Worthing Lido

(Click on the image for a large view)

This is the view of Worthing Lido, from the pier. Best enjoyed early in the morning when there aren’t many people around.

I have particularly enjoyed drawing this scene and paying a lot of attention to the detail.

In 1897 an elegant birdcage bandstand was built west of Worthing Pier and for nearly thirty years holidaymakers and residents enjoyed numerous band concerts performed there.

Then in 1907 a shelter was erected between the bandstand and beach to provide seating for promenaders to enjoy the music in comfort.

The bandstand was demolished in 1925 and replaced with a D-shaped Band Enclosure (now a grade 2 Listed building).

Over the years interest in band music declined and eventually in 1957 the site was converted into an unheated swimming pool and renamed the Lido.

The Lido was a popular venue before Spain and the Costas became tourist destinations. The Lido pool contained purified seawater and was open until 1988 when it held dolphins from the Brighton Sealife Centre for a year whilst their permanent accommodation was being rebuilt.

In the Winter of 1989/90 the pool was finally built over and the present day Family Entertainment Centre was developed on the site. From 2015 onwards the bandstand has been brought back to life with varied programmes of live entertainment held throughout the summer each year and in 2017 the site was transformed into a film set for the Laurel & Hardy film ‘Stan & Ollie’ which was released at the start of 2019.