High demand for surf pods

More than 400 people have registered interest in just 59 'surf pods' in Boscombe's Overstrand building within days of the price tags being announced.
Estate agent Savills announced the price of single units at £64,995 and £89,995 for a double.
The 1950s building has been refurbished under the direction designers of Wayne and Geraldine Hemmingway. It originally contained 72 single beach huts but around half of them have been combined to create larger units. Many have balconies overlooking the beach at the surf reef construction site.
Wayne Hemmingway said: "The Overstrand excites us both as designers, and as people interested in seaside regeneration. It’s the restoration of a cool, historic building. With the great work being done on the Pier and Europe’s first artificial surf reef, Boscombe is about to become big news."
The surf pods are nearing completion but only half will be offered for sale. The remainder will be available to rent through Bournemouth Borough Council.
Savills is organising a sales event for the surf pods on May 15.

Beach restaurateur ignores recession

The owner of Urban Beach Hotel has said he would have preferred to open his beachside restaurant two years ago.
Mark Cribb, who has won a contract to open a restaurant in the refurbished Overstrand building when it opens next spring, says Boscombe's regeneration will press ahead despite the credit crunch.
He said: "Nobody wants to open a restaurant during a recession but sometimes opportunities present themselves and they ignore what's going on in the wider economy, as does Boscombe's regeneration, so we have to do it now.
"Hopefully in two or three years we will look back and say, 'well, it was difficult but it's all been worth it'."
Mark said he was disappointed about the delays to the surf reef but believed it was not the "be-all and end-all" of the town.
The new restaurant will be called Urban Reef and is due to open on Thursday, April 9, just before Easter.