The Winchester Lido Sports Association has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a £40,000 grant from Sport England.

The heritage facility – known as the Lido, although its pool was demolished many years ago – now has a fully refurbished sports hall, complete with a new floor. The hall is optimised for badminton, with two courts available, but it can also support a wide range of fitness and other activities for the benefit of local people.

The venue was officially re-opened by Mayor of Winchester Eleanor Bell last month.

The chairman of the Lido’s committee, Dr Chris Alveyn, said “The Winchester Lido has been a much-valued community amenity for many decades and today is an important day in its history.

“This project has been made possible by a generous grant from Sport England, and we are very grateful for their support.”

The Lido has also been supported by Winchester City Council through its small grant scheme, which contributed £500 towards the cost of new benches for the sports hall.

The community facility, off Worthy Lane, offers a range of activities, including badminton and martial arts. For more information about the Lido call 01962 854802 or visit facebook.com/winchesterlido