What you need to know before you buy a hot tub

From jets to energy bills, our guide to taking the plunge

Last year’s staycation flirtation with inflatable hot tubs is turning into a more permanent arrangement for the 46,000 or so UK homeowners reported to be upgrading this year to a “proper” model, likely to come with advanced water filtration, LED lights, powerful jets and a Bluetooth stereo.

Chris Hayes, the managing director of BISHTA (the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association), says that since last spring there’s been a 650 per cent surge in demand for hard-shell acrylic hot tubs, with some companies experiencing a 400 per cent increase in sales: “Apart from the Home Counties, there is a good spread of hot tubs throughout the UK, and they are especially popular when sited near natural attractions such as rivers or the sea.

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