Historic Georgian lido will reopen despite substantial flood damage
Cleveland Pools, the Georgian lido in Bath that first opened in 1815, will “definitely reopen” after suffering significant damage when the River Avon broke its banks in January 2024, the charitable trust that runs the site has said. The decision follows detailed investigations into mechanical and structural faults caused by the flooding just months after the pools had celebrated their return to use.
The pools had reopened in September 2023 following a multi-million-pound restoration and a closure of almost 40 years. Four months later, floodwater forced the site to close again. Trust chair Peter Askew, who took on the role earlier this year, said the organisation is working through technical reports to understand the scale and nature of the damage and to plot a route back to reopening.
“We are moving as quickly and responsibly as we can towards reopening the pools. It's definitely going to happen.”
What went wrong — and what needs fixing
Investigations have identified a sequence of events that led to the most severe damage. Floodwater entered through the plant-room door, affecting mechanical equipment. During efforts to remove floodwater, the groundwater level was not adequately managed. That, according to the trust's technical analysis, caused the pool structure to "lift", fracturing pipework beneath the pools.
Visible signs at the site include uneven paving stones around the pool edge, which point to further problems in the substructure. Repairing broken pipework and addressing the underlying structural issues are prerequisites before the pools can welcome swimmers again.
- Flooding incident: River Avon breached banks — January 2024.
- Initial reopening after restoration: September 2023 (closed after four months).
- Technical investigations and reports: ongoing; structural and mechanical damage identified.
- Next steps: public consultation, fundraising campaign, and repair works (potentially starting early 2028).
Governance and operational control
Operational responsibility for Cleveland Pools was previously held by Fusion Lifestyle, the operator running the site at the time of the flood. The trust has since regained legal operation of the pools after Fusion Lifestyle appointed administrators earlier in the year following what the company described as a prolonged period of financial difficulty.
The trust has set out a timetable that includes a public consultation and a fundraising campaign to underwrite the repair work. It has warned that the scale of work required is significant, and that securing funds and contractor availability will influence the start date for repairs.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Original opening of Cleveland Pools | 1815 |
| Reopening after restoration | September 2023 |
| Flood closure | January 2024 |
| Repair works potentially start | Early 2028 (potential) |
Local campaigners, volunteers and users of the pools have long regarded Cleveland Pools as a rare survivor of Bath’s Victorian and Georgian leisure heritage. The trust has emphasised the need for a careful, technically robust repair process to ensure the site can withstand future flood events.
While the timetable leaves several years until repair work might begin, the trust’s public consultation will be a key moment for the community to influence priorities and for donors to understand the scale of the campaign. For now, the baths remain closed and under assessment while legal and practical control rests with the trust.
In coming months residents can expect further updates from the trust about the consultation process, fundraising targets and a more precise schedule for repairs once funding and contractor arrangements are clearer.
