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With pride of place on the promenade, Worthing Lido is one of the town’s standout landmarks.
The art deco-style structure began life as a performance space back in 1897 and a seawater pool opened to the public in 1957. That pool closed to humans and it was temporarily home to a group of dolphins while they waited for Brighton Sea Life Centre to be renovated. Then, in 1989, it was covered over and the site around it was turned into an entertainment centre. It’s continued operating with a cafe and arcade in the decades since, but has become increasingly dilapidated and is now at risk of crumbling into the sea
But locals are on a mission to save the Grade II-listed lido and restore it back to its former glory. The council says that the site is in need of significant investment in order to ensure its long-term safety and has been exploring options for strengthening its substructure since the end of 2024.
Last year, more than 1,500 people signed a petition called for the urgent repair and renovation of the attraction. The petition read: ‘Our beloved lido, once a symbol of local heritage, now stands in disrepair, marked by graffiti and perilously close to falling into the sea. The Worthing Lido is more than a structure, it's an embodiment of Worthing's rich cultural history and cherished memories, enjoyed in the past by locals and visitors.’
Of course, one of the major things that stands in the way is money. But in some uplifting news for the project, it has been given its first big financial boost.
On March 9, Worthing Council announced that the first £1m needed to secure the future of the lido had been secured. It revealed that it has allocated £1.29m of Community Infrastructure Levy funding – that’s money from developers to support local communities and infrastructure – to the much-needed repair work.
It still needs to find a few more million before work can be carried out, though. At the moment, it’s estimated that the restoration project will cost a total of £4.5m. The council says that once plans are confirmed, it’ll look for a partner to take on the task of redeveloping the lido buildings and space. It’s not clear yet whether the project will bring the swimming pool back into use. You can keep up to date with the progress of the project here.
Did you see that a new £3 million museum will create a visitor attraction in this waterside town near London?
Plus: The UK’s biggest indoor waterpark is getting a swish refurb.
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