Stonehaven Open Air Pool

This 55 yard (50.3 meters) x 20 yard open air pool is the UK's only art deco Olympic sized sea water lido. The water is heated (29C/84F) and the pool is open from late May to early September. There is a Leisure Centre with indoor swimming pool next door.[http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/sport/swimleisure/stonehaven.asp Aberdeenshire Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608083133/http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/sport/swimleisure/stonehaven.asp |date=8 June 2009 }} information on Stonehaven Leisure Centre{{Cite web|title=History|url=http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/history.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609164631/http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/history.htm|archive-date=2011-06-09|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Stonehaven Heated Open Air Pool}} Other facilities include a paddling pool and a cafe.{{Cite web|title=Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool|url=http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/#fac-link|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk|archive-date=31 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831121511/http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/#fac-link}}

At the deep end, there is a small water slide, themed as a shark. An inflatable {{not a typo|swoopee}} is also available on weekend afternoons in early & late season and daily in high season (local school holidays). Midnight swims are also offered weekly in high season. There was also previously a high diving board, but this was removed many years ago{{when|date=June 2013}}.{{Cite web|last=Steele|first=Jenny|date=2015-08-27|title=Stonehaven Open Air Pool|url=https://lookingbackmovingforward2014.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/stonehaven-open-air-pool/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Looking Back, Moving Forwards|language=en|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331101208/https://lookingbackmovingforward2014.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/stonehaven-open-air-pool/}}

The pool was opened 2 June 1934 by MP Malcolm Barclay-Harvey with a ceremony that included speed swimming and diving.{{cite web

|title = Nettie Whitelaw, a Friend of the Stonehaven Pool, outlines the history of one of Stonehaven's cherished landmarks as the pool celebrates its 75th anniversary.

|date = 13 August 2009

|accessdate = 2009-09-19

|publisher = BBC

|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/northeastscotlandnorthernisles/content/articles/2009/08/03/stonehaven_pool_feature.shtml

|archive-date = 21 August 2009

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821025159/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northeastscotlandnorthernisles/content/articles/2009/08/03/stonehaven_pool_feature.shtml

|url-status = live

}}{{Cite book | year=2006 | title=Liquid assets: the lidos and open air swimming pools of Britain | first1=Janet | last1=Smith | publisher=English Heritage | isbn=978-0-9547445-0-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0PNSAAAAMAAJ | pages=50, 84–85 | access-date=25 September 2016 | archive-date=29 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729033101/https://books.google.com/books?id=0PNSAAAAMAAJ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=1934-06-04 |title=Stonehaven's new bathing pool: Success of Opening Day |pages=6 |work=Dundee Courier |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19340604/137/0006 |access-date=2022-05-05}}{{Cite news |date=1934-06-01 |title=Stonehaven swimming pool grand opening gala |pages=1 |work=The Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19340601/150/0001 |access-date=2022-05-05}} Initially unheated, a combined heating and filtration system was installed for 1935 following complaints that the pool was too cold.{{Cite news |date=1935-05-30 |title=Stonehaven season opening: Attractions at Improved Open Air Pool |pages=9 |work=The Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19350530/097/0009 |access-date=2022-05-05}}

The pool remained open during World War II.{{Cite news |date=1944-09-18 |title=Stonehaven Pool Season Closes |pages=7 |work=Evening Express |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19440918/069/0007 |access-date=2022-05-05}}

Usage of the pool declined in the 1970s, reportedly due to changing holiday patterns.{{Cite news |last=Napier |first=Judith |date=1996-03-07 |title=Open-air pool closure angers town's traders |pages=2 |work=The Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19960307/021/0002 |access-date=2022-05-05 }}

