lido

A LIDO that was set to close for good has backtracked and confirmed that it will reopen for the 2026 summer season.

The outdoor pool in Teignmouth was marked for closure earlier this year, but the decision has since been overturned.

In February of this year, Teignbridge Council announced plans to close its beachfront lido in order to save money.

Officials said that not reopening Teignmouth Lido could save £74,000 in 2026.

Now, the decision has been reversed by the executive committee of Teignbridge Council.

The council announced the news on social media and said: “Our Executive Committee has today (Tuesday 10 March) voted to open Teignmouth Lido this summer.

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“Teignbridge District Council will operate the pool this summer and will work with community groups interested in taking on the Lido to ensure a safe handover.

“Councillors acknowledged the difficulties of balancing the books but agreed that opening the Lido would deliver value over price and enable the community to keep using the pool while Teignbridge works with groups to secure the asset’s long-term future.”

Since the news of the lido’s potential closure broke last month, the local community has been campaigning to reopen the lido.

Over 2,500 people having signed a petition to stop the lido’s closure, according to the Teignmouth Community Lido Trust.

After the executive committee meeting campaigner Catherine Brown said: “This is a brilliant outcome.

“It’s unbelievable that the council has gone from a unanimous decision to close it to a unanimous decision to keep it open!”

The 25-metre outdoor pool first opened in the 1970s and opens seasonally, usually having its debut in May half-term.

It has partial opening hours in June and July and then opens full time during the summer holidays.

The pool is heated and holds various swim sessions, from public to fun sessions, as well as activities like aqua fit and aqua circuits.

Four years ago, the pool underwent a refurbishment of £800,000 and then a further £30,000 was spent on repairs, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Teignmouth Community Lido Trust has expressed its hope to take over the lido site and keep it open for years to come.

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding who grew up in the area is also a fan of the lido. She said: “Teignmouth Lido is more than just a gem on the South West coast; for me, it’s the backdrop of my childhood.

“For over a decade, my school summer holidays were defined by afternoons spent there with my family – so to hear that the lido could close is heartbreaking.

“With ample patio and sun-drenched patches of grass surrounding the 25-metre crystal clear pool, it was the rare kind of place where parents could relax while kids felt a bit of freedom.”

For more on swimming, here are all the lidos in the UK mapped – with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even FREE to enter.

Plus this new ‘floating park’ with sauna and lido is set to open in popular a London district as part of a huge £5billion upgrade.

A HUGE new lido complex is set to transform an English holiday park this summer.

The plans are part of a £10.2million expansion at Unity Beach holiday park in Brean.

In time for the summer holidays, will be a new lido surrounded by private cabanas and outdoor dining area.

The existing flumes and water rides will remain, and the outdoor pool is expected to open in July 2026.

Other plans included in the development are a trampoline park, bandstand, boardwalk, landscaped gardens and a dog agility area.

There will also be an outdoor activity centre where guests can have a go at archery, axe throwing and rifle shooting.

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Unity Beach Resort Director Jonny Green said: “These are exciting times for our owners, our holidaymakers and the local community.

“Our improved pool facilities will help us sustain and grow participation in swimming lessons and recreational activity — not only for guests staying on the park, but also for the wider community across Somerset.”

The new outdoor facilities are part of the huge refurbishment of the site that has been underway throughout the winter months.

The site has been upgrading its soft play, changing rooms, the Wave Café and gym.

Other improvements have been to the 25-metre indoor pool and the addition of poolside showers.

A new indoor Splash Pad will replace the baby pool so that children of different ages can swim and play in the same space.

The unisex changing rooms have been upgraded with larger family cubicles – with space for up to four.

For accessibility, a new lift and pool hoist have been installed, as well as a refreshed accessible changing area.

The Wave Café has also been refurbished and will continue to serve meals throughout the day.

Visitors can enjoy sweet treats like cookies and donuts to breakfast options, sandwiches and paninis.

