Cold water swimming made a splash in Hitchin this weekend as more than 400 people turned out for the launch of a brand-new pilot programme at the town's popular outdoor lido.

The sessions began on Saturday 10 May at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre and were introduced following strong community demand. 

The warm spring weather - with local temperatures exceeding 22°C - helped boost attendance and naturally raised the pool temperature.

Over the opening weekend, a total of 430 people visited the lido, with 175 lane swimmers on Saturday, 97 on Sunday, and 158 more enjoying a public swim on Sunday afternoon. 

With more hot weather forecast in the days ahead, further strong attendance is expected.

This initiative marks the centre's first dedicated foray into cold water swimming. The outdoor pool is being kept unheated during the pilot, allowing swimmers to experience the unique physical and mental health benefits of cooler water - while remaining compliant with industry safety guidelines. 

The pool's heating system would only be activated if water temperatures dropped below the minimum threshold of 15°C. 

 Mike Davies, a regular user of the lido, praised the new sessions after attending early on Monday morning (12May), saying: "Today's early session was probably the best start to an outdoor swimming season. The temperature was perfect, all the old friends in attendance and in fine spirits. The sun was shining beautifully - swimming at its best." 

Paul Franics, General Manager at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre, said: "We're absolutely delighted with the turnout and the overwhelmingly positive response from our community. 

"This pilot was launched to offer a safe, local opportunity for people to experience the benefits of cold waterswimming without needing to travel. If demand continues, we will look to introduce cold water swimming earlier in the year from 2026 onwards".

"As planned, we'll begin gradually heating the pool in the days before our official season launch on 24 May to ensure it reaches the standard temperature for summer swimming."

 Cllr Mick Debenham, Executive Member for Leisure, North Herts Council, said: "It's fantastic to see so many people embracing the health benefits of cold waterswimming right here in Hitchin. We know how important outdoor spaces like the lido are to our community, and this pilot offers a great opportunity to try something new in a safe, local setting. We'll be reviewing the feedback and turnout closely to help shape future plans."

Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre is managed by Everyone Active in partnership with North Herts Council. The cold water swimming sessions will continue in the lead-up to the summer season, with further dates available to book online.