Do beach huts compete with seaside restaurants ?

Les paillotes de plages sont “complémentaires” aux restaurants historiques, situés en bord de mer. MAXPPP – Guillaume Bonnefont

Pour Jacques Mestre, président de l’Umih Hérault, le syndicat des métiers de l’hôtellerie, leurs activités sont "complémentaires".

The success of frequentation of the huts very quickly generated tensions with the traditional restaurants located on the seafront. The latter accused the former of unfair competition, notably with their capacity to create musical entertainment which transformed them in real nightclubs. The entire structure of the tourist attendance model took a hit, making cohabitation particularly tense.

"The huts are today complementary to our activity", says Jacques Mestre. The president of Umih Hérault, owner of the restaurant Le Clippers, on the port of La Grande-Motte, was one of the most virulent critics at the time. "As long as the huts comply with the legislation", he says today.

"A handful of champions of punitive ecology"

Same story on the Sète side. "The huts cannot compete with existing restaurants, insists Francis Hernandez, deputy mayor in charge of the commerce center. They form a whole, which contributes to the attractiveness of the city.

Finally, he always defended straw huts. Stéphan Rossignol, the mayor of La Grande-Motte, did not vary one iota in his speech. He denounces the "handful of champions of punitive ecology against our huts". Assuring that he wants to continue to "fight" to defend them against those who want to suppress them.

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