UPDATE: English Bay beach chair, umbrella rental program kicks off today

With summer just around the corner, a new feature is coming to one of Vancouver’s busiest beaches.

The Vancouver Park Board has voted to allow a private company to rent out umbrellas and beach chairs at English Bay.

The two-year pilot program, modelled after beach chair rental systems set up in numerous coastal and resort regions around the world, is expected to launch in the coming months, with part of the revenue going back to the Park Board.

The proposal noted the new service would be particularly valuable to seniors, tourists and people who are not able to bring their own beach equipment.

“Personally I’m very supportive of this,” Sarah Kirby-Yung, chair of the Park Board, told Global News before the vote Monday. “I think it would be a great addition for the Vancouverites that want to have an experience at the beach, and also for visitors. I think it’s a fun addition to Vancouver’s recreation offerings.”

The program will be operated by Blue Hole Investments, a Canadian-owned hotel management company currently operating in Central America. They will pay the Vancouver Park Board approximately 16 to 18 per cent of gross annual revenues and operate under the name “The Vancouver Shade Company”. They will be responsible for all of the costs associated with the program, including staffing.

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At the beach, the vendor will set up a 10-foot by 10-foot mobile tent that will be set-up and taken down each day. Staff will also assist customers by transporting and setting up beach chairs and umbrellas at their desired location on the beach. Contrary to how many programs work around the world, the rental service will not have a designated area on the beach or limit public access to any area.

“It’s available in a lot of the U.S. markets, like San Diego, Florida, and Hawaii, and I also understand, if I’m correct, that back in the day 30 years ago it used to be offered at Kits Beach in the 1980s,” said Kirby-Yung.

It is expected that the pricing structure will include hourly, half-day, full-day, and evening rates as well as an a-la-carte or package option.

“It’s become so popular at destination beaches, that we just felt that this was a natural to have in Vancouver. A pilot program is a great way to gauge demand and see what the response to the service is.”

Kirby-Yung also added that additional rental options, such as beach toys or sunscreen, are being considered as part of the program.

Chairs and umbrellas will be rented from a mobile tent and delivered and set-up by the vendor to locations at English Bay Beach requested by customers. They can be rented by the hour, full-day or evenings. Umbrellas start at $3 an hour, while chairs start at $5 an hour. Customers get $10 off any package during opening week.

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