Portobello Swim Centre Through Time 

Exterior

The external façade of the building is mostly unchanged, aside from the addition of the disabled access ramp in 1998. 

Main Pool

The Main Pool was previously the Men’s Swimming Pond. Over the years, it has been altered with each centre’s refurbishment. Although it no longer has trapeze rings or diving platforms, it still retains many original features, creating a timeless environment.

Main Pool Cupboard

Once a gymnasium for male customers, this building’s area now stores our lane ropes and lifeguard training equipment. 

Small Pool

First Known as the ladies’ swimming pond, it become the Teaching Pool in the 1967 refurbishment, and later in 1998 the Small Pool we know today. 

Turkish Bath

Our Turkish bath is one of only three that remain in Scotland. It is also the only Turkish bath in the city of Edinburgh and is the only one of the three not run by a private club. 

Studio 1

This space was originally the men’s smoking room. It’s now our fitness studio for classes such as Body Pump, 15/15/15 and Hatha yoga.

Studio 2

Until recently, this room had been used for low-impact fitness classes. It was initially the centre’s refreshment room, where fresh tea and coffee would be served after a swimming session. This room still has the original dumbwaiter doors, which are no longer functional. 

Training Room

This area of the building was originally the Ladies’ Retiring Room. In later refurbishments, it becomes a café, serving drinks and snacks for after swims. Due to the high demand for our courses, this is now used as a classroom for NPLQ and SSTQ training. 

Aerotone

Installed in June 1939, the giant metal contraption was the precursor to the modern-day jacuzzi. 

It was still in operation until 2019 but is now no longer in use. 

Promotional leaflets

Though we have gone paper free to limit our impact on the environment, there was a time when paper copies of promotional leaflets like this were handed out at the centre’s reception desk. 

This particular leaflet was created for the re-opening of the centre after the 1998 refurbishment. Click here to view in full.