WORK is set to restart on a disused lido in Cumbria – two years after it was originally set to reopen.
The Grade-II listed lido in Grange-over-Sands has been closed since 1993, but could welcome back locals as soon as this summer.
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The lido sits on the promenade Grange-over-Sands in CumbriaCredit: The TimesThe pool closed in 1993 and work to reopen it started back in 2023Credit: Alamy
The pool on the promenade in Grange-over-Sands first opened in 1932 and is the only surviving seaside lido in the north of England.
In 1993 the lido closed because of low usage and rising repair costs.
Work then began in 2023 with £6.8million worth of funding to restore the site with an initial opening timeframe of just 14 months.
The opening date was delayed but work continued – during this time there was an upgrade to the pavilion building and an accessible entrance from the promenade was created.
The changing rooms have been upgraded, and work to the roof and terraces has been completed, so have security upgrades, cleaning, and decoration.
A new play area on-site has already been built and work to the diving board has been completed.
However, work was paused in May 2025 after problems with concrete at the site were discovered.
Now, it’s set to restart in April 2026, with Westmorland and Furness Council saying it hopes the site will be open at the end of this summer.
In its initial opening, it won’t be used as a lido.
There is a temporary infill of the pool and the site will be used as a public space before phase two of the restoration begins.
Plans include a new pavilion and an accessible entrance from the promenadeCredit: West Morland and Furness Council
On the Save Grange Lido website, it explains: “There’s to be a 25m 6 lane pool with a depth of 1.35m which can be used for County Level competition and training, a smaller, shallower 13m pool (0.9m deep) and a paddling pool or splash pad.”
Locals have been vocal in wanting the outdoor lido to reopen for swimming.
In 2011, the lido was granted Grade-II listed status and in the same year, the Save Grange Lido group was formed.
18,000 people signed a petition calling on the council to include the reopening of the pool in any plans to restore the lido site.
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.
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Teignmouth Lido will reopen for summer despite being marked for closureCredit: Teignmouth LeisureThe lido sits on the beachfront of the Devonshire townCredit: Alamy
In February of this year, Teignbridge Council announced plans to close its beachfront lido in order to save money.
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.
“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 summerholidays.
The pool is heated and holds various swim sessions, from public to fun sessions, as well as activities like aqua fit and aqua circuits.
The Teignmouth Lido has reopened every year in May half-term to swimmersCredit: Teignmouth Leisure
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.”
Unity Holidays in Brean has been undergoing £10.2million expansion and refurbishmentCredit: Unity HolidaysIt’s recently updated it’s new pub, sports bar and pavilionCredit: Unity Holidays
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.
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.
The site recently renovated its Wonky Donkey cafeCredit: unity holidays
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.
“Our eight-man Platinum lodge at Unity Beach in Somerset has a hot tub — and it comes complete with undisturbed views of Brean’s windswept coastline and a clear sky at night.
“Everything inside is sleek and stylish, with a statement electric fireplace in the centre and Scandi-style wooden furniture that makes the place look more like a fancy prize draw house than a holiday park lodge.
“I was staying there with my partner Bianca and two little ones, Frank, six, and Pearl, four. The lodges are really close to most of the activities and restaurants, too.
“These include the new Wonky Donkey, which serves brekkie and pub grub such as scampi, lasagne and burgers, and the Sports Cafe, where kids can play arcade favourites and cutting-edge VR games in between bites of pizza, while adults watch live sport on the large screens.
“There’s also the revamped Pavilion Theatre, where guests can tuck into wings, loaded fries and kid-sized lighter bites all while watching live game shows and tribute acts.
“The pre-booked 90-minute pool sessions were just enough for our two, although bigger kids, who can go on all the flumes, might want to stay longer.
“Despite tearing around the pool for an hour and a half, Frank and Pearl couldn’t wait to go straight to Brean Play indoor soft play afterwards.
“If one thing’s guaranteed to tire them out, it’s soft play. The area includes the Ninja Zone, with a challenging obstacle course for older kids, and a state-of-the-art ball court with an interactive screen that lets kids play all manner of games.”
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.”
The lido has been closed for more than two yearsCredit: Portsmouth City Council
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.
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.
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Plans have been revealed for a new floating park in LondonCredit: Royal Docks Management AuthorityThe new development will be at Royal Victoria Dock WestCredit: Alamy
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.
Alongside the two attractions could be a floating residential community with moorings and homes on the water.
The new area is part of theMayor 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.
New plans could see a separate floating park and wellness centreCredit: Royal Docks Management AuthorityDuring the summertime, London Royal Docks opens a beachCredit: Royal Docks Management Authority
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.
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.
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Sale Lido was recently used as a bingo hallCredit: mrdoomits
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”.
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.”
The main feature of Sale Lido was a 130-ft long swimming poolCredit: Unknown
