WATCH: Glimpse snippets of newly improved Hilsea Lido as protective tent is dismantled
Incredible drone footage shows the dramatic progress made over the past week as contractors start dismantling the protective tent.
Contractors, Beard, have been working at the multi-million pound Hilsea Lido project for more than a year in a bid to restore the 90-year-old outdoor pool to its former glory.
As part of the work, which is being paid for by the Levelling Up Fund, the team established a huge protective tent structure in May 2025 to complete rendering, painting and tiling.
At the start of this week, the contractors started the dismantling process, which has already made significant progress, with the cover being completely removed to reveal the new and improved pool.
A Portsmouth City Council, a spokesperson said: “It'll be all hands on deck to install handrails and ladders in the pool, fill it up, finish off the landscaping, and bring in the beach huts and kiosk area.
“Once it's complete, we'll hand the keys over to Sea Lanes, who will be running the site with South Downs Leisure. They'll need some time to train their staff, and bring in the extra equipment they need, but watch this space for an opening date.”