Saltdean Lido, Brighton

Saltdean Lido, located on Saltdean Park Road in Saltdean, Brighton, and Hove, is an iconic Art Deco lido with significant architectural and historical importance. Designed by the architect R.W.H. Jones and completed in 1938, it was celebrated as the most innovative design of its kind in Britain. The lido's design, with its elegant curved lines reminiscent of a stately ocean liner, features a 140 by 66 feet pool capable of accommodating 500 bathers, as well as a tea terrace, sun deck, and café, which are perched on the flat roof with distinctive curved wings at either end. Its exceptional design earned it a place in the Design Museum in London.

Originally listed as a Grade II building by English Heritage, the lido's status was upgraded to Grade II* on 18 March 2011, marking it as a particularly important building of more than special interest.

Despite its early success, the lido fell into disrepair, leading to an unsuccessful bid by Butlins to purchase the site in 1958 for development. After years of neglect, the lido was restored and reopened in 1998, with the restoration costing £2 million and spearheaded by a partnership between the public and private sectors. The reopening was marked by a ceremony led by Sports Minister Tony Banks, who had a personal connection to the lido through his mother.

In 2012, after legal discussions, ownership of the lido was transferred back to Brighton and Hove City Council. The Save Saltdean Lido Campaign, driven by residents, successfully lobbied against housing development on the site and pushed for the council to reclaim the lease. In 2014, the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company, formed by the campaign group, took over a 60-year lease of the site. The lido was subsequently reopened to the public in 2017, marking a new chapter in its storied history.