A Brighton swimming pool will charge just a shilling for a dip at its official open day tomorrow to mark its reopening after a £300,000 refurbishment.
The entry price will be the same as when St Luke’s Swimming Pool first opened in 1903 – a shilling, or 5p in today’s money.
Work at the Grade II listed pool, in St Luke’s Terrace, Brighton, included
- creating an open-plan unisex changing room with improved lighting and heating
- incorporating individual changing room cubicles for added privacy
- building new toilets
- building a new shower block to increase the total number of showers to six
- incorporating family changing rooms
- including an integrated disabled shower room and changing table
- improving the reception area
- improving access to the site for disabled users
- fitting more lockers in the changing room area
The work was carried out on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, Sport England and DC Leisure, which runs the pool on behalf of the council.
The council contributed £125,000 towards the cost, match-funded by Sport England – formerly the Sports Council. Sport England chipped in a further £50,000 towards the cost of work in the reception area.
The pool closed for refurbishment on Monday 12 July and reopened on Monday 27 September, with the work having been completed on time.
St Luke’s attracts 60,000 swimmers a year and is used to help schoolchildren in the area to learn to swim.
Councillor David Smith, the council’s cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, said: “With the support of Sport England and DC Leisure we have been able to completely refurbish St Luke’s, improve access and provide a better all-round experience for customers.
“We hope that the improvements will attract new customers and increase swimming opportunities for all sections of the community”
The pool is one of three in Brighton and Hove to offer free swimming to under 11s as part of a campaign to tackle obesity.
The others are the Prince Regent in Brighton and the King Alfred in Hove.
The scheme is being funded by the council and Brighton and Hove City Teaching Primary Care Trust until next March.
The open day at St Luke’s runs from 9.30am to 4pm.
