The Grade II*-listed Art Deco Saltdean Lido is one of the finest examples of a 1930s’ outdoor swimming pool and has been described as “one of the seven wonders of the English Seaside”
The Lido’s future is far from secure and significant funding is still required to restore and preserve the main Lido building, and transform it into a leisure facility, community hub and tourist destination of which Saltdean can once again be proud.
The poolside café takes centre-stage in the Lido's iconic ‘rotunda’ – the eye-catching, curved front of the building designed to resemble the bow of an ocean liner. Its restoration and reinstatement as a profit-making enterprise will be the first major step towards safeguarding the building’s sustainability and survival and survival.
If we can raise £100k over the next three months to restore the café, it will help unlock an additional grant of £4.19m from the Heritage Lottery Fund which can be spent on preserving the rest of the building.
What we'll deliver:
- A fully-restored poolside café - open daily - that offers swimmers and other visitors a range of food and refreshments
- An inspiring space with capacity for 120 people
- A spectacular new spiral staircase connecting the event space with the first floor tea room
- An interactive ‘Heritage Learning Zone’ to support a greater understanding and appreciation of the Lido
Why it's a great idea:
In the words of David Dimbleby, Saltdean Lido is:
"A beautiful and fascinating example of the belief in a healthy lifestyle, fresh air and exercise which took hold in the years after the First World War. It is a particularly fine building that deserves to be preserved for future generations to enjoy."
Unfortunately, swimming pools rarely generate a profit, so the café (along with the Lido’s ballroom and meeting/function rooms) must be restored to a high standard in order for them to generate sufficient income to cover the cost of operating the whole Lido site. The café – as well as being a vital, historic part of the building’s original design that must be preserved - is integral to our business plan and the Lido’s future.
With the public’s support, we can set about restoring the café and this fine building to its former glory for everyone’s benefit and enjoyment.
Steps to get it done:
- Submit Round Two bid to Heritage Lottery Fund
- Demonstrate matched funding towards the Heritage Cafe
- Hear HLF decision on releasing the £4.2 million build funds
Against considerable odds, our volunteer-led charity has already secured £3.6 million of funding to complete Phase 1 of the project – including the restoration of the outdoor swimming pools and grounds.
Phase 2 involves the sympathetic restoration and preservation of the dilapidated, iconic main building, and making improvements to ensure that the site can pay its way over the long-term. The total costs for Phase 2 are £6.8m.
The Heritage Lottery Fund are fully supportive of our plans, and have, in addition to the £480k already granted, now pledged an additional £4.19m towards Phase 2. However, this funding will only be released if we are able to raise a significant sum of money from the community.
With your support, we will be one step closer to realising our vision of a fully restored Lido and community asset that not only works for the people of Saltdean and the wider Brighton and Sussex communities, but which is preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
