A QUAINT addition to a coastal town’s seafront is how many visitors view the humble beach hut.

When The Argus caught up with proud owners of some of the finest in Brighton and Hove last week, some said tourists were “bemused” by the idea and others said owning one made you more popular as everyone wanted to use it.

A line of the wooden miniature seaside homes adorning stretches of beach is a staple image of many a British coastal resort and tales of quirky designs, sad stories of wreckage and disputes between neighbours have featured regularly in the news as a result.

Sussex's, and particularly Brighton and Hove's huts have featured often in The Argus. The archive has a whole file on beach huts with many an intriguing entry over the years.

In January 1982 The Argus reported Hove Council's plans to sell off the beach huts due to high maintenance costs.

A council sub-committee said the 453 huts should be "sold off for £100 each instead of renting them out," giving first refusal to existing users.

The report said the move would provide £45,300 and £12,000 more would be made in ground rents of £30 on "popular sections" and £25 on "less popular sites".

At the time of the report the huts were rented out at £97.75 a year or £86.25 depending on location.

The huts were described as being in a "very exposed position and have been attacked by vandals".

Beach hut wreckage was said to be driving sun worshippers away from the promenade in May 1988. Timbers from storm damaged huts had been stacked and left to form rubbish tips on Hove seafront.

The huts were growing in popularity in July 1990 when The Argus reported there was a two-year waiting list for a hut. Elsewhere there was a two to three-year wait in Worthing and a five year wait for an "upmarket" brick-built chalet in Eastbourne.

Private units were fetching between £600 and £1,000 but could have their permits withdrawn if their cabins were not kept up to standard, the article warned.

Reporter Phil Mills said a "war on the shore" raged in October 1991 when beach hut owners were hit with a £77 rate charge.

Part-time teacher Sheila Prater, and a beach hut owner, was planning to launch a petition against the new charge which was in addition to an £80 ground rent licence for the huts.