When I say 'reopened' I mean 'rebuilt' as there seems to be nothing from the old building or the old pool that remains. Dark corridors and entrances have been replaced with glass and space, the changing rooms have been transformed into a ’changing village’ (a fairly stupid name - I should have asked where the 'changing pub' and 'changing post office' could be found), and there's a new roof that seems higher than before and which is made of glass and wood. All of these things combine to make the whole pool seem much lighter and more open than before.
The pool itself seems slightly shorter and wider than previously (although that might be my faulty memory) and the water is now at floor level, rather than the ’recessed’ water level typical of Victorian municipal pools. There is also stepped access (as opposed to just ladders) into the water, and there is a variable depth system at the deep end; when I was there the deep end was just 1.5 metres, but the floor can be lowered to make it deeper and safe for diving.
A swim costs £4, and at 8:30 yesterday there were less than ten of us splashing around so it certainly wasn't congested; water temperature was just right (not too hot, not too cold); showers were warm and the lockers take (and give back) a pound coin.
