The Open Air Pool Today

The Friends of the Pool were formed in 1995 with the initial objective of resisting the then-threatened closure of the Pool. Their role now involves promoting its greater use and providing any assistance necessary in its maintenance, management, marketing and promotion. As the link with the local community, the Friends now enjoy a close and productive working relationship with the Council and local business, all of which has helped secured the future of the Pool. 

A 'low' of 13,500 visitors in 1992 was transformed by 1996 into an average of 29,000 using the facility. The succeeding four years boosted that average to 31,000, with season 1997 (35,000) confirmed as the best season of modern times. A growing awareness of the existence and success of the Pool, should maintain this trend. 

On the initiative of the Friends, permanent floodlighting has been installed for public Midnight Swims and other late night private and corporate functions. These popular public midnight swims, held generally on Wednesdays from 10 pm until after midnight, provide a unique opportunity to "swim under the stars" in the beautifully clean, filtered water of the North Sea, warmed cosily to 84 F (29 C).