At Unity Play, children can explore different soft play zones; Ocean World for under-4s, the main soft play area for ages 4 to 11, and Ninja Warrior zone for ages 7 to 11.

There is also a new reception area with a dedicated buggy park for families.

The refurbished indoor facilities are due to reopen shortly.

Previously, the site underwent a £15million upgrade with a new Wonky Donkey pub and restaurant, with a new pavilion, sports bar and arcade.

The Wonky Donkey serves up traditional pub food like mac n’ cheese and scampi and chips.

Inside the Pavilion Theatre, there’s plenty of family entertainment and shows as well as silent discos and movie sing-along challenges.

As well as the 2025 additions, the park is home to a theme park with 40 rides and attractions from rollercoasters to dodgems and a ghost train.

For more on staycations, here are the most popular UK holiday park from £9.50 Hols – with beachfront pods, hot tub lodges and a surfing simulator.

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A HISTORIC lido that has been closed since 2022 will reopen in time for summer.

Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth has undergone a major facelift, costing around £7.75million.

And now the lido has announced that it will reopen on May 2, in time for the summer season.

Last year, Sea Lanes Brighton announced that they would be taking on the site and working with South Downs Leisure.

The upgraded lido now includes a refurbished pool, new changing rooms, benches, tables and a fountain.

There will also be a food and drink pop-up on site.

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The pool will be the Olympic standard 2.6metres deep and remain 67metres in length and 13metres wide.

Ahead of the launch, visitors can purchase a ‘Founder’ membership for £40 per month, which allows locals to swim and use the sauna as much as they like.

This membership is only available to the first 500 people though.

Normal membership fees are then £52 a month on a rolling contract for swim and sauna or £48 a month on a 12 month contract.

If you just want to swim, this will be £34 a month on a rolling contract or £32 a month on a 12 month contract.

Swim and sauna sessions are each £8, but if you fancy both you can pay to do both for £12.

The lido will be open between 6am and 9pm Mondays to Thursdays, 6am to 8pm on Fridays and 7am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to Portsmouth News, Judit Kollat, general manager at Hilsea Lido, said: “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.”

Councillor Steve Pitt at Portsmouth City Council added: “The reopening of Hilsea Lido will transform the north of the city, following the successful launch of the KGV Football Complex and ahead of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme finishing this year.”

The announcement about Hilsea Lido comes as the lido celebrates its 90th birthday.

Many people have taken to social media to express their excitement for the reopening.

One person said: “Can’t wait so many memories and I was a life guard there.”

Another added: “We’ll be over as soon as possible, we’ve watched the project from the beginning.”

The lido first opened in 1935 and at the time was known as the deepest lido in the UK, with a depth of 4.6 metres.

And over the years the lido has welcomed many celebrities including former James Bond, Sean Connery.

In other lido news, a new ‘floating park’ with sauna and lido to open in popular London district – in huge £5billion upgrade.

Plus, an English lido forced to close after 50 years set to finally reopen next year.

THE capital could soon get its biggest ‘floating park’, along with a new lido, spa and sauna.

It’s all part of a £5billion regeneration plan at London’s Royal Docks.

The major new attraction would be built across 12-hectares of water.

Designs for the floating park reveal lots of greenery, some seating areas, and it would also be home to art installations and hold cultural events.

Right next to it, and also floating, are plans for a new wellness centre.

Sitting on top of the water, the centre would have a sauna, spa, and a lido for public swimming.

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Alongside the two attractions could be a floating residential community with moorings and homes on the water.

The new area is part of the Mayor of London‘s Royal Docks regeneration plan.

Over 20 years it has had a £5billion investment to create an accessible waterfront for locals and visitors.

Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said: “The development of Royal Victoria Dock West is reshaping the space as a leisure and wellness destination, making the most of the waterway and giving residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy a new community right on the water.”

These proposals will go out for public engagement later this month.

Early phases of construction are expected to begin in 2030 – if funding is put in place and plans are approved.

