It’s the moment many have been waiting for – online booking for sessions at The National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty are now open.
More than a year since the much-loved attraction was significantly damaged in the devastating floods of Storm Dennis of February 2020, it has undergone an incredible repair and restoration effort (again!) and is now ready to open.
Early bird weekday swims and weekend openings for family fun are set to return from May 1, allowing a reduced number of users of the Lido Ponty to enjoy its three outdoor heated pools.
Current Coronavirus restrictions, which have delayed the re-opening of Lido Ponty, alongside many other attractions, now permit outdoor exercise, in accordance with hygiene and social distancing standards. As a result, the first swimmers can enter Lido Ponty at 7.30am on Saturday, May 1.
Due to current regulations however, sessions will be strictly limited to 1 hour and capacity will be reduced to around 250 places per day, although this will be kept under review and the Council hopes to increase this in line with COVID-19 regulations over the coming weeks. Sessions can be booked online up to seven days in advance, which means the booking line opens this Saturday (April 24).
You must book a session online and can do so up to seven days in advance. You can also continue to check the booking site for late availability and available sessions.
To protect staff and customers, the usual “first come, first served” walk up tickets will not currently be offered, although the situation continues to be monitored.
Swimmers can choose from one of two early morning swims (6.30am-7.45am and 8am-9.15am) in term time weekdays.
There will also be an early morning swim every Saturday and Sunday (7.30am-9am) in the main pool only, followed by family fun (including inflatables) and casual/lane swimming across the main pool, activity pool and toddler splash pool until 7.30pm both days – a total of seven sessions.
Outdoor changing rooms will be allocated to swimmers upon arrival to ensure safety and hygiene. Sun loungers will be in place poolside, spaced 2m apart to adhere to social distancing guidelines, so please do not move them.
There will also be signage on site to assist visitors and ensure they and staff remain safe.
As well as Lido Ponty re-opening, there is also the café, which is under new management, offering a great range of hot meals and snacks and drinks.
It’s the perfect place to relax either before or after your swim.
Visitors can also explore the wider surroundings of the stunning Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, including the huge industrial-themed adventure playground and beautiful grounds.
With many non-essential retailers now open, visitors to the Lido can also show their support for the many wonderful local businesses that have worked to support its community throughout the pandemic and the lockdowns, either by closing to keep people safe or adjusting the way they provide their services. There are a huge range of places to eat and drink plus a lovely mix of independent shops and high street names.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of RCT Council, said: “This incredible news is thanks to a truly extraordinary effort by Lido Ponty staff and contractor partners, who have worked to restore the attraction following the devastation caused by the storm.
“All three pools were damaged, the pump room was completely flooded and needed to be rebuilt, while key facilities including the reception area and all telephony and IT equipment had to be removed and refitted.
“All of this work has taken place during the Coronavirus pandemic and it has taken hard work, sensitive restoration and commitment to return Lido Ponty to its previous condition.
“Of course, Lido Ponty is no stranger to restoration as the stunning attraction we all enjoy now was created from the ruins of the original 1927 lido that stood in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park and had fallen into ruin over decades.
“We have worked to offer a range of sessions and choices for swimmers within the current regulations to ensure as many people as possible enjoy Lido Ponty again. Please be mindful that we will be operating at a reduced capacity to begin with and we are expecting high demand. In line with the current guidelines, we have to work with limited numbers and sessions to keep everyone safe.
“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to Lido Ponty – don’t forget to follow us on twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates and make sure you tag us in your pictures and check ins.”
For more information and booking, visit www.lidoponty.co.uk
