Sealanes in Madeira Drive, Brighton is the UK’s first Open Water Swimming Centre and opened in June 2023. As well as a 50-metre outdoor pool with six lanes, the Sealanes complex is host to many fitness activities, a cafe, bar, sauna and much more.
Sealanes sits on the former derelict Peter Pan site and came into fruition thanks to local businesses and individuals who are passionate about open water swimming including swim coach Andy White, Copsemill Properties, QED Sustainable Urban Developments and SwimTrek.
Founders noticed a “major shortfall” in the city’s swimming pool provisions only reaching 44 per cent of the Government’s target. They also saw a gap in the market thanks to open-water swimming rising in popularity after the London 2012 Olympics and the pandemic. One of the main aims was to create a seaside attraction as well as a pool suitable for training and coaching.
I decided to visit Sealanes to try the pool out for myself. One of the obvious benefits of the pool is it is right on the beach so you can hear the sea waves. Being outside, one might choose sunrise or sunset for a scenic swim and staff told me starling murmurations can often be spotted from the venue.
Many sea swimmers use Sealanes to build confidence, for a warmer swim during winter, as a calmer option when the ocean is too rough or an alternative if there’s been a sewage discharge in the sea.
It’s quite dear at £11 for a one-off swim and a lot of people I’ve spoken to also feel the price is high. For people using it more than once a week, the £50 membership is the most cost-effective option.
Even though I am a sea swimmer and used to cold temperatures, the pool still felt pretty fresh to me. Many people choose to wear a wetsuit, which seems like a good choice for a longer swim.
While the price tag for a single swim might be on the higher side, the changing rooms, showers and facilities were absolutely spotless when I visited and the hot showers were truly hot. The mixed changing rooms offer individual cubicles and shower cubicles.
If you’re visiting, make sure you bring a padlock for your locker and a swimming hat. Swimming hats are compulsory, and shoes come off at the changing room entrance, which contributes to the cleanliness of the place.
I found the lanes on the narrow side, however it was fine when I was there as there was only one other person in the whole pool at one point. The website claims the pool can hold 72 swimmers “comfortably at one time”.
The building has ramped access, level access from the entrance and changing room to the pool, a ‘Changing Places’ toilet and changing room, wheelchair-accessible WC and an assisted access hoist into the pool.
On the beach side of Sealanes, a nice touch is lockers and showers that are free for sea swimmers to use. Also to the side of the pool building, with access to the sea for cold water dips, is the lovely Luna Hut, one of Brighton’s newest saunas, run by Luna Wave Yoga founders, who are also on the Sealanes site. Luna Hut is £15 for an hour’s session (£1 off for Luna Wave members).
It’s currently a simple set-up with outside changing (with waterproof storage) and use of the outside cold showers and in my experience it was a lovely welcoming space looking directly out to sea. The mint tea was much appreciated. The joy of a beachside sauna is doing the cold bit in the actual sea and Luna Hut has a path over the pebbles to walk down there.
I also took out a membership at Luna Wave Yoga and it’s the most friendly and welcoming yoga studio I have ever experienced. The thoughtfully-lit warm studio looks out to sea and I love the range of classes available.
They often have introductory offers for people to try membership out and there are monthly membership options as well as class packs. The classes I’m particularly enjoying, although there are so many I haven’t tried, are Yin and Piano, which has gorgeous live piano, iRest Deep Rest Nidra with Christina Christoph and Myofascial Release with Oli Howker.
As a special welcome gesture, Luna Wave extends a warm invitation to all visitors of WeLoveBrighton.com to join a complimentary class and explore the beauty of their studio. To redeem your free class, simply use the code “WELOVEBRIGHTON” during checkout.
Also on the Sealanes site are South Downs Leisure, SEAGYM, Bloomsbury on the Beach Day Nursery, SwimTrek, Reach Physiotherapy, a co-working space, Luna Wave Yoga, Bison Beer, Wood X Coal barbecue restaurant, Fika coffee shop, Powerwatts cycling studio, The Endurance Project, Paddle People, Barre Set, Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, The Little Beach Clinic, Photomatic, Policy Impact Partners, and Moore Law.
At Sealanes in Brighton, there is also an abundance of outdoor seating overlooking the beach, bike racks and lots of parking (PayByPhone) along Madeira Drive.
Events at the pool include swim coaching, swim challenges, including a Swimathon at the end of April, and talks. Follow Sealanes on Instagram for all the latest updates.
Luna Wave and Luna Hut have a great programme of workshops including Deep Rest, Myofascial Release and Move and Bake (yoga and sauna).
There are Spring Equinox sauna sessions on Friday, March 22 in collaboration with Bison Beer and a Community Kirtan on Friday, March 29. All information here: https://www.lunawave.co.uk/workshops.
Bison Beer is holding its 9th birthday party at its Sealanes venue in Brighton on Saturday, March 23. Other upcoming events at Bison Beer include a Yeah Buoy comedy on Friday, March 15, a Friends quiz on Wednesday, March 20, and The Paint Club’s Funky Pot workshop on Thursday, March 21. All details here: https://www.bisonbeer.co.uk/events.
As the days become longer and we hold out for warmer weather, Sealanes will continue to be a great hub to meet for coffee, drinks, events, relaxing or moving your body. I’ve heard it’s a great place to hang out in summer.
Address: 300 Madeira Dr, Brighton, BN2 1BX
Website: https://www.sealanesbrighton.co.uk/
