This historic seaside open-air pool has reopened after a £1.3m makeover

People have been spending summers plunging into the waters of Portishead Open Air Pool since 1962. The lido is just inland of the Bristol Channel, a half hour or so ride from Bristol. It closed last September so that it could undergo a huge refurb. Six months later, it has revealed its new look. 

The site is looked after by the Portishead Pool Community Trust, which received £1.3 million of funding from the government’s community ownership fund to go towards upgrading the pool and protecting its long-term future. The renovations are now all done and dusted, and the pool reopened to the public on April 4. 

In order to heat the water more sustainably, solar thermal panels and a biomass boiler were installed while the original oil boilers were removed. Thanks to the work the 33-metre pool now sits at a toasty 28C, which is warmer than a lot of indoor pools (though over the winter it cools down to welcome cold water swimmers).

The lido also got brand new changing rooms with extra showers and its cafe has been refurbished, too. There, you can get coffees, soup, sausage rolls, ice cream, paninis and all sorts of homemade cakes. A team of volunteers painted walls, power-washed the patios and set up the furniture around the lido to get it primed for its grand reopening. 

Now that the lido is back in business, you can book a lane swimming session for £7 per person here. A family or general swim session costs £6.50 per adult and £5 per child and, if you just want to spectate, it’s £4 per person. 

ICYMI: This medieval English town’s abandoned lido is being turned into a waterpark. 

Plus: The cool village with a huge beach and ‘immaculate’ food that is officially the greatest seaside town in the UK.

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