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worked there in 1966 as a lifeguard, an old Brighton Tiger ice hockey player Nobby Richardson was the manager used to walk around chain smoking, the water was freezing and had to sweep the pool clean every day still have fond memories of my time there
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
Well, fun is only a 27 bus ride away!
Brother Sid
Member
Nobby Richardson was known by us yoofs as 'Jellybean' due to his enormous gut. He'd chuck you out instantly for kicking a football. We got our own back by painting a sign ' Jellybean's Bath' above the entrance one night.
The Spanish
Well-known member
That's made me do a lol
I used to go with all my Peacehaven mates that all had dads that were Nobby's Brighton Tigers team mates, he knew it and even so was a bloody miserable manager to all of us accepting we had a few rascals.
Loved the Lido, big part of my younger days, so glad it remains a seemingly illogical business decision of an outside pool, love it ....
nicko31
Well-known member
We have a pool at Hinskey in Oxford, it is profitable, outdoor swimming is on the up. No reason why Saltdean can't be, a good summer does help though
sjamesb3466
Well-known member
Really glad to see this. Only ever saw the Lido when accompanying my folks on a walk along the bottom of the cliffs. Great building and potentially a great facility, let's hope it's a success
Shropshire Seagull
Well-known member
I remember Jellybean - he lived in a flat opposite me at the bottom of Withyham Ave - grumpy as fvck.
KingKev
Well-known member
Well said
Stunning art deco piece. Fantastic news 
Lord Bracknell
On fire
If the Pells Pool in Lewes can flourish as a community-run enterprise, after 157 years of operation, then so too can the comparatively young Saltdean Lido.
Yesterday was perfect for the reopening.
Did anyone from here go along?
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jun/19/saltdean-lido-near-brighton-reopens-swimming#img-1
Did anyone from here go along?
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jun/19/saltdean-lido-near-brighton-reopens-swimming#img-1
Garry Nelson's Left Foot
Well-known member
Delighted it's been saved and re-opened, it would have left a huge nostalgia shaped hole whenever I returned if it had gone. Saltdean was always better with a butlins rather than some poncy, over priced flats so to have lost the lido to the same kind of development would have been really sad to see.
Also what, if any, are the plans for the pitch and putt? It was never that well looked after(or used) but I did used to like having a (free...) game when I was a kid and I loved riding my bmx down it and using the greens and bunkers as jumps as well as busting the sled out whenever it snowed.
finally on the Saltdean theme, is it really a village or is that the author using some poetic license? No one called it a village when I was growing up. Rottingdean was the village. Saltdean and Woodingdean were...just places(Ovingdean was a mystery: where exactly was it?!).
Also what, if any, are the plans for the pitch and putt? It was never that well looked after(or used) but I did used to like having a (free...) game when I was a kid and I loved riding my bmx down it and using the greens and bunkers as jumps as well as busting the sled out whenever it snowed.
finally on the Saltdean theme, is it really a village or is that the author using some poetic license? No one called it a village when I was growing up. Rottingdean was the village. Saltdean and Woodingdean were...just places(Ovingdean was a mystery: where exactly was it?!).
Fignon's Ponytail
Well-known member
We went down yesterday as its just a few minutes walk from our front door. So glad to see it was busy all weekend. My best mates wife has been one of the leading campaigners getting funding, media exposure etc over the last few years - so to see it finally open was a huge sigh of relief for everyone involved.
The pool looks great, although I didn't stay in long as I've got busted ribs (& it was rather manic with kids dive bombing everywhere!) The water was lovely though, & it was great to be able to lie out in the sun on the grass. When its a little quieter I will definitely be using it as much as I can.
One thing I noticed was the paving they've used round the edge of the pool was nice and cool...despite the temperatures this weekend. I was expecting it to be like walking across hot coals, but they've obviously done their homework and its great to see little touches like that added.
PS - I've lived in Saltdean for 18 years now, and never considered it a village!
The pool looks great, although I didn't stay in long as I've got busted ribs (& it was rather manic with kids dive bombing everywhere!) The water was lovely though, & it was great to be able to lie out in the sun on the grass. When its a little quieter I will definitely be using it as much as I can.
One thing I noticed was the paving they've used round the edge of the pool was nice and cool...despite the temperatures this weekend. I was expecting it to be like walking across hot coals, but they've obviously done their homework and its great to see little touches like that added.
PS - I've lived in Saltdean for 18 years now, and never considered it a village!
There is one BIG difference between an open-air swimming pool in Oxford and one in Brighton - however I won't insult your intelligence by asking you what it is!
Good luck to the people at Saltdean Lido, but I still think the factor that has always contributed to its failure (location) will eventually be its undoing again, however I would love to be proved wrong.
ROSM
Well-known member
I went this weekend. My kids were amongst the first 5 in on the mass bombing opening.
We've bought season tickets for this year and will see how much usage we get out of it but as we are a 5 min stroll away im hopeful.
For the opening weekend there were pop up food and drink sellers plus some music being played which made it all feel very continental (reminded me of a municipal lido in ojen near marbella that we used a lot when we were there a few years ago).
We've bought season tickets for this year and will see how much usage we get out of it but as we are a 5 min stroll away im hopeful.
For the opening weekend there were pop up food and drink sellers plus some music being played which made it all feel very continental (reminded me of a municipal lido in ojen near marbella that we used a lot when we were there a few years ago).
The Kid Frankie
New member
- Sep 5, 2012
- 2,082
I would love to use it on a regs but I would have to re-mortgage my flat to afford the disgusting prices they are asking.
royceyboy
On the 'ead son!
Many happy memories spent down there shivering to death after getting out the pool. It was so bloody cold! But summer would not have been the same with out it.
s5.bha
New member
- Aug 3, 2003
- 837
Spent most of my childhood down there ( lived in Chichester drive west )........oh the memories!
First time day after we moved to Saltdean , grey cold but manage to get my mum to take us.
Then the 5p after 4pm days........run home from school......kitchen table my trunks rolled up in a towel with 5p on top !
As we got older the game of bunking in over the fence when the life guards weren't looking ...........throw ya towel down and lie there for 10 minutes like you had been there all day .
And lastly the rubbish clear up at the end of the day......life guards job but they would pick kids like a school footie team , give you a bin and reward us with free crisps !!!
Thought about going to the opening day but would have blubbered like the kid from all those years ago at the memories......
First time day after we moved to Saltdean , grey cold but manage to get my mum to take us.
Then the 5p after 4pm days........run home from school......kitchen table my trunks rolled up in a towel with 5p on top !
As we got older the game of bunking in over the fence when the life guards weren't looking ...........throw ya towel down and lie there for 10 minutes like you had been there all day .
And lastly the rubbish clear up at the end of the day......life guards job but they would pick kids like a school footie team , give you a bin and reward us with free crisps !!!
Thought about going to the opening day but would have blubbered like the kid from all those years ago at the memories......