Hello east Bristol,

As a group of people living in east Bristol, we want you to help us bring back an outdoor swimming pool to Eastville Park – it’s going to be a “People’s Pool”.

Who are we?

In 2022, we created a Community Interest Community so we could discuss what a People’s Pool should look like with the people who will use it. A local architect drew up some fantastic designs, and we’ve developed a robust business plan and commissioned an independent analysis of the social value the project would deliver to east Bristol.

Progress update

We’re at an exciting stage of the journey. In June 2026, Bristol City Council invited us to submit our plans in the form of an “Expression of Interest” (EOI) so it could decide on giving us a lease for the site we think is most suitable. This would be a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).

What’s in our proposal?

In our CAT proposal, the People’s Pool would be open all year and situated on the 2nd bowling green site, near the playground in Eastville Park – not on the site of the former outdoor pool, which now provides a wonderful habitat to local wildlife. The site we think would work perfectly has been rundown, fenced off and underused for many years. It would allow for the building of a pool big enough to serve our communities.

To be run as a charity, the People’s Pool will be committed to tackling health inequalities, improving community cohesion and reducing loneliness. We are exploring the possibility of a community share offer so the pool could be part-funded and co-owned by the people who use it.

A community-led social enterprise

All this is basically the opposite of a private developer eyeing up the chance to make big money. As a social enterprise, our model would see any surplus from our income would be reinvested back into the charity to deliver even more positive social and environmental change in our communities. It would also give the People’s Pool financial stability.

Net zero and sustainability

Sustainability is central to the proposal because it will make the lido resilient for the long term – solar PV and an air source heat pump will insulate running costs from energy price rises and create a facility that can serve the community long into the future.

The aim would be to position the project as a genuine model of climate-conscious public infrastructure, echoing the ambition behind other outdoor pools like Cleveland Pools and Jubilee Pool in Penzance. Our research suggests most of the pool users would be from nearby communities, so walking and cycling will be easier to encourage. An outdoor pool would also mean fewer longer drives to pools further away.

Local jobs & economy

There would be meaningful employment opportunities and increased footfall in the area would support local businesses and mean more natural surveillance for all park users throughout the year.

What you can do to help

We’re loving the support the People’s Pool is receiving across the city. We now need to show Bristol City Council how much the people of Bristol want it to happen.

If you would like to help, please join our mailing list on the homepage, follow us on socials and for those of you living in Bristol visit our Get Involved page, which includes draft letters you send to your councillors and MP. We will send you updates and let you know what else you can do to make it happen.

Thank you,
The Eastville Park Lido CIC‍

• A People’s Pool in Eastville Park open all year round.

• Bristol’s only outdoor pool offering “pay-as-you-go” swim sessions.

• No need for membership or to join a long waiting list.

• Outdoor swim sessions from just £5 and even less for kids and concessions.

• Committed to tackling health inequalities and accessible to everyone.
  

• Community-led outdoor pool, café and events space.

• Heated from renewable energy alongside nature-rich design.

• On major public transport routes and the cycle network.

• Increased footfall to support local businesses and offer natural surveillance to all park users.