One of the UK’s oldest lidos that is like ‘being by the seaside’ to reopen tomorrow
ONE of the UK’s oldest lidos is set to reopen tomorrow and you can get seaside vibes without being by the beach.
Droitwich Spa Lido will reopen on May 24 having undergone a major refurbishment.
The destination includes a heated saltwater pool, children’s wet play area, sun terrace and on-site cafe.
The lido originally opened on June 10, 1935 and to celebrate its 90th anniversary there will be a wide range of events taking place over the summer.
On June 11, for example, there will be a live music evening at Little Al’s cafe, featuring acoustic music from a former Spa Lido lifeguard.
On June 14, there will also be a special birthday party with a barbeque, pizza ovens and family-friendly entertainment.
On July 19, there will be a synchronised swimming display too.
In the summer, a memory book will also be launched, featuring historic photos and written memories from local residents.
The redevelopment of the lido was announced last year and at the time, was revealed to cost around £8million.
In addition, the redevelopment aimed to kickstart regeneration of the area and make the lido less financially reliant on Wychavon District Council.
According to the BBC, Matt Nicol, chair of Droitwich Spa Place Board, which has been involved in the plans at the time: “We’re committed to supporting Wychavon’s vision for enhancing our town for both residents and visitors.
“The lido project has been a central focus for over a year and we’re thrilled to invite residents to join us as we take this exciting next step.
“The project is a result of significant effort and collaboration from many groups, including Save Our Brine Baths and Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido, to create something we can all truly take pride in.”
The area the lido is located in sits on vast deposits of salt, which have been extracted there for centuries.
The town’s natural brine contains two-and-a-half pounds of salt per gallon – which is 10 times stronger than sea water and only rivalled by the Dead Sea.
When the lido first opened, diluted brine was pumped from local streams and was used to keep the pool aseptic – without the need for additional chemicals.
It was heated to the exact temperature of the Mediterranean Sea and was marketed as the ‘seaside of Droitwich Spa’, with the press speaking about it’s Mediterranean feel.
A general swim for one hour costs £7.20 per adult or £9.40 for two hours.
Children cost £7.20 each, for both one hour or two hour sessions.
The temperature of the water sits at 21C and measures 40 metres by 18 metres.
There is also a UK lido that has been compared to Australia with amazing sea views and it is free to visit.
Plus, the UK lido that’s open all year round has heated swimming pool and outdoor river rapids.