A sandcastle with a view (From Dorset Echo)

A sandcastle with a view

10:44am Wednesday 23rd July 2008 in

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THE renaissance of the British beach holiday has been celebrated with the construction of a sand hotel' on Weymouth Beach.

People can book into the building', which features twin and double bedrooms and skylights, until the tide comes in on a first-come, first-served basis.

Research by online accommodation operators laterooms.com shows more and more Brits are leaving their passports at home and heading to the seaside, with Weymouth being the fourth most popular destination.

The seaside resort was picked by 24 per cent of respondents as their top seaside location but was pipped to third place by Bournemouth, with 30 per cent of the vote.

St Ives came second in the poll, with 45 per cent of the votes, while Torquay proved the most popular British beach resort, gaining 53 per cent of the vote.

A spokesman for the researchers said: "The ongoing effects of the credit crunch have influenced 51 per cent of holidaymakers to stay in Britain this summer.

"To celebrate the British beach holiday's renaissance we have created the world's first sand hotel on Weymouth Beach.

"It allows British holidaymakers to not only bag the best spot on the beach, but to never have to leave it.

"The hotel was built by sand sculptor Mark Anderson and has been designed to look like a giant sandcastle, and is available until it is rained away." The company spokesman added: "It's great that British beach holidays are enjoying a renaissance and that some resorts, such as Weymouth and Torquay, are being rediscovered by a younger generation.

"We all remember the fun of going to the seaside as kids.

"However, with the credit crunch, high living costs and the strength of the Euro there's never been a better time to dig out that bucket and spade and come to the beach for your holidays."

He added that carbon-heavy' flights to foreign countries were another reason why British holidaymakers are choosing to stay in Britain.

To make a reservation at the sand hotel, call 0207 841 6682, quoting under the stars' as a reference.