Brighton swimming pool re-opens after £300k revamp

A Brighton swimming pool has re-opened after a £300,000 refurbishment.

St Luke’s Swimming Pool, in St Luke’s Terrace, opened its doors yesterday after a makeover which included

• an open-plan unisex changing village with improved lighting and heating
• individual changing room cubicles for added privacy
• new toilets
• new shower block to increase the total number of showers to six
• family changing rooms
• integrated disabled shower room and changing table
• improved reception area
• improved access to site for disabled users
• new lockers within the changing room village

According to Brighton and Hove City Council, the pool attracts 60,000 visitors a year.

The work there was funded jointly with Sport England.

The council put up £125,000 which was match-funded by Sport England.

A further £50,000 was awarded by Sport England to improve the reception area in the Victorian building.

The council said: “St Luke’s, which was constructed between 1900 and 1903, was designed by Thomas Simpson and was an impressive complex which included a boarding school and caretaker’s house.

“St Luke’s is a landmark in Brighton and its Victorian architecture gives the pool a sense of history.

“Many schools in the early 20th century had their own swimming pools.

“The government at that time was so concerned about the poor physical state of the nation’s young men signing up to join the Boer War that more pools were built and so healthy exercise was encouraged.”

The changing rooms today were two of the original classrooms which were converted.

The pool still has strong links with the school.