The National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty will now open all day every day from May 31.
Early morning swims every day of the week, school holiday/weekend fun sessions and daytime casual and lane swimming in the main pool are on offer.
The toddler splash pool will be open in the day, seven days a week – perfect for pre-schoolers and home-schoolers! In total, 726 spaces a day will be available.
The first session of the new timetable is on Whitsun Bank Holiday (May 31).
It will be the holiday timetable and will be offered every day of the school holidays, on weekends and Bank Holidays until the end of the 2021 season.
It includes two early-morning swims at 6.30am and 7.45am and then seven fun sessions with the inflatable obstacle course, pool activities and toddler splash pool.
Monday, June 7 is the first day of the new term-time sessions. These will run every weekday that children are in school until the end of the 2021 season.
This includes two early morning swims at 6.30am and 7.45am, followed by five hour-long sessions where the main pool will be open for casual and lane swimming and the toddler splash pool will also be open. After school, there will be two sessions at 4.30pm and 6pm with the obstacle course and activities.
The term-time sessions will be in place from Monday June 7 until Friday July 15, before the holiday timetable takes over until Sunday, September 5.
The new-look Caffi Lido by Cleverchefs is open, offering a delicious range of hot and cold food and drink at the restaurant and also snacks from the cabin by Lido Play. Choose from home-made salad boxes, wood-fired pizza, kids’ lunch boxes, sandwiches and paninis and more. If you are not swimming but have booked as a spectator, you can dine on the terrace overlooking Lido Ponty.
If not, it’s the perfect place to pick up a barista coffee to enjoy while the kids are at Lido Play or to sip as you explore the beautiful surroundings of Ynysangharad Park.
Cllr Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, said: “Demand for places at Lido Ponty has been huge since the facility re-opened last month. It had been closed for 14 months due to the devastating damage it sustained in Storm Dennis and then the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Throughout lockdown, staff and contractors worked to restore Lido Ponty to its former glory, once again and did an incredible job. Every session at Lido Ponty has been sold out since it re-opened, with more than 2,000 visitors enjoying its heated outdoor pools and family fun.
“We know a lot of people are struggling to get tickets to the pool and we have, as promised, introduced an extended timetable as the 2021 season gets underway.
“This means even more people can enjoy this incredible attraction, which Rhondda Cynon Taf is proud to be home of. It is not called the National Lido of Wales for no reason. It truly is a unique attraction, set in the heart of the stunning Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in our county town of Pontypridd.”
Booking tickets for Lido Ponty remains the same. ALL tickets for a day’s session will be released at 7.30am on the equivalent day, seven days in advance.
At 7.30am on Monday, May 24, you can buy tickets for the sessions happening on Whitsun Bank Holiday (May 31). If you miss out, you can try again on Tuesday, May 25 for sessions happening on Tuesday, June 1 and so on.
Due to Covid-19 regulations, Lido Ponty is still unable to offer last-minute tickets for sessions for collection at reception. All tickets must be booked online, in advance. If you cannot make your session, please let Lido Ponty know – all cancelled tickets are returned to the system for resale.
New Term Time Table (in place every weekday day during school term times)
| Time | max ppl | session |
| 6.30am-7.30am | 48 | Early morning swim (main pool only) |
| 7.45am-8.45am | 48 | Early morning swim (main pool only) |
| 9am-10am | 90 | Casual/Lane swimming in main pool. Toddler splash pool with fountain |
| 10.30am-11.30am | 90 | Casual/lane swimming in main pool. Toddler splash pool with fountain |
| 12pm-1pm | 90 | Casual/lane swimming in main pool. Toddler splash pool with fountain |
| 1.30pm-2.30pm | 90 | Casual/lane swimming in main pool. Toddler splash pool with fountain |
| 3pm-4pm | 90 | Casual/lane swimming in main pool. Toddler splash pool with fountain |
| 4.30pm-5.30pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open |
| 6pm-7pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open |
School holiday session (in place every weekend, Bank Holiday and school holiday)
| Time | Max ppl | session |
|---|---|---|
| 6.30am-7.30am | 48 | Early morning swim (main pool only) |
| 7.45am-8.45am | 48 | Early morning swim (main pool only) |
| 9am-10am | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
| 10.30am-11.30am | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
| 12pm-1pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
| 1.30pm-2.30pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
| 3pm-4pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
| 4.30pm-5.30pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
| 6pm-7pm | 90 | Fun session/inflatables and activities/all three pools open. |
- Visitors are reminded to only book sessions for their bubble. If people outside of your bubble wish to attend with you, they must make their own booking.
- Sessions are limited to one hour and with time between sessions for full sanitizing.
- On arrival, you will be allocated an outdoor changing booth which is yours for the session. These are fully sanitized between uses.
- The indoor changing rooms and showers remain out of use due to Covid-19 regulations.
- Social distancing markers are in place throughout the site, please maintain 2m distance and wear your mask when not in the pool.
- There is a one-way system in place, which means you queue on the side opposite to the ramp outside Lido Ponty and enter through the main doors. You exit via the side entrance of Lido Ponty, by staircase.
- Lockers are available on site for your personal belongings.
- If you require disabled access/parking, please ring Lido Ponty staff, who will be happy to assist.
