Thanks to a number of grants and legacy donations, you will have seen some significant upgrades and refurbishments at the Lido over the last 12 months. 

A grant from the UK Government & Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund paid for the all-weather canopy and solar panels on top, as well as new panels on our plant room (thanks also to East Suffolk Council for supporting our grant application).  The 52 new solar panels more than doubled our capacity, with solar now contributing up to 75% of the Lido’s day-time electric demand.

A generous legacy donation paid for the upgraded showers and new picnic tables.  If you would like to leave the Lido a legacy in your Will, or make a donation, please go to the SUPPORT US section of the website.

Another generous donation from Beccles Townlands Charity paid for the Cafe’s new kitchen.

The toilets were refurbished and a new pergola was built using Lido cash reserves built up since 2020.

Autumn 2025 - Major Plant Room Upgrade

We are now going to carry out the most significant upgrade since we refurbished the pool in 2019 – but this time you won’t be able to see it!

Our filtration system comprises 3 huge steel tanks filled with glass filtration media.  The tanks were installed in 1975 and are approaching end-of-life. If they failed the pool would have to close. The media (ground up glass through which the pool water is filtered) was replaced by us, but is also at the end of its useful life.

We researched replacement options early last year and decided that the most cost effective, sustainable and efficient solution was MICROFILTRATION.  Microfiltration uses less electricity to run it, less water for backwashing (expensively heated and treated water) and less chemicals.  All fully automated, and able to be remotely monitored.  Swim England’s expert guidance is that microfiltration through a ceramic membrane uses fewer chemicals for water treatment, improving the user experience with minimal chemical content. 

The project is being paid for by grants from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund and  Garfield Weston Foundation, with the balance from Lido cash reserves.  We are also replacing our 2 main circulation pumps and upgrading our chlorination system – that’s all of the major plant except for the boilers.

Exciting times - many thanks to all our supporters - we can’t wait to welcome you back before Christmas.