FEW things beat long glorious summers days at the beach – and those with beach huts love nothing more than spending quality time at the idyllic seaside spots.

The much sought-after cabins make for great spots to relax and also spend wonderful days with our loved ones.

We have certainly become lovers of our seafront beach huts and so many of us are longing to get back to the peaceful rooms with fabulous views of the water and coast, as well as access to the beach for that chance to top up the tan, if the lockdown allows us to.

Some, however, will be unfamiliar with beach hut joys.

Angie Sterry, from Little Wakering, rents out her beach hut in Thorpe Bay and the peaceful environment even helped with naming the family’s much-loved beach side haven.

The 54-year-old said: “We’ve had her just shy of three years now and it took a while to name her but I came up with Serenity because I felt it portrays exactly what the hut means to me.

“It’s so peaceful and calm and the name sums her up perfectly. She’s in the Broadway area of Thorpe Bay and we love spending time there and cannot wait to get back to lovely days there.”

She added: “I think one reason why the beach huts are so popular is because they look quite jolly and for people walking past they look pretty and bright.

“It’s so nice to be able to go and have a nice day at the beach; you can go inside away from the elements if you wish and it becomes a nice base for a day out.

“You can go and change your clothes or do some food and I think it’s just fun and it also evokes a sense of times gone by in people.

“We use her for ourselves and also rent her out as and when too, we bought her for ourselves to enjoy but it’s so nice to be able to share that with someone.”

She said she gets lots of positive feedback from people who rent out her beach hut.

Recent years have seen a surge in popularity of beach huts, with more families choosing one of the idyllic beach spots rather than a more expensive holiday overseas.

Ian Robinson, 75, member secretary of Southend Beach Hut Owners Association, said the beach huts provide a peaceful sanctuary for many.

He said: “You get a little village atmosphere among the beach huts and you get to know your neighbours and people become firm friends too.

“It’s like an escape, when lots of people go to Lakeside Shopping Centre or garden centres at weekends, we can go and spend time at our peaceful beach hut.

“We’ve had ours on Shoebury promenade since the Eighties and we love it. It’s somewhere to enjoy the sunshine and use all the beach facilities with other like minded people.

“Beach huts have become very popular and when one goes on the market it’s snapped up quickly.

“When we started the association in 2002 it was mostly older people who owned beach huts but we’ve seen more young families buying them up too.

“It’s a family thing and we had one when I was a boy and now we enjoy ours with our grandchildren.”