Construction and early operation (1962–2007)
The pool opened in April 1962 at a cost of £60,000, one of several coastal lidos built in Southwest England during the post-war boom in seaside recreation. [4] Warm water, piped from the nearby phosphorus works operated by Albright and Wilson, enabled a reliable temperature of about 21 °C (70 °F), an unusual feature for an outdoor pool at the time in Britain. [1] Attendance exceeded 100,000 in each of its first five seasons. [4]
By the early 2000s visitor numbers had fallen sharply and North Somerset Council proposed permanent closure as part of wider budget reductions. A 2008 review panel calculated the council subsidy at £16.50 per swim and recommended closing the pool, a proposal considered by the executive that October and vigorously opposed by residents and the nascent trust. [5] The announcement prompted the community-led Save the Open-air Pool (STOP) campaign, which subsequently formed the Portishead Pool Community Trust to negotiate a long-term lease. [1]
Restoration and investment (2011–present)
Attendance continued to recover, reaching a post-reopening record of 32,800 in 2013. [2] In 2017 the trust secured £250,000 for major works including a complete pool liner, upgraded plant and new surrounds, extending the complex’s life by an estimated 30 years. [7] The work included replacing the entire perimeter pipework and scum channels, installing modern skimmers, filtration system, and fitting a new pool liner. [8]
Cold-water swimming has allowed the pool to extend its operating calendar and draw in additional revenue. Since 2016 the Portishead Popsicle gala has drawn costumed competitors each December, raising several thousand pounds annually for pool upkeep. [9]
The 2020 season was delayed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. [10] After being closed for more than a year, the pool reopened on 14 May 2021 with limited entry. [11]
A further £1.33 million from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund was awarded in 2024 to modernise facilities and improve energy efficiency. [12] The trust said the award would allow it to move from “limited, ad-hoc repairs” to a full modernisation programme, keeping the pool and Lido Café “fit for the future”. [13] [14] The trust has also joined local businesses and Portishead Town Council in opposing proposals by North Somerset Council to introduce parking charges on Esplanade Road, arguing that fees would deter volunteers and visitors essential to the lido’s operation. [15] [16]
