Saltdean Lido is back

Saltdean Lido is the only Grade II* listed lido in the UK - one of the Seven Wonders of the English Seaside. The pool and its art-deco building have been brought back into public use by the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company and the Saltdean Lido Trust, with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other key funders. The building was in a dilapidated condition and was largely closed to the public.

In 1938 its innovative reinforced concrete structure enabled the architect, RWH Jones, freedom to create Saltdean Lido’s iconic streamlined design. However, due to its sea-facing location, the structure has suffered decades of chloride-attack which has allowed sea salts to penetrate the building. In 2010, Saltdean Lido’s leaseholder announced plans to fill in the pool with concrete and build 102 apartments on the historic site. With the building’s future in peril, supporters campaigned to save it. Now, having reinstated the pool to its 1937 crescent-shaped design, the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company is restoring the building to its former glory and giving this much-loved lido a sustainable future which celebrates its Grade II* design.

Within the constraints of Listed Building Consent, internal and external alterations have been made to facilitate the continued mixed use of the premises. Revised layouts have removed the intrusive internal partitions added in the 1970’s. For example, in the main entrance foyer now visually links the poolside café to the public library and so greatly aids navigation around the building. In addition, the ground floor rotunda has been enclosed by a glass screen to create additional space for a poolside cafe, and, at first floor level, the staging introduced in the 1970’s was removed to reconnect the sun decks, rotunda and ballroom, from which it is again possible to enjoy views to the pool beyond.

Insulation has been enhanced and energy efficient plant installed along with air source heat pumps between the main building and the pool. The building is now all electric and new utility services and ventilation ducts required to support modern day kitchen facilities have been discretely inserted.

The Lido fully reopened to the public in March 2024.