Coalville CAN has brought a taste of the seaside to its own doorstep.

Last week, visitors were invited to CAN HQ in Memorial Square, as Charlie's Beach Hut opened on the second floor.  

The special event was part of a Wellbeing Day held at the venue, offering locals an opportunity to explore the new space and connect with wellbeing activities from talks to crafting, plant swaps to mindfulness activities. 

Over 120 visitors came to enjoy the day, but what they were not expecting was a visit to the seaside.

The Beach Hut is the brainchild of Charlie Hicklin, a young contributor at the community group Coalville CAN, who had the idea of crafting something unique when he first joined a couple of years ago. 

Charlie officially opened the Beach Hut

With a passion for woodwork, Charlie envisioned a cosy, seaside-inspired space. 

When Coalville CAN found a space for him upstairs, the project took off. 

Made entirely from recycled pallets and painted in calming shades of blue and white, the Beach Hut has truly come to life, giving visitors a slice of the coast in the heart of Coalville.

Charlie was not alone in this endeavour. He was joined by Les Cliff, a local retiree with a passion for painting. 

Les had long wanted to create a 'trompe l'oeil', an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion of three dimensions. 

He transformed the walls surrounding the Beach Hut with a beautiful beach scene, complete with dolphins leaping out of the ocean, a toucan, and a sign pointing towards Charlie's Beach Hut. Les' artistic contribution has made the space feel like an immersive seaside escape.

The Hut is not just for decoration however - it's available for use.

For people already working at CAN, it is a quiet space, or it can be hired as the smallest office in the world by the beach.

CAN officials say, if you need something larger, there are other spaces available.

The newly refurbished Elderflower Room can be used as a space for a private office for a small team.

Also, there is the Training Room, complete with its unique 'putting Coalville on the map' blinds and local interest mural.

A CAN representative said: "We can't thank Charlie and Les enough. 

"It's been amazing to watch the project develop over time, and now that it's complete, we're excited to see who uses it for what!"

For more information, contact [email protected] or call in.