Art Deco outdoor swimming pool reveals £5million renovation plans including new sauna, restaurant and kids’ play area
A HUGE £5million renovation is on the cards for a well-loved art deco lido in the UK.
When the summer arrives and sunny days return, people up and down the country will be heading to their local lido to cool down.
One place where Brits in the West Midlands cool off in the summer is Droitwich Spa Lido.
The Art Deco lido, which is one of the last few remaining inland open-air saltwater swimming pools in the country, could be set to benefit from a huge renovation plan.
Earlier this year, Wychavon Council set out the ambitious plans to transform the popular lido.
The plans could see “spa-like” services like a sauna, steam pods and salt treatment room could open at the lido, turning it into a wellness destination.
Plans to build a new play area for children have also been put forward by the council.
Other suggested upgrades include enhancing the Worcester Road entrance at the lido as well as potentially transforming the upstairs of the Art Deco building into a restaurant.
Councillors from Wychavon Council’s Executive Board were set to meet on February 7, 2024, to discuss the plans – although no further updates have been released.
If the proposals are approved, detailed plans will need to be finalised, with work expected to be delivered over the next four years.
The plans would also need further approval from councillors and would also have to undergo a public consultation.
It is hoped that the renovation will restore Droitwich Spa Lido to its former glory.
Droitwich Spa Lido first opened in 1935, with diluted brine being pumped into the lido from local streams.
The diluted brine was used to keep the pool aseptic without the need for additional chemicals.
In the 1930s, the lido was heated to the exact temperature of the Mediterranean Sea, so it was dubbed the “seaside of Droitwich Spa”.
The military used the lido as an office space during the Second World War, with the lido permanently closing to the public in 2000.
Plans to restore the lido were revealed in 2005, with Droitwich Spa Lido reopening to the public in 2007.
Nowadays, the water in the lido is heated to a warm 23C, with other facilities including a sun terrace, cafe and a wet play area.
Droitwich Spa Lido is a popular tourist attraction and has been praised by visitors in their online reviews on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “A lovely place to visit on a sunny day and the temperature of the water wasn’t too cold.”
Another person added: “We loved every minute of it – a great swim surrounded by beautiful trees.”
Someone else said: “A fabulous, enclosed, outdoor pool, surrounded by trees and parkland, with loads of room to swim.”
Entry tickets to Droitwich Spa Lido cost £8.50 per person.
Other UK Lidos reopening
There are plenty of other lidos in the UK that are currently being renovated too.
Hilsea Lido, the UK’s deepest lido in the UK, is slated to open in 2025 – after being closed for more than three years.
The 1930s lido first closed its doors back in 2007, but it reopened back in 2014 after its management was taken over by Hilsea Lido Pool for the People – a charity formed by residents.
The charity group was forced to close Hilsea Lido in 2022 because its old infrastructure was in desperate need of a refurb.
Broomhill open air swimming pool has been closed for over two decades.
However, that’s set to change soon with funding secured for a £10m redevelopment of the pool.
What it's like to visit one of the UK's lesser-known lidos:
Earlier this year, travel writer Catherine Lofthouse revealed her favourite little-known lido where kids can swim for free.
She said: “One of our family favourites is something of a well-kept secret, given that it’s just half an hour north of London but rarely seems to get a mention on lists of lidos.
“If you’re staycaying this summer, you can still get that holiday vibe by heading to Hitchin Lido in Hertfordshire.
“A beautiful art deco pavilion dating from 1938 and a hexagonal fountain surrounded by railings with the distinctive sunburst design of the era set the scene, overlooking the 50m heated pool.
“There’s baskets bursting with flowers, a couple of sunbathing terraces and a lawned area for picnicking.
“Young visitors can make the most of the baby pool and a sandpit fun zone.
“The original outdoor changing cabins are still in use or you can use the indoor cubicles if you find the outside ones a bit too alfresco.”
And Cleveland Pools in Bath, the oldest lido in the UK, reopened last year following a 20-year campaign by the Cleveland Pools Trust.
Here are some other outdoor pools in the UK to visit.