Beside the SEASIDE

Lift your spirits later this year at one of these British boltholes by the sea

- KATTY HOLLAND

A Sussex beach house

Pevensey Bay Beach Retreat in Sussex is set directly on a quiet shingle beach, where all you can hear is the sea.

A contemporary living space with a wood burner and squashy sofas opens out onto a fabulous ‘beach garden’ with a decked terrace for al fresco dining and sundowners. Eagle-eyed fans of ITV drama Flesh and Blood will recognise the beach house and surroundings, where much of the series was set.

If you can drag yourself away, the pretty historic village of Pevensey, with its restaurants, pubs and boutiques, is a short stroll down the road, while fun family days out include a trip to Pevensey Castle and Drusillas Park. A little further up the coast, explore the piers and promenades of Eastbourne and Bexhill-on-Sea. NEED TO KNOW Sleeps eight, from £112 per person per night; holidaycottages.co.uk