Should we blame Big Brother? Or 80s teen movies? According to a new survey, a rash of hot tubs is ruining the tranquility of our gardens.
The outdoor whirlpools, previously the preferred site of celebrity sex scandals, have now invaded so many UK homes that they have made it into the top 10 annoyances for 800 readers of Gardener's World magazine. Others include children and, more strangely, the smell of fabric conditioner. With tubs, participants claimed it was not just the sound of "perpetual bubbling" that left them with "garden rage" but the late-night parties of their owners.
The British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (Bishta) estimates there are a staggering 80-100,000 hot tubs in the UK (with 10-12,000 sold in 2005/6 alone) while a recent YouGov survey found gardeners are more likely to opt for a hot tub than a garden shed.
Despite the tubs' ubiquity, historian Virginia Smith says we should not be surprised if the shrieks of laughter coming from them are needling neighbours – because hot tubs have always had a sleazy image. "Volcanic hot spring grottos were associated with Hercules the god of lust, virility and strength," says the author of Clean, a history of personal hygiene and purity. "They were turned into social venues where people came to party and bathe."
Garden design expert Sui Kee Searle agrees, putting their increasing popularity down to the changing way we treat our outdoor space. "People see the garden as a place for entertainment and relaxation. Hot tubs provide this and are a little luxury - a way to unwind after long days at work."
And with Argos selling inflatable versions for a few hundred pounds, they are more affordable than ever. While Searle admits she would not have one herself, she diplomatically says there is no reason for them to be seen as naff. "I don't see why they couldn't be sympathetically incorporated into a well-designed garden. What I hate is when they look like they have just landed from outer space and starkly plonked on to decking or a patio, which looks a little ugly and out of place."
It seems it will take more than a few sniffs from the neighbours to cool our passion for hot tubs – Bishta says even this year's downpours have not made a dent in sales.
