The Lido sits to the north east of Margates famous golden sandy beach. It was originally built as bathing rooms cut into the cliffs in the 1820's until the 1930's when Dreamland creater John Iles bought it and created The Lido that we know it today, unfortunately it is not currently as some people remember it!
Throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's it was the crowning jewel of the isle. A multi purpose place to come for entertainment, dining and of course bathing for locals and for the thousands of holiday makers that filled the massive hotels and guest houses of Cliftonville.
The 70s saw the start of the decline in demand for British Seaside holidays and the Lido pool was filled in 1978. The years following saw the gradual errosion of structural integrity and small businesses closing combined with lack of demand or attraction caused a death spiral of which there was no escape.
The reality of its condition was laid bare with the collapse of part of its roof which was also the car park just a couple of years ago.
Behind the scenes people have been fighting for protections for the unique plunge pools and older structures which they achieved in 2020, meaning it's history would be preserved sparkling a new and passionate plan to bring the building back into use, save the Lido was the slogan.
Again despite the momentum it has seemingly gone quiet.
This article isn't really saying anything new that hasn't already been reported or thought of for its iconic LIDO beacon and history has sparked the imagination of many over the years. The last 10 years has seen a curious and complicated battle for ownership and interested parties have put forward ideas and plans for a sealife centre in 2014 and luxury apartments in 2018 with grand plans to transform it to a world class complex have been pitched by interested investors should the balance of power swing their way. The owners were investigated for financial wrong doing, and this has been ongoing, the site has been in the hands of receivers since.
Read on to find out why July 2023 maybe the year that sees some movement.
It now resembles a scene from The Planet of the Apes or I am Legend when human civilization has completely broken down, and now extinct. All that is left is the crumbling concrete with graffiti still visible, the only real indication that some life was here once.
The view within the filled in basin towards the ruins.
A tidle pool created by the battered defenses, eroded by years of neglect.
There is however a strange beauty still. An admirer of graffiti would be delighted but a closer inspection reveals individual units which once were opulent restaurants, cafes and bars, gift shops and curiosity shops.
If you close your eyes you can picture it's history like watching the scene from Titanic where the shipwreck is brought back to life with memories from its past
What does the future look like for the Lido?
Within these walls are rooms and structures, possibilities?
It was legendary in its day.
A complex dedicated to leisure all year around. The art deco features and chic was a beautiful celebration of the era.
A vision and attention to detail to a standard found in only the most affluent areas. This was Margate. This is what it meant to live here.
When you look at the resurrection of Dreamland you can see how even from the ashes these dinosaurs can be rebuilt. When you look at The Royal Sands development in Ramsgate on the former pleasurama site and railway station before that, you can see investment on this scale is viable.
Local people are quick to always blame the local council but this is a privately owned complex with parts independently owned and operated.
This next passage of text is lifted straight from an Isle of aThanet article in 2021
Last year (2020) members of Save the Lido were clearing debris from the complex with the aim of regenerating it. Laser mapping of the area was completed by Thanet council and £44,000 was secured from the Coastal Revival Fund for a feasibility study. However, the team say they have been unable to access the site this year.
In 2014 plans for a sealife centre at the site were mooted but never came to fruition. The then-site owners Stour Side Investments/Stour Side Developments put the complex up for auction in 2016 with a guide price of £600,000 but it was later withdrawn.
Administrators Duff & Phelps were brought in during July 2017 after concerns over business irregularities were highlighted. The assets of Stour Side Developments, including two sites at the Lido, remain in administration.
The third Lido site, of the snooker club, was bought by Lido Streetview Limited – run by long-time Lido manager Neville Borck and Martyn Buckley – for £100,000 in February 2017. Mr Borck is also a director of Lido Views.
This year a progress report from Duff & Phelps revealed a sale of the entire site is being considered.
The administrators say: “(We) have consequently been considering and exploring the options available to the company to enhance the value of the Lido 1 and Lido 2 properties in order to maximise realisations.
“It has been determined that a sale of Lido 1 and Lido 2 properties together with Lido 3 and the Lido Pleasure Centre as a collective development opportunity would enhance their value as compared to piecemeal sales.
“The Joint Administrators have reached an agreement with the owners of Lido 3 and the Lido Pleasure Centre and are currently marketing these properties for sale.”
The Joint Administrators also obtained from court a further two-year extension to the term of the Administration which will now come to an end on 11 July 2023.
The administrators add: “ The Joint Administrators contacted the owners of Lido 3 and the Lido Pleasure being Lido Views and Lido Streetview respectively. Following discussions, the Joint Administrators reached an agreement and entered into an option agreement on 17 June 2021 which, in consideration of the Company paying £25,000 (which it has paid), grants the Company an exclusive option to purchase the Lido 3 and the Lido Pleasure Centre from Lido Views and Lido Streetview respectively for a set amount.
“The term of the agreement is 2 years, expiring on 16 June 2023. It was also agreed with Lido Streetview and Lido Views that, during the period of the option agreement, they be granted leases over both Lido 1 and Lido 2.
“As a consequence of entering the option agreement, the Joint Administrators are able to market for sale Lido 1 and Lido 2 properties together with Lido 3 and the Lido Pleasure Centre as a collective development opportunity.”
In 2018 a proposal to develop a 100-room hotel and 90 apartments was put to Thanet council in a pre-planning document.
The scheme, from father and son developers Ralph and Alistair Noel, cited: “An iconic residential development of apartments would be built into the cliffs to the west of the site, echoing the layered balconies of the old Lido. Above the hotel and apartment there would be a publicly accessible cliff top sculpture park.
The entrances to the apartments, car park and hotel as well as some hotel rooms would rise up into this park as low-rise features. Together with restored glass dome over the historic Clifton bath these features would appear as sculptural forms in their own right.”
The Noels, who do not own the site, are yet to progress their plans.
Hopefully we will see a decision made in July!
Comments
Post a Comment
Thankyou for your contribution.
"I Expect Just What I've Always Expected - For You To Make Up Your Own Damn Mind. Believe Me, Or Don't."