Beach hut worth £50,000 goes up in flames on millionaires' playground Sandbanks after blaze sparked by faulty cooker

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:00, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 13:24, 30 July 2026 A beach hut worth £50,000 went up in flames in front of horrified families after a faulty cooker set alight. The blaze erupted in a second-floor cabin on Sandbanks beach, a millionaires' playground and resort in Poole, as sunseekers relaxed on the beach in 35C heat.  Fire crews rushed to the hut, which overlooks the English Channel, at 5.30pm yesterday. They feared that gas canisters could explode causing further damage to the cabins.  Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as the ferocious flames spread across the roof of several huts, leaving one cabin completely charred. Nobody was injured and members of the public were told to keep clear while firefighters battled the blaze. Both the police and fire service said a small camping stove caused the fire which was extinguished by 8pm. Beachgoers watch on as a fire destroys a £50,000 beach hut in Sandbanks, Dorset, yesterday Beach hutters sit outside their cabin on Sandbanks beach where there is a council waiting list to purchase one Jeanette Smith who owns a hut in the two-storey block said: 'A friend of mine was using our hut when it blew. A loud bang apparently. She added: 'Thank goodness no one was hurt.'   Corrine Loveland, who also owns a Sandbanks beach hut just a few doors down, said the blaze was 'absolutely devastating'. The exclusive enclave in Dorset is one of the most expensive seaside locations to live in the UK. Detached homes in Sandbanks cost an average of £1.75million and the beach huts in the area rarely come up for sale. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council even set up a waiting list for those looking to buy a much sought after cabin.  For those not willing to wait, the beach huts can be rented out for £3,600 a year, which some hutters have done for more than three decades.  A whole host of celebrities have also owned properties in the affluent peninsula.  Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher were both said to have owned a house in the 'St Tropez of the UK'. The affluent peninsula of Sandbanks near Poole is considered to be a millionaires' playground A Dorset Police spokesperson said: 'Fire crews are currently at Sandbanks following a fire in an upper floor beach hut on Wednesday late afternoon. 'A large number of firefighters attended due to presence of gas canisters and the initial spread of the fire. 'The fire has now been extinguished and the canisters have been safely removed. The spokesperson added: 'There is no wider risk to the public, but we politely ask people to avoid the immediate area so fire crews can work safely and can maintain easy access to water from the hydrant on Banks Road. 'The fire was due to a faulty cooker. No one was injured as a result of this incident.'   A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We received a call at 5.30pm yesterday about a fire along Sandbanks promenade. 'Crews from Westbourne and Poole attended and the incident involved a beach hut well alight. 'At this stage the fire is believed to have been caused by a small camping stove.'