The STRAND POOL

MEDWAY'S OPEN AIR LIDO

The Strand Pool at Gillingham, Kent is Medway's only open air swimming pool or lido. Open to all for family fun or for serious swimming, the Pool includes a paddling area and a lazy river. The Strand Pool uses filtered salt water from the nearby River Medway and has ample sun bathing areas. Owned and operated by Medway Council, the Strand Pool also has an active user group - the Friends of the Strand Pool - who are keen to help improve the Pool's ambience, customer experience and marketing. UPDATE JUNE 2020 - Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Medway Council have announced via their website that the Pool WILL NOT OPEN IN 2020.

POOL NEWS

The Strand Pool season finished on

Sunday 1st September 2019.

The Pool was expected to open again in late May 2020, but Medway Council have now announced that they will not be opening the Pool at all in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We can only hope that this issue is not still around next year and the Pool can open as normal in 2021.

TODAY'S WEATHER

ESSENTIAL INFO

CONTACT

STRAND POOL

Tel. 01634 333927

Strand Approach Road,

Gillingham, Kent

ME7 1TT

Medway Council email:

VISIT

STRAND POOL

2019 Opening Hours:

May 25th to 21st July

Saturday and Sundays only: 11.00 - 17.00

22nd July to 1st September

Monday to Sunday:

11.00 - 17.00

(please note last entry at 16.30)

2020 Summer Opening

CANCELLED

due to Coronavirus

Parking on site, charges apply

1 - 2 hours £1.50

2 - 4 hours £2.50

4 - 6 hours £3.50

Over 6 hours £5.20

POOL ADMISSION

PRICES

Adults (16 yrs and older):

£5.40

Juniors (15 yrs or younger):

£3.40

Seniors (60 yrs and older):

£3.40

Under 3's Free

FREE for under 16s and over 60s if a valid Medway Free Swimming Card is produced

Medway residents over 60 or under 16 years of age are entitled to a Free Swimming Card, available at Medway Park and Strood / Splashes / Hoo Sports Centres. Cards are not issued at The Strand, but will be valid there

LOCATION

FOSP

About the "Friends of the Strand Pool" (FOSP)

In May 2016 a number of Strand Pool regulars realised that the Pool operators, Medway Council, had cut back on the usual opening days and hours in a bid to save money. An informal meeting quickly led to a more organised association that has since launched a public petition, set up a Facebook page and this website to improve communication and meet regularly with the Council's Sport, Leisure and Tourism bosses.

FOSP are a completely non-political organisation, and our Committee members range in age and interests - some have swum the Channel and love cold-water swimming, others learned to swim at the Strand Pool 40 or more years ago and still spend much of their Summers there. All share a love for this unique 120 year old facility, and are passionate about the Pool continuing to be a safe, clean and enjoyable place for Medway families to visit for generations to come.

Since becoming established, FOSP members have been overwhelmed with the level of support from local people - over 5,500 supported our petition and our Facebook posts reach as many as 28,000 people - and we now work in partnership with the Council to improve the day-to-day running of the Pool and to promote greater usage through active marketing.

This website has been established to provide a one-stop source of all information about the Strand Pool - what's on, pricing, location, contact details, weather updates, etc, etc - and we hope that you find it helpful.

FOSP volunteers are happy to help support this historic facility to ensure that customers in 2019 will enjoy the best possible experience, and are planning some fun events for all the family.

All ideas and offers of help welcome!

Contact the Friends via