The Friends of the Pool organisation was created in 1995 following a threat of closure from the council.{{Cite news |last=Rafferty |first=Neil |date=1996-12-20 |title=Cash aid gives open-air pool another year of life |pages=3 |work=The Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19961220/027/0003 |access-date=2022-05-05 }} On 5 March 1996, councillors decided to mothball the pool in an attempt to save around £80,000 in yearly subsidies.{{Cite news |last=Fairgrieve |first=Mike |date=1996-03-06 |title=Pool to shut as cuts bite |pages=2 |work=Evening Express |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19960306/005/0002 |access-date=2022-05-05 }}{{cite news|publisher=The Herald (Glasgow)|date=March 15, 1996|title=Appeal to save open-air pool|page=11|quote=Campaigners are appealing to the public to save Stonehaven's open-air heated swimming pool, which the new Aberdeenshire Council has decided to close. Mr Alan Bain, chairman of the Friends of the Open Air Pool, said he was delighted to learn that the four local representatives on the new authority were backing the pool... Mr Alan Bisset, a solicitor and member of the Stonehaven Leisure Trust Committee, said he understood that little or no consultation had taken place before the decision was taken. He denied that the cost to ratepayers was £80,000, claiming his information put the subsidy at just over £44,000. He said most of this deficit could be wiped out by an increase in the entrance price, which he claimed people thought was "ridiculously low".}} Following a local campaign led by the Friends of the Pool, the council announced that it would not withdraw the funds, allowing the pool to continue to operate.{{Cite news |date=1996-05-31 |title=Stonehaven pool's £80,000 reprieve |pages=14 |work=Evening Express |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19960531/077/0014 |access-date=2022-05-05 }} While the Council owns and operates the pool, the Friends maintain, enhance and promote the pool.{{cite news|publisher=Aberdeen Press and Journal|date=September 8, 2004|title=Lure of open-air pool puts Stonehaven on international map|author=Gordon Lyon|page=3|quote=More than 24,000 people passed through its turnstiles during the 12-week open season, but the Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool believe its appeal is even wider. Spokesman Doug Samways said it would be wrong to assume that the people surveyed were there on their own, as people tended to visit in family groups or with friends. He said the number of people visiting Stonehaven this summer because of the pool was likely to be in the region of 46,350.}}

In 2019, the slide was closed due to concerns about the state of its supporting structure. It was replaced for the opening of the pool in 2021.{{Cite web|last=Beattie|first=Kieran|date=2021-04-27|title=New pictures show slide installed at Stonehaven Open Air Pool|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/3089599/new-pictures-show-50000-slide-installed-at-stonehaven-open-air-pool/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Press and Journal|language=en-US|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430145943/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/3089599/new-pictures-show-50000-slide-installed-at-stonehaven-open-air-pool/}}

The pool did not operate in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Graham|title=Coronavirus: Plug pulled on Stonehaven Open Air Pool 2020 season|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/1408406/coronavirus-plug-pulled-on-stonehaven-open-air-pool-2020-season/|access-date=2021-03-18|website=The Courier|language=en-GB|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101182709/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/1408406/coronavirus-plug-pulled-on-stonehaven-open-air-pool-2020-season/|url-status=live}} It is set to reopen in May 2021.{{Cite web |last=Renton |first=Dawn |date=2021-04-08 |title=Date set for Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool reopening |url=https://www.mearnsleader.co.uk/news/people/date-set-for-stonehaven-open-air-swimming-pool-reopening-3191663 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410213239/https://www.mearnsleader.co.uk/news/people/date-set-for-stonehaven-open-air-swimming-pool-reopening-3191663 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=Mearns Leader |language=en}}

• {{Cite book | title=70 years at Stonehaven Open Air Pool; Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool| first1=Mary |last1=Mitchell|first2=David|last2=MacDonald|publisher=Friends of the Pool|year=2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3_-OwAACAAJ|id=HP2.204.3750 (NLS ref)|oclc=316583278}}

• {{Official website|http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk}} - a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council and the Friends of the Pool
• [https://allthelidos.co.uk/all-the-outdoor-swimming-pools-and-lidos-in-the-uk-the-complete-and-updated-list/ All The Lidos ]
• [https://lidosandpools.uk/ Lidos and Pools UK]
• [https://heritagecalling.com/2018/08/14/a-brief-introduction-to-lidos/ Historic England Blog - A Brief Introduction to Lidos]

{{Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire places|state = collapsed}}

Category:Lidos

Category:Swimming venues in Scotland

Category:Sports venues completed in 1934

Category:Art Deco architecture in Scotland

Category:Stonehaven

Category:1934 establishments in Scotland

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