Wealthy beach hut owners claim a beachside restaurant is turning their pristine stretch of coast into a ‘Magaluf rave scene’.
Hutters in Mudeford, Dorset, accuse The Beach House of changing the once idyllic coastline into an open air ‘festival’ and a ‘drinker’s paradise’.
They say foul language is now rife in the area and lager louts have been urinating against their huts to avoid waiting in long public toilet queues.
Others have complained of party-goers lounging on the the decking of their private huts, which are worth up to £500,000 each.
But Mr Kim Slater, the restaurant’s owner, has hit back and accused some hut owners of ‘blatant snobbery’ and a witch hunt to get his establishment closed down.
The Beach House was destroyed by a fire in 2018 and the owners got permission for a temporary setup in three shipping containers while the council made plans for a replacement.
But seven years on there have been no signs of a permanent building appearing, although Mr Slater claimed the delay was down to ‘factors beyond our control’.
Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association (MSBHA), which represents hut owners, has applied for the premises’ licence to be reviewed.
Wealthy beach hut owners claim The Beach House, pictured, is turning their pristine stretch of coast into a ‘Magaluf rave scene’
Sunseekers in Mudeford, Dorset, pictured, say the bar has changed from an upmarket enclosed restaurant to an open air ‘festival’ and a ‘drinker’s paradise’
It is asking the licensing committee to restrict alcohol sales to table service with food, remove the open-air bar service, impose conditions to control noise and waste and have defined consumption areas.
Hut owner Suzie Bath said Mr Slater and his family had initially created something ‘special’, adding: ‘The food was fantastic, the setting was upmarket and it added much value to the sandbank.
‘Sadly I hardly recognise The Beach House in its current incarnation.
‘After the fire [in 2018] we were told that the current setup was a temporary solution but now it is clear that that is by no means the intention of the owner.
‘I am now a mother to a two-year-old and it saddens me that when I put her to bed at night I can hear loud music, rowdy crowds and an almost festival like atmosphere each evening.
‘We live in London and come to our beach hut for peace, not to be bothered by more noise pollution.’
Jojo Huggins added: ‘We used to love the peaceful, natural beauty of Mudeford Sandbank.
‘It now often feels like an Ibiza rave with loud music spilling out, and has spoiled our enjoyment of the area, which we believe should be protected for future generations.’
The Beach House, highlighted with an arrow, was destroyed by a fire in 2018 and the owners got permission for a temporary set up which has still not been made permanent
Elizabeth Pritchard said it is ‘only a matter of time before there is a serious accident’ with drunken customers getting into boats.
Paul Owen added: ‘I have witnessed foul-language, arm-wrestling and vomiting, even while queuing with young grandchildren for an ice cream.
‘This is not what the sandbank is meant to be. A space that should feel safe for children has instead been undermined by behaviour more suited to parts of Bournemouth beach – but unlike there, we cannot simply move elsewhere. This is our home.’
Mr Slater branded the proposed licence restrictions ‘disproportionate’ and said: ‘We vehemently disagree with their assessment. We are keenly aware of our responsibilities to not just run a business, but act as a de facto guardian of the area.
‘We litter pick regularly, provide shop facilities, offer huttie discounts, and we create jobs.
‘We believe that this is a special place and that we have a responsibility to keep it so, for everyone.
‘I believe that throughout our long trading history we have demonstrated consistent responsibility, integrity, and commitment to upholding the licensing objectives.’
He said Environmental Health has only received complaints about excessive noise on four days in the last five years and the most recent one, on August 22, was following a birthday party held by one of the hut owners.
Now Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association (MSBHA), which represents hut owners, has applied for the premises’ licence to be reviewed (pictured: the huts from above
Mr Slater said the officer’s review concluded ‘no nuisance was substantiated’ on any of the complaints.
He added: ‘The demands of the applicants are becoming increasingly prescriptive, to the point of absurdity.
‘The promotion of the licensing objectives does not require such detailed control over what may be sold by The Beach House, or from where.’
Some hut owners said they were not consulted about the licence restriction application and do not agree with it.
Martin Stewart claimed it was ‘ludicrous’ to suggest children might be at risk from the beachside bar, adding that objectors were ‘clutching at straws’.
Simon Vivian said: ‘As a lifelong member of the beach hut association I was shocked and upset to hear the licence has been called into question by a few members without a formal consultation of all members.
‘The Beach House forms an integral part of the beach community, serving the needs of the visiting public and resident hut owners. As a family we have always found it to be a safe and welcoming place.’
Mudeford Sandbank is a remote spit in Christchurch Harbour boasting around 350 beach huts. Cars are forbidden and the desirable tourist spot can only be reached on foot, ferry or a novelty land train.
In March a 16ft by 13ft beach hut (pictured) went on the market for a staggering £430,000 – and it didn’t even face the sea
The Beach House is the only restaurant on the sandy peninsula.
Plans for a replacement restaurant were finally approved last month by BCP Council. Conditions for that new building include a noise management plan.
It comes after beach hut owners in Mudeford claimed outdoor picnic benches at The Beach House were turning their exclusive seaside idyll into a ‘drinkers’ paradise’.
Eight new wooden benches were installed, effectively turning it into a ‘pub beer garden’, according to critics.
Some hutters have also complained of drinks spilling out ‘all over’ the otherwise family-friendly beach, alleging ‘drunken’ and ‘rowdy’ behaviour.
Alongside noise nuisance, they say the protected spit in Christchurch Harbour is being ‘destroyed’ by the littering of plastic beer cups.
The picnic tables set up outside the Beach House during Covid were meant to be temporary – but the establishment has now applied for planning permission to make them permanent.
The owners of the Beach House said the tables are mostly used by people who sit and drink coffee.
In June, beach hut owners claimed their idyllic escape would be destroyed by drunken sailors if a new floating bar and restaurant, which would be located in the circled area, was introduced
They insist the furniture also provides a welcome rest-stop for walkers and argue their application has received huge support.
In June, beach hut owners claimed their idyllic escape would be destroyed by drunken sailors if a new floating bar and restaurant was introduced.
They said the seaborne venue would result in anti-social behaviour, late night noise and drunken revellers falling into the sea.
And with just one toilet on board, people are also worried drunken partygoers would end up urinating over the side.
Virginia Hazell-Trickett, of the Christchurch Harbour Kitchen, wanted to moor up the floating restaurant and bar in the harbour just off the sandbank.
She applied for an alcohol licence from 8am to 10.30pm for the new attraction anchored near the huts and to play music from 8am to 11pm every day.
The company originally applied for the drinks licence until 11pm but after speaking with Dorset Police agreed to cut it by half an hour and serve drinks only with food.
