East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 11 August 2022 | Comments

Since their official completion last month, local residents and visitors have been enjoying the striking new Eastern Edge beach huts on Lowestoft’s South Beach – and community groups are also getting involved!

Community groups and organisations are able to hire one of the huts for a community event or special get together. Ten of the lower huts are accessible and some can be linked together, by arrangement, for groups needing a larger accessible space.

On 5 August, Disability Advice North East Suffolk held a beach day at one of the accessible Eastern Edge huts. The free event was open to everyone, and provided face painting, games from Everyone Active and a raffle as well as a chance to meet representatives from local organisations.

Another of the Eastern Edge huts is being made available to local residents. Following their Community Heroes project, which acknowledged individuals and organisations that made a difference in their communities during the pandemic, Southwold-based Adnams has generously sponsored one of the beach huts for use by local people throughout August.

Fergus Fitzgerald, Adnams Production Director said: “As part of Adnams 150th anniversary celebrations we released a collaboration brew called Eastern Edge. The fact that the Eastern Edge beach huts carried the same name didn’t escape our attention. We thought the huts offered a unique opportunity to give something back to deserving individuals and groups during our 150th year, as well as support our continued work in the community.”

East Suffolk Council’s Communities Team are accepting referrals for people who may benefit from a day at the Adnams-sponsored Eastern Edge hut – to recommend someone, please contact communities@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

As part of the Adnams sponsorship, Suffolk Libraries will be holding a week of free events in the huts, including a children’s book giveaway, colouring, storytelling and more. The pop-up beach library will be open from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 August and everyone is welcome to come along, relax with a book or join in with a craft. Representatives from Suffolk Archives will also be present. 

Jo Wilde, Library Manager at Lowestoft Library said: "I'm looking forward to meeting many of our friends down on the beautiful South Beach. This is a chance to connect with the community in a new, relaxed way, and have some fun together. We are fortunate to have this opportunity and our staff and volunteers are looking forward to making the most of the week." 

If your community group would like to find out more about hiring an Eastern Edge hut, please email lowestoft.beach@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or call 01502 586167. 

36 of the beach huts are available to hire on a weekly basis through a dedicated booking website and throughout August, the huts are available to hire on a special discounted rate for one, two or three days. To take advantage of the August offer, please email lowestoft.beach@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or call 01502 586167.