Self-employed Lisa Neville has launched her latest business venture and it’s proving to be a real labour of love!
Combining her fondness of dogs with her affection for Seaton Carew where she grew up, she recently took over the day-to-day running of eight beach huts on the resort’s promenade after leasing them from Hartlepool Borough Council.
She is using one as the base for her existing dog treats and accessories business, K9Carew, whilst actively marketing the others as traditional beach huts.
She is also exploring the opportunity for a small monthly market that will complement the existing business offer in Seaton.
“My interest in the huts was sparked over the summer when they were taken over for the six-week school summer holidays by the Council’s Community Hubs service. I spent every day there with my business – I had previously been operating from a stall on Billingham market – and I fell in love with the huts and their location, resulting in my decision to lease them,” she said.
After growing up in Seaton Carew, Lisa moved to another part of the town before returning to care for her mum. Now, following the deaths of both of her parents, she still lives in the family home.
She added: “I have a real sentimental link to Seaton Carew, so I am delighted to be given this opportunity with the beach huts and I have a real determination to make a success of it. The huts are in a fantastic location with a great view across the beach and out to sea – it doesn’t get any better!
Current autumn/winter hire charges are £15 per half a weekday, £25 per weekday and £30 for a weekend, and Lisa is also promoting a “half-term special” of £20 per weekday and £25 per day at a weekend. All of the charges are inclusive of electricity; tea, coffee and sugar; crockery; deckchairs, beach towels and plastic buckets and spades.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “This is a real success story and one that stems from an idea I had after walking past the beach huts one day. They were empty and looking a bit dilapidated at the time, so over the summer we opened them up and gave lots of organisations and businesses the opportunity to use them. As a result, they have now been taken on by Lisa and become a real local asset.
“We have breathed new life into the huts, and this is a really positive example of the Council working in partnership with the business sector and the local community. I would like to congratulate Lisa on the launch of her new business, and I’m sure it will prove to be a great success.”
For more information about Seaton Carew Beach Hut Hire email seatoncarewbeachhuts@icloud.com, call 07876858716 or visit www.seatoncarewbeachhuts.co.uk The company can also be found on Facebook.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, (right) with Lisa Neville.