Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth is set to reopen this weekend after a four-year closure and a £7.75 million refurbishment. The iconic lido, which first opened in 1935, has been restored with a fresh pool base, new toilets, showers, and brightly coloured changing rooms.
The upgrade, supported by the Levelling Up fund, also includes a new sauna, an ice cream parlour, and a food van. The lido was originally an unheated saltwater pool and served as an Olympic training venue for Team GB's diving team in 1936 and 1952.
General manager Judit Kollat said: 'The work that Portsmouth City Council has done to refurbish Hilsea Lido has enabled us to regenerate it. It is more than a pool, it’s a place with history and heart.'
Duncan Anderson, CEO of South Downs Leisure, added: 'It’s hugely exciting and a new chapter for the whole of Portsmouth. When you talk to people in the local area, they’ve all got memories of Hilsea Lido.'
The lido will open on Saturday, 2 May, with operating hours from 6am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, 6am to 8pm on Fridays, and 7am to 7pm at weekends.
