We're Nearly Ready to Welcome You Back!

We've got some exciting news about our community lido - after months of work, we're thrilled to share with you that the main refurbishment of the pool facilities are now complete! We've finished on time and within budget, and our pool is nearly ready to reopen.

A Huge Thank You

To our community - thank you for your incredible patience and support over the past five months. We know how much this pool means to local residents, families, schools and swimming clubs, and we genuinely appreciate you bearing with us while this essential work was carried out to secure our long-term future.

We also want to thank everyone who worked on this project:

• Oakland, our main contractor

• IEIS, our project managers

• Our design team Westworks Interiors

• All the sub-contractors and trades who brought it all together.

What's Happening Now?

While construction has wrapped up, there's still plenty happening behind the scenes:

• We're testing and commissioning all existing and new equipment to make sure everything is safe, reliable and ready for reopening

• We're recruiting our 2026 pool team — keep an eye out for upcoming job adverts or get in touch via hr@portisheadopenairpool.org.uk

• We're restocking supplies and getting everything back in its place

• We'll soon be painting and sprucing up the pool terraces and outdoor areas to make them sparkle

Save the Date!

We're on track for a grand re-opening over the Easter weekend (early April). After all this time, we can't wait to see you back in the water and enjoying our refreshed community facility.

Your pool is nearly ready – and it's been worth the wait!

Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to our opening day.

As we look forward to reopening in April, we can't wait to welcome back our wonderful volunteers – and any new faces who'd like to join us.

A huge thank you to everyone who makes this place special: our lifeguards, café and kitchen crew, tuck shop team, maintenance crew, and the friendly faces greeting visitors at reception. Behind the scenes, our Board of Trustees, marketing and social media teams also volunteer their time and expertise to keep everything running smoothly.

Whether you're returning for another season or considering joining us for the first time, your dedication means the world to this community. You know who you are, and we couldn't do this without you.

Interested in volunteering this season? We'd love to have you! Sign up here or scan the QR code in the image above

Here's to another fantastic season ahead – we can't wait to see you all!

You might know we've been putting in some serious elbow grease trying to secure a grant from the Government to spruce up our beloved pool and cafe. Well, guess what?!  We DID IT! The grant is officially ours, and we're so thrilled because it means we can create a truly wonderful and improved community space for all of us to enjoy in 2025. It's been a journey, but knowing what a fantastic difference this will make for everyone makes all the hard work totally worth it! 

At Oakland Construction, we combine experience and a commitment to excellence to deliver spaces that are built to last.

Based in Bristol, we’ve built a strong reputation as a trusted regional contractor, and are proud to be an award‐winning business, known for consistently delivering quality-driven projects across Healthcare, Education, Commercial, Heritage, and Social Housing sectors.

Our focus on detail, reliability, and high standards means every project meets your expectations — from start to finish.

After a comprehensive tender process over the past months, we are delighted to announce that Oakland Construction Ltd, based in Bristol, have been appointed as the main design and build contractor to carry out a wide range of repairs, structural changes and improvements.

The Pool has now closed to allow sufficient time for us to complete the refurbishment in line with Government Guidelines. Our Cafe will be closing on the 28th September for a short period. Our staff will be working with Beacon Partnership over this period.

Iesis Project Managers have been appointed to oversee the transformation of Portishead’s Pool and Cafe , following a significant capital investment from the Community Ownership Fund.

This refurbishment aims to improve accessibility,  environmental sustainability, a welcoming social community space and secure the facility’s future.

Ryan Jones, the MD for Iesis Consult commented:

"We are delighted to be appointed as Project Managers for the refurbishment of the Portishead Pool and Cafe. This capital investment marks a significant opportunity to enhance accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement. We look forward to working alongside the Portishead Community Trust to deliver a space that will serve the community for years to come.