There’s already lots to do at London’s Royal Docks, like hopping on the IFS cable car.

The attraction is suspended 90 metres above the Thames where it connects the Royal Docks to Greenwich.

Every summer, Dock Beach opens to the public – tonnes of sand is placed on the bank to transform it into London’s biggest beach.

The dock also has a wakeboarding centre and it’s a great spot for rowing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding.

And while this proposed floating park will be London’s biggest, it’s not the only one.

Over in Merchant Square, Paddington is ‘The Floating Pocket Park’ which has benches, deckchairs and beanbags on top of the water.

It also has free Wi-Fi and during the summer is shaded by a canopy.

In better weather there are also free film screenings, music performances and exercise classes.

For more on new lidos, one could be built on the site of a car park 50 years after it was destroyed.

And here are all the new lidos set to open across the UK from seafront pools to city swimming spots.

A POPULAR lido that opened in the 1930s with its own sunbathing solarium could be demolished to make way for new homes.

The building was used as a bingo hall in recent years but has been vacant since 2023.

Opened to the public on July 10, 1935, Sale Lido also boasted shops and restaurants.

Its main feature was a 130-ft long swimming pool, which could be covered over to form a dancefloor during the winter months.

Now, plans have been submitted jointly by McCarthy Stone and Built Development Ltd which, if approved, would see most of the building in Trafford, Greater Manchester, torn down. 

The developers claimed Mecca, which recently operated a bingo hall on the site, had pulled out due to its “state of disrepair”.

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Developers said this has led to water leaking into the building and has affected its structure, reported the Manchester Evening News.

Just the lido’s facade would remain under the scheme proposed by the two companies, with two new blocks of flats constructed on adjacent land.

In a Facebook post, residents urged Trafford Council to refuse planning permission.

One wrote: “The Lido’s a Sale landmark, knocking it down would be a stupid decision – even if the facade is kept!

“Is there any kind of form to sign that’s against this happening?” 

Another person posted: “More lovely architecture replaced by grey boxes. Why can’t they keep the building?”

A third person said: “Please keep this iconic building. It’s part of Sale.”

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “An application has been submitted at the site of the former Sale Lido for a housing development of 40 retirement apartments and 39 affordable homes.

“The application is under consideration by the Council and will be determined in due course.”

ONE popular lido could be sold to save thousands of pounds – and remain closed for good.

The outdoor pool in Teignmouth is set to close, and locals are worried that it may never open its doors again.

Teignbridge Council recently announced its plan to close the town’s beachfront lido in a bid to save money.

Officials said not reopening Teignmouth Lido could save £74,000 in 2026.

The news hasn’t been well received by locals who want the lido to remain open.

Talking to ITV News, Catherine Brown, a lifeguard supervisor, said: “It has a huge amount of value to people of all ages and all groups, people bring their kids to swim, their grandkids to swim, disabled people can come here to swim.

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“It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or sunshine, it’s such a lovely place and everybody comes out with a smile on their face.”

A report said the number of swimmers using the pool was 8,224 in 2024 – this number increased in 2025.

Teignmouth Lido operates as a seasonal site which opens for the May half-term.

It has partial opening hours in June and July and then opens full time for the summer holidays.

The 25-metre pool is heated and holds public swims, fun sessions, as well as water-based activities like aqua fit and aqua circuits.

Four years ago, the pool underwent a refurbishment of £800,000 and then a further £30,000 was spent on repairs, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Members of the council will hold a closed meeting on February 21, 2026.

They will vote on a proposal to dispose of the lido on the open market, without restrictions on its future use – meaning it could no longer be used as a lido.

But if the pool does go up for sale, the local community has an opportunity to draw up a bid to buy it.

This is because the pool was listed as an official Asset of Community Value in 2025.

Save the Lido – Teignmouth is hoping to do exactly that.

Daniel O’Connel, the co-founder of the campaign told ITV News: “We can look now to get things in motion to acquire the asset for the community and the people of Teignbridge.”

