Dorset beach huts renovated after devastating arson attack

Trio of Dorset beach huts rise from the ashes following devastating arson attack after carpenters turn them into luxury boltholes worth £350,000 each

• Three beach huts worth a combined £1million have been renovated after they were set alight and destroyed  
• Cabins, which sit side-by-side at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, were torched by thugs in February 
• One of the renovated huts can sleep six people, with four beds in loft area of cabin and two more in lounge 

Three beach huts worth £350,000 each have risen from the ashes after they were set alight and destroyed in an arson attack this year.

The trio of luxury wooden cabins, which sit side-by-side at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, have undergone a complete transformation and been repaired after they were torched by thugs in February this year amid a spate of burglaries and arson attacks in the region.

Sitting just a stone’s throw away from Hengistbury Head Beach in Bournemouth, one of the renovated huts can sleep six people, with four beds in the loft area of the cabin and two more in the lounge. 

It also has solar panels to provide electric lights and power for a fridge and plug sockets and a cooker that is connected to a gas bottle. 

The three beach huts (left after renovation and right before) worth £350,000, which sit side-by-side at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, have undergone a complete transformation

The wooden cabins were torched by thugs in February this year amid a spate of targeted burglaries and arson attacks in the region

One of the huts (left after undergoing repair work and right after it was set alight) can sleep six people was repaired by carpenter David Thomas

The huts in Mudeford Spit, which is home to the most expensive beach huts in Britain, have been built from scratch.

Offering uninterrupted views of the Isle of Wight, the cabins are among 360 huts along the Mudeford sandbank.    

Ordinarily, the local authority bans renovation work on the beach huts at Mudeford during the busy summer months so as not to disturb the peace of the other ‘hutters’ but an exception was made for the owners of the fire ravaged huts.

Carpenter David Thomas has worked on one of the three cabins and has turned it into a modern, luxury bolthole. 

The hut owner, who has asked not be named, said Mr Thomas did a ‘fantastic job’ and was a ‘real craftsman’.

They said: ‘It was a dream come true when we bought our beach hut a few years ago, so it was a terrible shock to get a phone call to say that it had been destroyed by fire.

‘We visited a few days later to see a blackened shell and everything inside ruined. It was a very sad sight.

‘The beach hut community were very supportive. Within days we had messages from other hut owners with the generous offer to use their hut while ours was replaced and we were grateful to the council who gave permission for us to rebuild during the summer months which is not usually allowed.

‘It did affect our neighbours peace and quiet but they were very stoic about it.

‘Dave has done a fantastic job on our new hut and nothing was too much trouble. He is a real craftsman.’  

Sitting just a stone’s throw away from Hengistbury Head Beach, the renovated huts are among 360 huts along the Mudeford sandbank. Pictured: The three huts after undergoing repair work (left) and the cabins just after they were destroyed in an arson attack (right)

A step inside on to the renovated huts at Mudeford Spit reveals a seating area, kitchen and stairs leading up to the loft

 The luxury cabin, which was among the fire ravaged cabins, comes with a stove, sink and a number of cupboards. It also has solar panels to provide electric lights and power for a fridge and plug sockets and a cooker that is connected to a gas bottle

The local authority usually bans renovation work on the beach huts at Mudeford during the busy summer months but an exception was made for the owners of the fire ravaged huts. Pictured: The cabins now (left) and just after they were targetted in arson attack (right) 

Carpenter David Thomas, who worked on one of the three cabins (left before renovation and right after) said he turned it into a luxury bolthole

The property was renovated over the summer months and now sleeps up to six people and comes with solar panels

Cars are banned from the Mudeford Spit and there is no running water in the huts which means owners share a communal shower block. Pictured: The view from inside one of the recently renovated huts

Cars are banned from the Mudeford Spit which can only be reached by a 30-minute walk, a ride on a novelty land train or a short ferry crossing.

There is no running water in the huts and owners share a communal shower block.

They are allowed to sleep in their huts from March to October but can visit any time of year. 

In February, residents were left horrified when the three Dorset beach huts were set alight and 30 more were broken into in a spate of targeted burglaries and arson attacks.

Dorset Police were alerted to a report that three beach huts were on fire at 2.40am by the fire service on February 6.

Speaking at the time Detective Inspector Andrew Kennard, of Bournemouth CID, said: ‘There has been considerable damage caused to a large number of beach huts and I would like to reassure the community that we are carrying out detailed inquiries into the incident.

 ‘I am appealing to anyone who was in the area and either witnessed what happened or saw any suspicious activity to please get in touch.’

Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the fire and remain on bail while police continue their investigations.     

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