IEIS - Project & cost management
Waterson - Measured Survey
Solum - CCTV/Drainage survey
ECE Westworks & Westworks Interiors - Architects & Interior Designers
Western Building Consultants - CDM/Principal Designer
Cook Brown - Building Inspector
Hulley & Kirkwood - M&E Consultants
Solarsense - Solar panel installations
Bath & Demolition - Oil boilers, tank and flue removal
BBSM - Biomass boiler installation and service
TAM Engineering - Pool cover, drainage rerouting
Portishead Roofing Services Ltd - Roof repairs
VWV - Legal and contractual advisors
Jubb - Civil and structural advisor

We are known for our collaborative approach, technical excellence and have a proven track record of delivering innovative design solutions across a broad range of sectors, placing a strong focus on community driven projects.  We prioritise sustainability, designing energy efficient systems that are durable and adaptable for future upgrades. At the same time, we maintain a balance between cost, quality, and performance to create solutions that are not only functional but also environmentally responsible.  We are proud to support Portishead Pool Community Trust through our Bristol and Plymouth offices, providing specialist mechanical and electrical design services for the Open Air Pool project

WBC Group is a South West-based multi-disciplinary practice specialising in architecture, surveying, and engineering. With offices in Bath and Bristol, we provide practical, expert-led solutions to help clients get the most from their buildings - whether residential, commercial, or community spaces. 

VWV, a Bristol-based law firm, is proud to support the Portishead Open Air Pool with its exciting redevelopment plans. Our specialist team has worked closely with the trustees to provide timely legal advice, helping to secure grant funding from the Community Ownership Fund and the appointments of the building contractors and professional teams. With strict deadlines linked to the use of grant funds, we’ve ensured fast, pragmatic support to keep the project moving forward. As long standing supporters of community-focused initiatives, we're delighted to play a part in safeguarding the future of this much-loved local landmark.

Ridge is a Built Environment Multidisciplinary Consultancy with a focus on quality, innovation and growth. We provide Civil and Structural design for Portishead Open Pool remodelling project. In the SouthWest, we have offices located in Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham and Plymouth.

SolarSense has partnered with Portishead Pool Community Trust to deliver a comprehensive renewable energy solution for the iconic Portishead Lido. The project includes a 36.12kWp rooftop solar PV system and a 70kW solar thermal system, designed to reduce operational costs, cut emissions, and support long-term sustainability.

This project stands as a powerful example of how community-led initiatives can drive meaningful climate action, generate long-term financial savings, and safeguard the future of cherished public spaces.

SolarSense is an employee-owned Certified B Corporation, committed to the highest standards of quality and environmental performance, backed by ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation.

Solum Surveying were proud to support this project by providing precise underground drainage CCTV Surveying. Our experienced team delivered detailed, accurate data to support safe and efficient site works and ongoing maintenance planning.

Solum Surveying is a long-established surveying company specialising in PAS128 underground utility mapping, CCTV drainage surveys, no dig drainage repairs, jet vac and tankering of waste, drone, measured build and topographical surveys.

We provide various preconstruction and construction services from digital measure survey, condition reporting, to guidance and advice on building techniques and processes across the south west.

We are licensed by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to provide Building Regulation approvals for all types of construction projects. As a Registered Building Control Approver, we help ensure your projects comply with Building Regulations from the design stage through to the completion of your project. Our office locations are- Office locations: Barnsley | Barry | Birmingham | Bristol | London | Stoke-on-Trent | Swansea | Tewkesbury | York

Westworks Interiors and ECE Westworks are proud to lead the interior design and architecture for the refurbishment of Portishead Lido — a much-loved community landmark with deep local significance. Our approach balances respect for the Lido’s heritage with thoughtful, contemporary updates that enhance inclusivity, accessibility, and wellbeing.

Portishead Roofing Services is a family run roofing company with over 25 years’ experience in the roofing and building trade serving all of North Somerset and beyond. We can cater for small domestic projects and repairs through to large scale commercial/industrial work with national companies - no job is too small. Some of the services we provide are full tile and slate re-roofs, flat roofing installations, flat to pitch conversions, warm roof build ups, insulation upgrades, dry hip and ridge installations, leadwork, UPVC fascia boards, soffits and guttering, storm damage and repairs, chimney removal, rendering and all remedial works. We pride ourselves on a personal service with realistic timescales, fully trained and reliable workforce.

BBSM Ltd is a specialist renewable energy heating contractor, responsible for the design, supply, and installation of a high-efficiency wood pellet boiler system to maintain the pool at its required temperature.

Based in the Southwest, our team of Bristol and locally based engineers are delivering the project using state-of-the-art biomass heating technology. We’re proud to contribute to such a valuable community amenity for Portishead and the surrounding area.