A POPULAR lido has been named one of the best in the country.

Saltdean Lido in Saltdean Park Road, Brighton, has been listed along with the Gourock Pool in Gourock, Scotland, the Rock Pool in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, the Brockwell Lido in London and the Blackpill Lido in Swansea, Wales, as one of the best lidos in the UK.

Lido's are open-air swimming pools or bathing beaches that are open to the public.

Therefore Saltdean Lido could be a good option for people who want to spend a day by a pool and bask in the sun, especially as staycations are on the rise this year due to the covid-19 pandemic making it difficult to go abroad.

Research by Fulton Umbrellas into what makes the best staycation in the UK said lidos were "an icon of classic UK beach holidays".

Saltdean Lido reopened the building in 2018 after years of neglect. The pool was once described by Historic England as "one of the seven wonders of the English seaside."

The lido was built in 1937-38 to designs by the architect Richard Jones. The pool measures at 43m × 20m and can accommodate 500 bathers.

The Argus: Saltdean LidoSaltdean Lido

The news comes as Saltdean Lido CIC and Fusion Lifestyle, the pool operators, announced that pre-covid swimming hours have returned this week.

Visitors will be able to book four to eight hour sessions and will be able to use the sunbathing lawns and the children's wet-play and paddling pool area again.

A spokesman for Saltdean Lido said: "We’re thrilled to be given this recognition.

"Saltdean Lido really is a fantastic asset for Brighton and beyond – and its 40 metre heated pool makes it a great all-rounder for day trippers and serious swimmers alike.

"This new accolade is quite timely because we’ve just reinstated our pre-covid four hour sessions and later this year we’ll be embarking on the art deco building’s long awaited restoration.

"The completely restored lido building will be reimagined as a tourist, leisure and heritage destination of which the city can be proud."

The summer opening hours are:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Lido sessions 10am-2pm and 2.30pm-6.30pm. Lane swimming 7am-8am and 8.30am-9.30am.

Tuesday and Thursday: Lido sessions 10.30am-2.30pm and 3pm-7pm. Lane swimming 9am-10am and 7.30pm-8.30pm.

In February this year, Brighton and Hove Councillors agreed to a £1.135 million cash injection touted as "the final piece in the puzzle" in a campaign to restore the Grade II-listed Art Deco Lido.

The restoration project will include the addition of a ballroom, a cafe, and a library.

The pool reopened in 2017 pool with £3m of community funding after Fusion Lifestyle secured a lease from the council to operate it.

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