Row between Beach House restaurant and hut owners on Mudeford Spit over application to keep benches

Claims that benches at a beach restaurant make the area look like a “beer garden” have been denied by eatery bosses.

The wooden seats were put outside the Beach House at Mudeford Spit during the pandemic when the hospitality industry introduced Covid restrictions including social distancing.

But the Beach House now wants to make them permanent.

Many of those objecting say the benches have damaged the “beauty” of the spit, with one person claiming: “Their presence has encouraged gatherings and a ‘festival’ or ‘beer garden’ atmosphere, inconsistent with the quiet and respectful enjoyment traditionally associated with Mudeford sandbank.”

Another said: “Mudeford sandbank is greenbelt land. It's meant to stay open and protected, not turned into an outdoor food court.”

But Rich Slater from the Beach House said: “The benches are used mostly by people drinking coffee. We do not encourage loads of people drinking to come to the Beach House, it has always been a family destination.

“We completely refute claims that the benches encourage a beer garden atmosphere, there are not hordes of men drinking pints using them. They are there for people to sit on and enjoy the beautiful view.”

The planning application to BCP Council has attracted dozens of letters both in support and against. It has also kicked off a row between locals and owners of beach huts at the site, known as ‘hutties’.

One owner claimed: “I am heartbroken and deeply concerned about the proposed benches on this precious beach. They were only meant to be temporary after Covid. This place has been our family’s haven – a slice of natural beauty where children could run free.”

Another pointed out: “Recently, an application for the licence for a floating restaurant sited on the water adjacent to the beach was rejected on the basis of safety, noise and potential nuisance etc. It would seem to me that the outside tables in front of the café could be seen to generate similar adverse conditions.”

They claim the benches have led to a rise in drunkenness and littering in the area which has attracted rats and mice.

But those supporting the application have accused hutties of wanting to keep the area for themselves, with one saying: “The beach hut association are a bunch of miserable nimbys – they think the beach belongs to them. Well done for providing seating. I really hope you are successful. And perhaps ban those beach hut owners that object from your lovely facility.”

Mr Slater pointed out that many of the beach huts have benches and tables outside them: “They are not allowed under the hut rules but most of them have them. The hut owners like to portray the area as a really quiet one, but in fact hundreds of people visit it weekly.

“It’s for everyone. There is nowhere for them to sit and we think the benches are a nice feature. They are for everyone and anyone, not just our customers.”

He also refuted claims the benches caused litter: “We littler pick there three times an hour. We appreciate the support we have had from locals who enjoy using the benches.”

In a planning statement the restaurant claims the benches offer “a practical and well-managed use of the site, with no harm arising from the development”.

It also says there is a “well-established precedent for the informal use of outdoor seating along the beachfront, particularly by beach hut users who regularly place benches and tables outside their huts throughout the year.”

Natural England have pointed out that fixing benches into the ground is not allowed in an SSSI site due to the “possible harm” it could cause, but Mr Slater said there is no intention of fixing the benches in in such a way.