High times as sauna lifted into Petersfield Lido

Things are really looking up at Petersfield Lido as bosses welcomed a hot new delivery last week.

Excitement was sky-high last Thursday as a locally-built sauna was lifted into place at the open air pool.

Its famous turnstiles have been incredibly busy in recent weeks with hundreds splashing around in the sunshine.

But bosses at ‘the jewel in the crown of Petersfield’ are thinking beyond the summer with the sauna being a key part of a bid to attract visitors all year round.

The sauna designed and built by Onslow & Crisp of Liss has been positioned at the Festival Hall end of the pool, giving visitors the contrast of “heat and cooler water”

“The new sauna forms part of Petersfield Lido's wider ambition to encourage more people to enjoy the Lido throughout the year,” said a spokesperson.

“While the main summer season continues until 28 September, the arrival of the sauna creates a new reason to experience the Lido as the days become cooler.”

The Lido is holding a series of “Sauna Familiarisation Sessions” to help first-time visitors understand what to expect and how to use it comfortably, at their own pace – while taking the plunge isn’t a must.

The opening comes at a time of growing interest in sauna culture across Britain, with community saunas appearing at outdoor swimming locations, beaches and other settings around the country.

Petersfield Lido will further celebrate its arrival by welcoming Emma O’Kerry, author of Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat and Wild Sauna, to Churcher’s College for a talk on Tuesday, September 15.

The co-founder of the British Sauna Summit will draw on her extensive travels and research to explore the traditions, culture and people behind sauna, and its revival on British shores.

Details about the talk and familiarisation sessions to be announced shortly.