THESE are the first pictures of beach hut bars opening on the seafront.

Rockwater Hove’s Shacks By The Shore will be serving up food and drink from today.

It is one part of the £2 million transformation of former pub The Venue by venture capitalist Luke Davis.

To celebrate, Mr Davis popped champagne in front of the huts, which have a licence to sell alcohol until 3am. He said: “Our vision for Rockwater Hove was to provide a community hub in Hove that reflected the heritage of our beautiful seafront. Our concept for the Shacks By The Shore will be a taste of what’s to come upon a full opening.

“Our vision for Rockwater Hove is that it will be far more than a restaurant and bar that serves as a new community hub, but it will be a wellness centre, offering fitness classes through multiple exciting collaborations with local fitness experts.”

Shacks By The Shore will provide an outdoor space for the Hove community to enjoy locally sourced produce, Mr Davis, 40, said.

People passing by on the promenade will be offered charcuterie, cheese boards and seafood platters.

The venue says social distancing protocols have been put in place to ensure guests are safe.

Each of the six huts was named by the community – they include Hove Sh’actually and Love Shack.

They will begin selling coffee and cakes from 8am and alcohol from noon. Alcohol will be served for “as long as the weather allows”.

Mr Davis, who lives nearby, said: “I believe that what we are offering at Rockwater Hove is totally unique in the South East.

“We are empowering the local community and economy through this project.

“From coffee to fitness, we are working with our community to provide the best locally sourced produce and trainers and Shacks By The Shore will be the first reflection of this. As lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted, we hope people can enjoy our offerings in a socially distanced fashion too.

“We will of course be providing clear signage so that friends and family can have a memorable experience in the safest way possible.”

In December Mr Davis unveiled his £2,250,000 “coffee and cocktails” scheme for the site in Kingsway, Hove.

His plans for the site previously known as Venue – and before that The View and the Babylon Lounge – include affordable food, wood burners, big open windows, a rooftop terrace and the potential for an outdoor big screen.