As 2025 draws to a close, we’re celebrating one of Plymouth’s most iconic landmarks, Tinside Lido. This historic pool turned 90 this year, underwent a major renovation, and hosted a summer packed with community swim safety events. Tinside remains a vital venue for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, connecting residents with the sea and shaping its future.
Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Youth Investment Fund, Levelling Up Fund, and Plymouth City Council, the refurbishment has transformed Tinside from a summer-only destination into a year-round, multi-use space for the city. The improvements include a new multi-purpose youth, community and events space on the previously derelict first floor; a revamped building between the lido and Tinside Cove providing a base for youth workers, rangers, and volunteers; a renovated terrace overlooking the Sound, with public seating, a coffee pod, and a dedicated event space available for private hire.
These contemporary spaces aim to attract new visitors, support youth work, and generate income through commercial events and conferences. They also provide a safe, inspiring environment for young people to explore blue health benefits and gain skills in blue tech, innovation, and creative industries. Reopened for Summer 2025, this milestone was marked by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, now proudly displayed at the Lido coffee pod.
The summer season saw over 2,000 participants engaged in more than 60 events, through programmes like Make Waves, Swim Safe, providing community wellbeing sessions promoted water safety and skills development.
Swim Safe, delivered by Plymouth Active Leisure in partnership with, Swim England and the RNLI, taught children vital skills such as floating, safe swimming, and emergency response. Youth Nights part of this programme, were also a huge success, attracting 1,353 attendees and demonstrating strong demand for inclusive evening activities focused on mental health and employability.
As the swimming season ends, Tinside’s coffee pod and function rooms continue to thrive year-round, offering locals a welcoming space to enjoy coffee, snacks, and stunning views of Plymouth Sound, even in winter. This December, Cllr Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, visited the coffee pod to meet locals and discuss the positive changes at Tinside with Julian Eagan of Plymouth Active Leisure
Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said:
Tinside is not only a lido, but an iconic landmark of Plymouth’s heritage. It was brilliant to visit Tinside Coffee pod on a beautiful December day and see a space that would previously be closed for winter, now in use by the community. It is vital that we continue to find new ways to connect with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and, through schemes like the Youth Nights and Swim Safe, we are empowering the next generation to do so safely.
Stuart McLeod, Director England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
“Investing in heritage means investing in the people and communities it belongs to. Supporting the renovations at Tinside pool with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, helped us not only invest in the community but bring about positive change for future generations. Thanks to National Lottery players, this initiative will empower local people to celebrate, protect and connect with the incredible marine and natural heritage on their doorstep.”