By Roisin Chapman
A POPULAR seaside town was once home to an outdoor lido that attracted visitors from far and wide.
Now the historic location lies empty, with the over 200-year-old pool filled with sand.
Cliftonville saw its iconic Clifton Baths, which were constructed in 1824, converted into a massive outdoor pool in 1926.
The facility was officially named the Cliftonville Lido in 1938 and could hold up to 1,000 bathers at a time.
It was designed to be filled daily by the tidal flow and even included a terraced amphitheatre with seating for spectators.
This proved especially handy for the various swimming competitions and water spectacles hosted at the venue.
Over the years of operation the Cliftonville Lido even held various beauty pageants, including a “Miss Lido” competition in 1953.
Unique features
The premises, which measures just under 80,000 square-feet, also included cafes, bars, diving boards, slides, and promenade terraces.
This Grade II listed establishment is excavated into the cliffs, offering stunning views of the coastline.
The building features bright red roof鈥憈iles, Art Deco porthole windows, and the iconic four鈥憇ided 鈥淟ido鈥 beacon.
It also boasted one of the earliest seawater plunge baths, a domed circular chamber, and a tunnel for storing bathing machines, all of which are unique to Britain.
The lido thrived from the 1940s to the 1970s, even featuring an aquarium, zoo, billiard hall, puppet theatre, and nightclubs.
Closure of facilities
However, the outdoor pool closed around 1977 or 1978 and was filled with sand.
The last nightclub on the premises closed in the 1980s while the lido bar and snooker hall remained open until the 2000s.
It was awarded historical status in 2008 for its rare architectural and historical value, with part of site collapsing due to disrepair over the years.
And while it was acquired by private owners, the part of the complex conatining the outdoor pool is council鈥憃wned.
Local volunteers have helped to clear debris from the premises while the group Save Margate Lido CIC continues a campaign to restore the site for mixed community, leisure, cultural, and retail use.
Cliftonville Lido offers a glimpse into Margate鈥檚 seaside heyday and was even the site where renowned artist Tracey Emin is said to have learned to swim.
Other UK lidos
Plus, all the lidos you can visit around the UK to cool off in the summer heat.
And a historic lido with stunning mountain views that has been abandoned for decades.
A popular UK beach town also plans to reopen a beloved lido for the summer season.
And a round-up of the lesser-known lidos you can visit to beat the scorching heat.