The best beachside Houses in which to unleash your inner nana and grandpa

TikTok is a fantastic place. The little acting skits; the comedy routines by earnest 15-year-olds; the excessive use of ring lights. But greater still than all these is our favourite Tik-Tok trend: Beachside Grandma. 

First coined by TikTok creator Lex Nicoleta to describe a soft, beachy, relaxed aesthetic (as exemplified by a greige-clad Diane Keaton in Nancy Myer’s later-years romcom It’s Complicated), the term quickly outgrew its initial definition. Today, it has become a sort of universal fashion language on the app – and beyond. Spotify reported a 660% spike in playlists carrying the moniker. And why not? As Lex Nicoleta says: anyone can be a coastal grandma or grandpa, no matter what race, religion or gender. It is a party we are all invited to. Just be sure to bring your captain’s hat.
 
Here is our guide to the best subgenres of the trend.

1 | Normcore Grandpa 

Their style inspirations are pitched somewhere between David Attenborough and the Ancient Mariner. They are often found at a farmers’ market on Sundays buying kale at $15 a bunch, which is then slid ostentatiously into a monogrammed tote. Dislikes: phones. Enjoys: notepads. Took a 1960s Olivetti portable typewriter on their last trip. Soon to be a young divorcé.

Where will you find them: Soho Beach House Canouan

2 | Brit Gran 

They’re just off the 10.46am train from London Bridge, dressed head-to-toe in beige linen – slacks, floaty top, bucket hat – as if they have been bleached by the sun. Not to be confused with their actual gran, Brit 'Gran' heads to Brighton Beach House for her downtime. Often found eating chips on the pier – opts for lobster spaghetti at Club Cecconi's, though. They once touched hands with God and that god was Diane Keaton. Haven’t washed it since.
 
Where you will find them: Brighton Beach House

3 | Nauti Grandma 

They've spent a week off the coast of Majorca on their real-life gran’s sailing yacht. They like nautical stripes and Sauvignon Blanc. They might very well be starting at Duke come October, but for the moment they are pronouncing ‘cucumber’ the way Hilaria Baldwin does and keeping their head down. Currently in Barcelona, they sit by the pool all day – then stay out ’til 8am. Listens to the shipping forecast on iPlayer to relax.

Where you will find them: Barcelona House

4 | Beached Sailors

Spotted on the boardwalk in Miami, hips moving faster than a giraffe in a hurry. They may only be in their mid-thirties but they dispense stories like they are Uncle Albert off Only Fools and Horses. Same beard, too – as if to imply they were once perhaps some shadowy sailor-mercenary. Turns out they were members of the Royal Yacht Squadron in their youth. These grandpas move in groups – they are herd animals. Often found affecting tobacco pipes outside Starbucks.

Where you will find them: Miami Beach House