This much-loved seaside attraction in Cornwall has been forced to shut

In 2020, the Jubilee Pool in Penzance, Cornwall reopened as the UK’s first ever ‘geothermal lido’. But four years later, the upgrade has turned out to be a bit of a dud. 

A whopping £1.8million was put into the lido so that it could operate all year round, using underground thermals to heat seawater to 35C in a cheap and sustainable way.

As great as that all sounds, the new system apparently isn’t quite up to scratch. According to the Sun, holes weren’t drilled deep enough to get access to sufficiently warm water and the Jubilee Pool has had to use electric heaters to get to the promised temperature – which has proved extremely spenny and basically defeats the point of the pool’s makeover. 

Running the lido has become so expensive that bosses have made the decision to close it until the spring. Locals (many of whom chipped in a total of £540,000 towards the upgrade) have slammed it as a ‘failed project’ and a huge waste of money.

Nicola Murdoch, chief executive of the pool, said: ‘The risk that comes with using innovative technologies and being the first of its kind in the country is it is not necessarily going to work as it might look like it is going to on paper.’

The lido first opened in 1935 and is one of only a few saltwater open-air swimming pools in all of Europe. It will reopen between May and October 2024. In the meantime, work will take place on improving the geothermal facilities and repairing the sea wall. 

Swimming alfresco with Time Out 

While the temporary closure of Jubilee Pool is a sad loss for winter swimmers, there are plenty of other scenic lidos on offer in the UK. From cities to the seaside and rooftops to country parks, these are 18 of the very best. And if you want balmy temperatures guaranteed, these are the best heated outdoor pools in the country. There’s also these beautiful swim-friendly lakes and rivers, perfect for a wilder dip. 

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