SALTDEAN Lido kickstarted its summer events in style over the weekend, writes Katharine Hay.

The open-air pool hosted its first solstice festival on Friday to mark the longest day of the year.

The water was heated to 27C and bands set up around the edge of the pool as people enjoyed their outdoor swim.

Deryck Chester, director at Saltdean Lido, said: “We were thrilled with the turn out.

“Considering the weather we have had for this summer so far we were so lucky it was lovely. But it doesn’t matter too much because the pool is heated so you can enjoy it whatever the weather.”

The festival started at 7pm and went on to 11pm.

Deryck said: “From the children who swam in the pool with Goldie the Mermaid to the children’s choir, to the people who danced the night away on the sunbathing lawns to folk band Salamanda and pop band Brilliant Mistakes, everyone had a fantastic time celebrating the summer solstice.”

The lido’s next big event will be the South Coast’s biggest pool party – Soak – featuring Nu Disco and Funky House on July 27. Later on it will have an outdoor cinema set up showing Dirty Dancing on August 10 and The Greatest Showman singalong on August 24.

Deryck said: “The solstice festival has been an amazing kickstart to our summer programme and we have lots planned right up to our well-known annual doggy swim event before the pool closes again for the winter.”

All funds raised from Saltdean Lido’s events will go towards restoring the site.