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. This website is provided by volunteers from FOSP.
UPDATE MAY 2021 - the Pool will open from Saturday 29th May for weekends only until Friday 23rd July. Then from Saturday 24th July until Weds 1st September, it will be open daily.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NEW ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDE SESSIONS AND ONLINE BOOKING - DETAILS BELOW
POOL NEWS
For Summer 2021, an online booking system will be in place, to maintain social distancing.
Link to booking system here -
https://apps.medway.gov.uk/leisurebookings/lfbook.asp?wci=centre&nextpage=CustomerMembership
Sessions from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. will be available.
Parents are asked to observe the required ratio of adults to children, see 'social distancing arrangements' below
TODAY'S WEATHER
ESSENTIAL INFO
CONTACT
STRAND POOL
Tel. 01634 333927
Strand Approach Road,
Gillingham, Kent
ME7 1TT
Medway Council email:
leisure@medway.gov.uk
VISIT
STRAND POOL
2021 Opening Hours:
29th May to 23rd July -
Open weekends only.
24th July to 1st Sept -
Open daily.
Session times -
10.30 to 1.30
2.30 to 5.30
All bookings to be made online -
https://apps.medway.gov.uk/leisurebookings/lfbook.asp?wci=centre&nextpage=CustomerMembership
Parking on site, charges apply
0 - 1 hour £1.20
1 - 2 hours £1.70
2 - 4 hours £2.70
4 - 6 hours £3.70
Over 6 hours £5.40
'Ringo' facility for online cashless payment
IMPORTANT SOCIAL DISTANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2021
An online booking system will be in place, details to follow. You will not be able to enter without a pre-booked ticket.
The Strand will be a card only centre this summer.
Children must be accompanied by adults in the below proportions:
~ Children aged 8 to 16 must have one adult for every 5 children
~ Children aged 5 to 7 must have one adult per every 3 children
~ Children under 5 must have one adult for every 2 children
POOL ADMISSION
PRICES
2021 Pool admission prices - for each three hour session
Adults (16 yrs and older):
£6.00
Juniors (15 yrs or younger):
£4.00
Seniors (60 yrs and older):
£4.00
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 125 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 2021 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 friendsofstrandpool@gmail.com
Our Facebook page is always the most up to date source of information about opening times, news, events, etc. Like us at
'THE STRAND POOL, MEDWAY'S OPEN AIR LIDO'
EVENTS at the POOL
events
Check here to find all events that are planned for the Strand Pool, and let us know what you'd like, via 'friendsofstrandpool@gmail.com'
2021 is the 125th Anniversary of the Strand Pool. Medway Council Sport are planning a virtual exhibition to celebrate, sharing images and memories, to run from 22nd May to 27th June