Cleveland Pools: 200-year-old British lido being restored to former glory
– Cleveland Pools Trust
The UK’s oldest outdoor public pool in the historic spa city of Bath is being given a new lease of life following a £9m (US$10.7m, €10.1m) investment.
Thanks to local efforts, Cleveland Pools’ two outdoor pools will reopen to the public in 2023 following a lengthy 18-year campaign to save the property.
Located on Hampton Row, the site was built in 1815 and remained a popular open-air bathing spot for more than 150 years. The destination shut indefinitely in 1984 due to a competing indoor pool facility opening nearby.
The property was then used for trout farming until the local council – which owned and operated the site – put Cleveland Pools up for sale in 2003. A year later, residents Ann Dunlop, Janice Dreisbach and Roger Houghton banded together to form the Cleveland Pools Trust (CPT) to raise funds to restore and reopen the facility.
CPT went on to secure more than £9m (US$10.7m, €10.1m) in funding in the coming years to facilitate the restoration.
This was donated by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Historic England, B&NES and Salix Finance alongside other organisations. Additional funding was awarded in 2020 to support increased costs incurred by the pandemic – alongside money to help create a water source heat pump.
The facility will relaunch with male and female changing rooms, hot showers, a children’s pool, a pontoon and a kiosk canopy.
From April to September the outdoor pools will be warmed to 28°C and partly heated by hydropower from the nearby river. Meanwhile, open-water swimmers will be able to enjoy cold water swimming for the remainder of the year.
No membership will be required and day guests will be welcomed, however, there will be an optional monthly swim pass available for regular visitors.
Sport and leisure management company Fusion Lifestyle has been appointed to operate the not-for-profit facility.
CPT told Spa Business: “We’re thrilled to have completed the restoration of Britain's oldest lido.
“It’s been a challenging but wonderful journey and we’re so grateful for the continued support of our communities. We can’t wait to welcome swimmers again soon to enjoy this historic place as it was originally intended.”
Cleveland Pools is now a member of the Historic Pools of Britain body and is a Grade II* listed building, which under English law, affords the building special protection.
Cleveland Pools Cleveland Pools Trust Fusion LifestyleGreat Spa Towns of Europe to gather in Bath for second General Assembly
UK’s oldest open-air pools to be restored by £4.7m project
People power secures HLF cash to restore Georgian lido
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Ben Channon has written Happy by Design, a new book about how architecture affects our mental health. He explains how we can all be happier at home
Creating the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York involved meticulous planning. Its director Alice Greenwald tells us more