Lido set to reopen in May after £7.6m revamp

A 1930s lido that has been shut for four years while it underwent a £7.6m revamp will reopen on 2 May.

Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth closed to swimmers in 2022, with work to transform the outdoor pool starting in May 2024.

The pool has been fully renovated with its base and walls reinforced, old pool equipment replaced and its original shallow lagoons restored along with new showers and toilets, including a Changing Places toilet and a sauna.

The 67m (220ft) long and 13m (43ft) wide lido, that originally opened in 1935, will have chlorinated fresh water and will be unheated when it reopens.

Sea Lanes Brighton, a group of local businesses and open-water swimming enthusiasts, will run the lido off London Road along with South Downs Leisure.

Judit Kollat, the lido's general manager, said: "As Hilsea Lido celebrates its 90th birthday, we are proud to be leading the next chapter in its history.

"It is more than a pool, it's a place with history and heart.

"We aim to create a vibrant hub for the local community, a centre for both mental and physical wellbeing. The lido will offer something for everyone."

A long-term sustainable heating solution is set to be looked into.

The renovation has been led by Portsmouth City Council and funded by the government.

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