DESPITE being in the middle of a depressing credit crunch with the UK housing market on its knees, it seems the traditional Suffolk beach hut still remains hot property.

Anthony Bond

DESPITE being in the middle of a depressing credit crunch with the UK housing market on its knees, it seems the traditional Suffolk beach hut still remains hot property.

A small grey beach hut in Southwold is currently on the market for £45,000 with estate agent Flick & Son confident of a sale, despite the global economic uncertainties.

Richard Leeming, a director of the estate agent, said: “I am reasonably confident that even though we are going through the current troubles we will still be successful in selling.”

Beach Hut 239 is situated on Southwold's South Beach, south of Gun Hill Cliff.

It is marketed as “a rare opportunity to acquire a beach hut in this most sought after of locations.”

Flick & Son have every reason to be confident of a sale. Over summer the estate agent sold a beach hut at Gun Hill for more than £80,000. There were even rumours that the £100,000 barrier for a beach hut in the town had been topped.

Mr Leeming said despite the current economic climate, the pull of Southwold was a big factor.

“It is a special place in people's hearts and it is popular for holidays, holiday homes and people from the city with second homes. Life is tough at the moment for most people but maybe not all of them.

“A beach hut is part of the seaside experience of being in a traditional seaside town, even if you own a house in the town you can decamp to the hut. If you own a house outside of Southwold but within a reasonable striking distance you always then have a base here if you have a hut.

“It is almost part of the quintessentially English seaside trip.”

Despite the optimism, Mr Leeming admits there has been a slight reduction in interest.

“In terms of attracting outside interest there is a reduction in demand but even in the difficult times that we are in at the moment, there is always interest in something as unique as a beach hut in Southwold.”

There are about 300 beach huts in Southwold with perhaps the most famous being the Corner Hut, which featured in the film Iris starring Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent.

For more information about the beach hut for sale, contact Flick & Son on 01502 722253.