Come rain or shine, The Hut, Colwell Bay was enough to draw the yachting crowd to the Isle of Wight with ease, but imagine The Hut on a glimmering, sun-drenched beachfront as the second outpost opens in Antigua…
A few years ago, back in 2013, the shores of Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight, saw its own slice of paradise, with the arrival of The Hut, a lively waterside beach club that wouldn’t be out of place on peak season Pampelonne Beach. In quintessential beach club fashion, The Hut’s draw is the combination of good food, drinks and a lively atmosphere thanks to resident DJs and live music - an irresistible combination to the yachting crowd. It wasn't long until The Hut Colwell Bay became an institution, not just across the Isle of Wight, but across the UK, with punters travelling across the Solent from the mainland come rain or shine in search of lobster and rosé in the British whitewashed slatted beach hut.
This season, The Hut has transversed the Atlantic to the Caribbean and opened its second outpost on Little Jumby, a paradisal islet cast off the northern shores of Antigua. Promising the same beachy aesthetic, along with its trademark atmosphere and top-notch seafood, The Hut Little Jumby has all the traits that enraptured the UK scene, but this time it’s on a glittering beachfront where sun is guaranteed.
With its own long pontoon jutting out in line with Antigua’s runway (which also makes for brilliant viewing), superyacht tenders can carry guests directly onto The Hut’s wooden decking, which leads through beachy shrubbery and into a whitewashed timber hut, which is marked with the same emblem as it’s Isle of White counterpart.
Best by boat - or more only by boat - those that haven’t arrived by superyacht can catch a lift on one of The Hut’s shuttles at Barnacle Point, which is manned by a host during opening times, or catch a water taxi. It may be off the mainland, but this stretch of water is no stranger to shuttles toing and froing to Jumby Bay resort, which sits on the neighbouring island to Little Jumby. Yacht collections can be arranged by The Hut too, should you not wish to take your own tender, and deliver guests back after a day at the beach club.
For superyachts in Antigua, The Hut’s arrival couldn’t have been received better. The question “Have you been to The Hut yet?” seemed to be one of the primary talking points at the Antigua Charter Show, which took place a few days after the beach club officially opened up on the opposite end of the island. This isn’t surprising, however, as it seems Antigua’s hottest new openings could have been better suited to the yachting crowd and will likely be a staple for vessels visiting Antiguan waters for the foreseeable future (as well as for those travelling by foot), as yachts can drop anchor directly in front of the bustling new beach club.
Accompanied by a stream of funky soul music, tables at The Hut Little Jumby spill out from the decks and onto the beach. Ratan lights swing overhead but the feeling is very much al fresco dining as the front of the property is completely open and set just metres from the water. Easily accommodating larger groups or more intimate dining, don’t be surprised if diners gradually take to the table to dance as the music gets gradually louder into the afternoon.
Similar to its Isle of Wight counterpart, the menu here is brimming with freshly caught seafood, but this time featuring a delightful Caribbean twist. Enormous Surf 'n' Turf boards, designed to be shared by at least two people, are presented with whole local lobsters, ribeye steaks and an assortment of sauces. Dishes featuring local mahi mahi, conch and tuna are also on the menu, alongside beach club favourites such as cheeseburgers, steaks and jerk poussin.
No beach club would be complete without an exceptional drinks menu. Local flavours are showcased in the cocktail selection, including The Hut’s own take on the Caribbean classic, the Painkiller. Additionally, all the essentials are present, such as spicy margaritas enhanced with apple, passion fruit martinis and mango daiquiris. The wine selection is equally impressive, featuring exquisite bottles like the 1986 Château Mouton Rothschild, 2013 Pauillac, Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Único, Ribera del Duero and 2003 Château d’Yquem. For those planning to relax throughout the afternoon, there is also a Rock Angel rosé Methuselah available.
Following a leisurely lunch at The Hut, guests can enjoy their afternoon in one of the restaurant’s newly unveiled beach huts, available to hire for the day for parties of up to eight. The new huts have welcome drinks, towels, wifi, sun loungers and day beds, and are the perfect spot to bask in the charm of this idyllic haven, just a stone's throw from Antigua’s most exciting new beach club.
Read More/Antigua Charter Show 2024: A successful 63rd year brimming with energy and excitementAntigua has long been one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for superyachts and there is no doubt The Hut will become an institution in the same way the original Hut on the Isle of Wight did. Effortlessly cool, with good food and a great atmosphere, The Hut has been a hive of activity since it opened in November and it will undoubtedly stay that way until the end of the season.