A hotel in Portland is giving out silly hats to its customers who go outside for a smoke.

Clifton Hotel owner Chaz Charlton, 41, said she came up with the idea after being refused permission by local authorities for a smoking shelter for fear that the shelters could get blown away by sea gales.

Without the smoking shelter, the cliff-top hotel came up with the novel idea of giving the silly-looking headgear to their guests who go out for smoke as a protection from natural elements.

"The hats have been very popular because of the torrential rain we've been having," said Chaz.