry, isn't it? And it's invariably with people who are delighted, you know, they're happy, they're enjoying themselves."

HOST BIO

My name is Natalie Young. I bought a beach hut to bring joy into my life after escaping an abusive relationship and a difficult divorce.  Based in Christchurch, Dorset, my beach hut is affectionally called the Salty Seagull and is located on Friars Cliff beach with sea views to the Needles on the Isle of White. It is my slice of heaven. 

Owning and hiring a beach hut is more complicated than I realised and I am on a constant mission to discover the best ways to manage and care for your hut. I have researched the pros and cons of renting and the best ways to market and host.

The beach, the sights and the sounds of the sea bring me huge joy. I hope this podcast will bring you smiles, laughter and joy too!

SOCIAL LINKS

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559730024536&sk=about

https://www.linkedin.com/company/103555627/admin/feed/posts/?feedType=following

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

Welcome to the Bonkers about Beach Huts podcast, the show that's all about beach huts!

Whether you are thinking of buying a beach hut and don’t know where to begin or if you have had a beach hut in your family for generations this podcast is for you.

As I travel across the UK exploring these coastal retreats and sharing personal stories of how the humble beach hut has shaped lives, I will also be creating the UK's first beach hut map. I will give tips on where and how to buy a beach hut. And share everything you need to know about beach hut maintenance plus advice on hiring a beach hut.

We will be chatting with special guests from estate agents to lock specialists, beach hut associations to beach hut builders, and artists to interior designers. 

If you don’t know what all the fuss is about, join us every week and you too will become a little bit Bonkers Bbout Beach Huts.