Sun, swimming, smoking and seagulls: a day in the life of beach hut Britain

Across the UK, there are long waiting lists for a beach hut - and prices go up and up. A day on Hove promenade reveals why they are so popular and the problems that persist (mainly locks)

Everyone who meets Bonny Holland says the same thing: she really loves beach huts. Bonny posts in our Facebook group about four times a day," says the Hove and Portslade councillor Robert Nemeth, who founded the Hove Beach Hut Association. I have to approve the posts."

Inside Holland's beach hut, the 62-year-old retired headteacher keeps a double-ring stove, a frying pan, a griddle pan, graffiti removal wipes, and, best of all, a loo. You sit on this," Holland says merrily, unfolding a portable toilet seat for my benefit, and go in here."