Beachgoers reveal their biggest beach day grumbles - with dead batteries, no charging points and sand-filled speakers top of the list

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• New research from Hive reveals technology issues are now a major beach day bugbear, with not being able to see screens in bright sunlight and having nowhere to charge devices ranking among Brits’ top seaside frustrations

• Nearly one in three have admitted to cutting a seaside trip short just because their phone was running low on power

• Hive launches Powersol, the solar-powered parasol that keeps beachgoers charged all day long

A new survey of 2,000 Brits has revealed that beachgoers face a whole new set of 21st-century beach day grumbles, with technology now playing a major role in how people enjoy the coast.

The poll, from the UK’s leading eco-tech brand, Hive, found that losing phone signal (12%), not being able to see your phone screen because it’s too bright (11%), having nowhere to charge your mobile (9%) and sand getting in your phone case (8%) are among the biggest frustrations experienced by Brits on a day at the beach.

To help tackle some of these modern beach-day challenges, Hive has launched the Powersol, a solar-powered parasol to help beachgoers stay connected this summer. The move reflects the rising popularity of solar, with tens of thousands of homes installing solar and batteries so far in 2026 as customers look to take more control over their energy use.

The new beach bugbears

For many Gen Z, a fully charged phone is now considered almost as important as sun cream, with 84% admitting they get frustrated when they have poor signal and a further 84% panicking that their tech will get damaged. 

72% confess that a dying battery can put a dampener on an otherwise perfect day by the sea, compared to just 37% of Baby Boomers who worry about their battery dying.

Traditional bugbears include gross public toilets (43%), no parking (30%), sand in your shoes (25%), seagull attacks (25%) and sand getting into your sarnies (22%). 

While other beach bugbears involve the feel of sandy feet (21%), the long walk from the car park to the beach (20%), the sea being too cold (19%), sand in your face (17%) and stepping on slimy seaweed (12%).

From snapping family photos (73%) and streaming music (26%) to looking at social media (26%) and talking to friends (23%), smartphones have become an essential part of the British beach day, so much so that one in three (31%) Brits admit to regularly checking their phone battery - rising to 40% of Gen Zers and 38% of millennials.

In fact, the worry is so real that three in ten (30%) Gen Zers and 27% of millennials have cut a seaside trip short because their phone was running low on power.

Turning sunshine into power

The Powersol is the latest example of Hive pioneering change through innovations that make everyday life simpler. By transforming a familiar beach frustration into a practical solution, the Powersol reflects Hive's belief that innovative technology should improve life's everyday moments, whether that's at home or on the beach.

Harnessing the power of the sun, the parasol generates renewable electricity that can be used to keep gadgets topped up throughout the day, providing both shade and power for beachgoers. This reflects Hive's approach to creating smart, connected technology to help people make the most of renewable energy in everyday life.

Susan Wells, Solar Director at Hive, said: "When the weather heats up, Britain heads to the coast, but beaches rarely offer power. Dead phones and no charging points have become a familiar frustration, especially when people rely on their devices for digital tickets, maps, messaging and mobile payments.

“At a time when energy can feel unpredictable, we wanted to give people a way to feel more in control – so with the Hive Powersol, we're literally harnessing the power of the sun to keep Britain powered up, wherever they are."

And while the nation may have a few beach day grumbles, the research also found that on average, Brits enjoy at least four beach days every summer with 90% saying that some of their best summer memories are from time spent on the beach, proving that a little sand in your shoes is still a price many are willing to pay.

When it comes to the most nostalgic seaside holiday memories from childhood, eating fish and chips wrapped in newspaper at the beach by the sea (55%), spending time with the whole family (51%), arcades filled with 2p machines (45%) to collecting seashells (44%) and eating sticks of rock (36%) all hold special memories.

From timeless beach day bugbears to the growing challenge of staying connected outdoors, Hive's new Powersol is helping beachgoers stay powered up for longer.

Top 25 beach day grumbles, according to Britons:

1. Gross public toilets - 43%

2. Trying to find a nearby car park with space - 30%

3. Getting sand in my shoes - 26%

4. Seagulls attacking me - 25%

5. Getting sand in my food - 22%

6. Getting sandy feet - 21%

7. The long walk from the car park to the beach - 20%

8. The sea is too cold - 19%

9. Too many pebbles on the beaches - 19%

10. It’s too hot - 18%

11. Sand blowing in your face - 17%

12. Cutting my foot on sharp stones - 13%

13. No phone signal - 12%

14. Stepping on slimy seaweed - 12%

15. Not being able to see your phone screen as it’s too bright - 12%

16. Getting stung by a jellyfish - 10%

17. Having to wee in the sea, because the loos are too far away - 10%

18. Nowhere to charge your phone - 9%

19. Your hair getting frizzy and sticky - 9%

20. Sandals / flip flops rubbing on my feet - 9%

21. Your hair blowing in your face - 9%

22. Sand getting in your phone case - 8%

23. Trying to keep an eye on the children - 8%

24. Getting itchy skin from the salty water - 8%

25. Stepping on a crab - 7%