Beach Hut 12

The 1st Hove Girl's Brigade put on a great event tonight in hut 381 despite the very windy conditions and the threat of a major storm which fortunately didn't start until after we'd finished.

A good number still came out to support the girls who managed to cram themselves inside the hut which was already pretty full with a manger as this was the theme for tonight. The girls stood around emulating the last line of Once in Royal David's City but singing a whole range of carols for us to join in with.


The baby stayed in his manger all wrapped up in straw, although maybe a safeguarding officer would have something to say about putting a lamb in the cot alongside the baby, no matter how warm it kept him!




The whole image was finished off with a sombrero to remind us of the inspiration for this advent journey - Las Posadas.

Next hut is 399 up by the lagoon and promises to be exciting as Janina has written some music especially for the occasion and has a number of people coming to help her perform this for the first time in public on the 13th.

Beach Hut 11

Tonight was quite different from our other nights as it not only featured a decorated hut but also a series of performances by local poets. Tamsin Williams organised everything and arranged for hut 168 to be a reflection of a very naturalistic stable. Decorated with natural materials which could have been sourced from the countryside around the hut had a very rustic look with natural flowers, berries and lots of ivy.

Tamsin's local poets group had been working on material specifically for this event and they gathered inside the hut to perform these for everyone.

A lot of people wanted to see and hear the performances and they crowded in to the hut as the poems were recited.

Everything went brilliantly until about 6.20 when unfortunately the heavens opened and it not only poured with rain but was also extremely cold and windy. That dispersed the crowd pretty quickly and brought a premature end to a very interesting night.


The next hut is number 381 and is being done by the 1st Hove Girls Brigade who will also be singing some carols.

Beach Hut 10

Tonight was another installment in our series on angels as we try to get close to the multitudes that are described in the Christmas stories in the Bible.

Rosie and her family put together a very stylish hut focussing on the wings of the angel Gabriel, suspended as if by magic in a dark sky. This was very much in contrast to this evening's night sky which was brightly lit by a full moon and was the clearest and calmest evening we've had so far.

The wings hung in the air and slowly turned, glinting in the light and moving from black silhouette to golden shine with every revolution.

The hut itself was coated in gold and above the doors was a verse from Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2 - Do not forget to show kindness and hospitality to strangers, for some have done so and welcomed angels without knowing it.

There were some angels going round in the crowd as well, offering people chocolate coins to go with their mince pies and mulled wine. In the Christmas story angels appear as magical beings singing to the shepherds on the hills or announcing news to Mary or Joseph, but more often than not in the Bible they appear as ordinary people, unrecognised by some but visible to those with faith as messengers of God.

Next hut is 168 and will feature poetry readings especially written for the night.

Beach Hut 9

Hut 395 reminded us of the Las Posadas theme that started us on our journey to Bethlehem with an enormous Mexican styled angel which completely filled the hut.

The space was so filled with angel that the light decorations had to spill out beyond the hut onto the floor in front and be suspended from a jib attached to the roof that jutted out giving a festive light display of colourful lanterns.


The floor was a sea of poinsettias placed on a bright stripy Mexican style rug and reminding us of our first night when St. Christopher's school taught us the story of the miracle of how these plants came to be associated with Christmas.


We even had a Mexican guest on hand, complete with sombrero and moustache and alongside the usual mulled wine and mince pies we were served empanadas in a variety of flavours.


Star shaped pinatas around the head of the angel and the words Angelos Cantado Estan (the angels sing) helped us to realise that every culture has their understanding of angels and God which don't necessarily centre around pure white and gold starlight as they do here in the UK.


As is always true every night, it was the children who gazed on the scene with awe and amazement who directed our thoughts to the wonder and beauty of a God who came to earth as a child on that first Christmas day.

Next up is hut 402 which is going to focus on a particular angel.

Beach Hut 8

While the folks in Scotland were being told to stay indoors because of the strong winds, us hardy southerners set out for the beach for the latest hut in our journey to Christmas. The wind blew and for a short time the rain came down but that didn't deter the brave souls who came out tonight wrapped up against the harsh weather or swaddling themselves in blankets a beautiful shade of Maryan blue.

Our destination tonight was Bethlehem and Felicity and her gang at the White House produced a beautiful village scene with little houses made out of modelling clay (which was just as well as anything lighter would have blown away!).

Inside each house was a little light flickering in welcome. All the houses sat on a bed of sand which was lit a golden yellow by the street light just in front of hut 403, making the scene look almost sunny.

We were fortunate to have the use tonight of hut 402 as well because this was needed for shelter on occasion. This will feature again on Saturday night when we're hoping we won't have to use 403 as shelter in the same way!

Our next hut is very close to this one so is still up by Hove Lagoon as it is number 395.

Beach Hut 7

The Christmas story is full of angels cropping up in all kinds of circumstances and tonight was the first time they featured in our story.

Hut 73 was put together by a group of people from All Saints church in Hove with angel wings and angel lights decorating everything. The design stretched out beyond the hut creating a kind of landing pad for any stray angels who hadn't been able to find their way home.

This was the first hut this year to feature singing as members of the church sang carols although we didn't sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing. In between singing the performers warmed themselves up with the mulled wine on offer.

The hut floor was filled with jars of light surrounding a central angel who could have been directing operations. We will hear more about archangels later in the month.



The next hut is at the opposite end of the promenade near the lagoon and is number 403.

Beach Hut 6

Our 6th Beach Hut this year saw the introduction of the first shepherd to our Christmas journey. As it happened, there were in fact multiple shepherds with multiple sheep as visitors were invited to pose for photographs behind the artwork. Flo Pepper from our team designed the interior for tonight, a very apt piece for Brighton seafront. Such was the popularity of the interactive installation, it's only a wonder it has never been done before.

The cold sea air and strong winds were quickly forgotten by the excited children when they realised they could dart behind the screen and command the attention of onlookers as a shepherd. In fact, it wasn't just the children who enjoyed doing this! There was a great turnout, with lots of people queuing up to have their photo taken whilst braving the elements, like the real shepherds all those years ago.

The Christmas carols, mulled wine and mince pies made for the usual happy atmosphere, which was complemented wonderfully by hut owners Maggy Luxford and her husband - a huge thank you to them for the seating and flood lights.

Our next hut will see the first of many angels along the journey, in hut 73.

Beach Hut 5

Our journey towards Christmas really got moving today as the theme at hut 357a was travelling. Cathy Watts has been a regular beach hut advent calendar participant over the last three years and for tonight she created a little scene with Mary and Joseph setting out for Bethlehem being pulled along by a cute little donkey.

The overall colour theme reminded us of Mary as everything was lit with gentle blue light and the hut was dressed with little homely touches. We were reminded that Mary and Joseph left the comfort of their home to make this journey despite the imminent birth.

As well as the usual mince pies and mulled wine there were also biscuits and chocolates and room for people to sit and enjoy the view.

Tomorrow we move down near The View to hut number 227.