The future of this beloved south London lido has been saved

Brockwell Lido is a firmly established south London darling. There are few greater places to spend a summer afternoon than lying by the water, soaking in the sunshine with a good book and an iced coffee from the cafe. In colder months, the sauna is the perfect place to warm your extremities after a brave dip in the icy water. 

In fact, Brockwell Lido was crowned London’s best swimming spot by Time Out last year and was even named the best in the entire country just a month later.

Fusion Lifestyle, which runs Brockwell Lido as well as several other leisure centres and swimming pools in England, has faced serious financial difficulties over the past few years, putting the lido’s future on rocky ground. But now Lambeth Council has swooped in to save the beloved public swim spot. Fusion announced it had gone into administration on April 1, and the council has taken immediate control of the site so that it remains operational. 

Brockwell Lido will officially transfer to council management from July 1, meaning the site will be run through Active Lambeth, the council’s in-house leisure service.

Lido members can breathe a sigh of relief because existing memberships will continue and the pool will remain open throughout the transition. Plus, the cafe and gym are also safe, as the authority has accepted responsibility for all of the facilities at the Grade II-listed art deco building, which dates back to the 1930s.

The council said its main priorities were to ‘maintain continuity of service, protect public access to the site and secure the long-term future of Brockwell Lido for residents’.

The ownership transition could even come with additional perks. Once the pool becomes part of Active Lambeth, Brockwell Lido members will also have access to other leisure facilities throughout the borough. Lambeth Council has said it will provide more information to existing members before July when the change of hands is completed.

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