Lido's £4.6m revamp complete by spring - council

A waterfront lido is undergoing its biggest refurbishment in more than 20 years, costing £4.6m, organisers say.

Tinside Lido on Plymouth's waterfront, which was built in 1935, is a popular swimming destination but Plymouth City Council wants it to become an events venue as well.

Tudor Evans, council leader, said: "It's not just going to be about the swimming, there's going to be loads of activities, space for hospitality, and it will be great for income generation."

The council said work on the art-deco seawater pool will be completed by the spring.

Evans said: "This building will be all singing and all dancing, much of that in real terms, I hope."

The funding for the work has come from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Youth Investment Fund.

The council previously said the plans included:

• The creation of a multi-purpose youth, community and events space on the derelict first floor of the main Lido building
• A revamp of the single-storey building between the lido and Tinside Cove to provide a base where youth workers, rangers and volunteers can introduce young people to opportunities created by the National Marine Park
• A renovation of the terrace on top of the main building to include a new public seating area, with a coffee pod and multi-purpose event space overlooking Plymouth Sound

Rhys Jones, the chief operating officer of Plymouth Active Leisure, said "these spaces will have activities, programmes to engage with young people".

He said they wanted to find out what young people wanted from the pool to "make sure this space is used really well".

Mr Jones added "it's on all the postcards, along with the tower [Smeaton's Tower]... we want more people to experience the magic of it".

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