Looking back at the history of Saltdean Lido in pictures

The venue is a Grade II listed building and was designed by architect R.W.H. Jones, who gave the building its distinctive curved lines and Art Deco style. 

At the time, it was promoted as a modern and glamorous destination for open-air swimming and relaxation. 

Saltdean Lido in 1980. (Image: The Argus Archive)

In its early years, the pool was a popular attraction with locals and those from further afield.

READ MORE: Saltdean Lido named of of the most popular in the UK

Saltdean Lido Manager - Mr Nobbie Richardson (Image: The Argus Archive) However, the Second World War disrupted its early success.

In the post-war years, public interest in lidos began to decline as more people chose foreign holidays or indoor leisure centres. 

(Image: The Argus Archive) By the 1980s, the site had fallen into disrepair.

Many of the regular swimmers decided to stop attending as a result.

The lido was also facing increasing maintenance costs.

Saltdean Lido 1980 (Image: The Argus Archive) As a result ​Saltdean Lido closed in 1997. 

The leaseholder financed initial repairs by selling land behind the lido, on which a pub was built.

The lido then reopened on May 23, 1998, with the ground floor converted into a health club and the upper café area rented out to a community association.

As part of the refurbishment, the main pool was divided into two sections with a snaking path in between, and a shallower children's pool was added to the west .

The lido was once earmarked for demolition, with plans to replace the site with more than 100 flats.

In 2010, when plans were announced to demolish the pool and build over 100 flats on the site, the community rallied together to protect the historic landmark.

This was thanks to local residents who formed the Save Saltdean Lido Campaign, whose push led Brighton & Hove City Council to scrap its plans and hand over the lease.

The Lido reopened to the public after a 7 year restoration project. (Image: The Argus Archive)

This culminated in the grand reopening of the pool in 2017.

In 2022 a £7.5million restoration project was started to bring Saltdean Lido in East Sussex back to its former glory, thanks in part to investment from the Lottery's Heritage Fund.

The Lido has now been lovingly restored the art-deco hemisphere building’s café, library, ballroom, exercise study and workplace.

Saltdean Lido is also now a fully licenced wedding venue.

Both the Ballroom and terraces are licenced for Civil Ceremonies.​