Blyth's Colourful Beach Huts: How to Hire One

If you've driven along the seafront at Blyth, you'll have seen them: twenty brightly painted beach huts standing in a neat row along the South Beach promenade, each one a different colour, all of them facing the sea. They've become one of the most photographed spots on the Northumberland coast, and they're not just for looking at -- you can hire one for the day and make it your base for a proper seaside outing.

The Huts

There are twenty traditional timber beach huts in total, each one solidly built and well maintained. Step inside and you'll find a timbered interior with a bench seat, a small work surface, a kettle for making tea (a non-negotiable on the Northumberland coast), four deck chairs for sitting outside, and coat hooks for when the weather does what it does. They're not huge, but they're exactly what a beach hut should be -- a sheltered spot with everything you need for a comfortable day by the sea.

Best for: Each hut comes with bench seating, a kettle, four deck chairs, a work surface, and coat hooks -- everything you need for a day on the beach.

Hiring a Hut

Beach huts are available for daily hire at a fixed rate of 60 pounds per day. Access runs from 8am to 7pm, which gives you a generous window -- long enough for a full day including a morning coffee, a lunchtime picnic, and a late afternoon walk along the sand before handing back the key.

Bookings are handled directly by email at info@blythcec.co.uk or by phone on 01670 542840. Note that all bookings are non-refundable, so keep half an eye on the forecast if you're planning ahead. That said, the huts are available year-round, not just in summer. A winter beach day with a flask of tea and a blanket has its own quiet appeal, and you'll likely have the promenade largely to yourself.

Best for: Daily hire: 60 pounds per day, 8am to 7pm. Book by email (info@blythcec.co.uk) or phone (01670 542840). Non-refundable.

Value for Money

If you've ever looked at beach hut prices in Dorset, Norfolk, or even Whitby, you'll know how quickly the numbers climb. Daily hire rates in many popular coastal towns run well above 100 pounds, and some southern locations charge several hundred. At sixty pounds for a full day with equipment included, Blyth is genuinely good value -- and you get one of the finest stretches of sand in Northumberland thrown in for free.

Facilities Nearby

The huts themselves are simple and self-contained, but the nearby Dave Stephens Centre provides public toilets, external showers, and a water supply. The showers are a godsend when you've spent the afternoon building sandcastles and need to de-sand everyone before the drive home. The promenade is paved and accessible, so getting to and from the huts with chairs, bags, and reluctant toddlers is straightforward.

A Family Day on South Beach

South Beach is wide, sandy, and remarkably uncrowded even on warm summer weekends. The firm sand is ideal for games, the water shelves gently for paddling, and the dunes behind the promenade offer shelter when the breeze picks up. Combine a beach hut with the play area at the southern end of the beach and you've got a full day sorted without spending much beyond the hire fee.

The promenade walk south towards Seaton Sluice is one of the best coastal strolls in Northumberland -- flat, paved, and pushchair-friendly -- so there's plenty to do beyond the hut if you fancy stretching your legs.

Best for: Wide sandy beach, play area, paved promenade walk to Seaton Sluice -- a full family day without breaking the bank.

Getting There

The beach huts are on the promenade at South Beach, Blyth. Free parking is available at Links Road car park, a short walk from the huts. The beach is well signposted from the town centre.

For more on South Beach itself -- swimming, surf school, dog rules, and wildlife -- see our complete Blyth Beach guide.