One Travel Writer who grew up in the area has her say on the potential closure…

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding weighs in on the potential closure of the pool…

“Teignmouth Lido is more than just a gem on the South West coast; for me, it’s the backdrop of my childhood.

“For over a decade, my school summer holidays were defined by afternoons spent there with my family – so to hear that the lido could close is heartbreaking.

“With ample patio and sun-drenched patches of grass surrounding the 25-metre crystal clear pool, it was the rare kind of place where parents could relax while kids felt a bit of freedom.

“For local families, it was an affordable but brilliant day out.

“To lose the lido now, after a £800,000 refurb less than three years ago, it wouldn’t just be a loss for Teignmouth and its community but also a tragic waste of money.”

Here’s more on a lido that could potentially open in one seaside town that hopes to bring back a swimming pool 50 years after it was destroyed.

Plus, here are all the lidos in the UK mapped – with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even FREE to enter.

The historic venue was paved over to provide beach parking, but a bold plan could see the lido revitalised for year-round swimming could “bring new life to the town” according to a local organisation

In 1935, the Marina Bathing Pool opened in a stunning seafront location, offering locals and tourists the chance to take a dip in fresh seawater. Over the years, it brought in huge crowds, especially at weekends when families would flock to the area to cool off, take a dive, or even learn to sail in the boating pool. Its was part of a complex that even had a space for dancing and a roller rink.

But despite its beautiful Art Deco architecture, the lido, like so many others eventually closed down and the site was abandoned. In the 1970s, it was paved over to create a car park, in a twist worthy of a Joni Mitchell song.

However, the council owned car park is now being considered by Thanet District Council for disposal, and an enthusiastic non-profit organisation is hoping to take it over, potentially bringing back the lido for year-round outdoor swimming.

Non-profit organisation Heritage Lab Ramsgate said its in “early discussions” with a developer to create an outdoor swimming complex at the site, which it hopes would “help re-establish Ramsgate as a distinctive coastal destination”.

A spokesperson for Heritage Lab Ramsgate said: “Thanet has a thriving sea and open-water swimming culture, with people of all ages swimming year-round for wellbeing, connection and community. Outdoor swimming is no longer niche – it’s part of a wider shift in how people travel and spend time at the coast.

“When combined with elements such as saunas, cafés and social spaces, an outdoor pool can become something more than a place to swim — it can be a year-round destination that locals and visitors return to again and again.

“The former Marina Bathing Pool site offers a rare opportunity to reinstate a high-quality outdoor swimming facility in a location that has been associated with leisure and seaside holidays since the mid-1930s.”

A Facebook post showing potential plans for the site received a number of positive comments, with one saying: “Brilliant idea- kudos to the person/persons who conceived this project. It makes perfect sense to restore what once was a vital part of the town.” Others shared fond memories of the original lido, and one commenter said: “Used to spend all day in the old marina pool when it was there. Mum never saw us from 0900 until about 1730.”

However, one comment questioned the feasibility of the project, asking: “But would people use it? Did it originally close for lack of use? Like when people try to reopen village pubs and it struggles and struggles, many different landlords come and go eventually they close again. Not all but most. Personally I’d like to see this happen but I doubt I’d actually use it. Good luck I say.”

A report is due to be submitted to Thanet District Council ahead of a February 26 meeting recommending a marketing exercise which will invite proposals from a range of parties who may be interested in the site. The council previously explored transforming the site for leisure use.

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A spokesperson for Heritage Lab Ramsgate added: “If a scheme were to progress, it would need to be developed responsibly and in close consultation with local residents, with careful attention paid to affordability, accessibility and ensuring the benefits are widely shared.”

The non-profit has also nominated the site to be designated an Asset of Community Value (ACV), which prevents the asset owner from selling it for up to five years, unless the nominating group has a chance to bid for it. Giving the car park ACV status will also give locals more of an opportunity to formally have their say over what happens to the site.

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