A HISTORIC seaside town will be given a new lease of life with a waterfront revamp and a pub renovation.
The coastal area, which is one of the UK’s oldest settlements, is set to reopen an outdoor pool closed since the ’90s.
Tynemouth, located just a 23 minute drive from , has a population of around 62,880.
The headland area dates back to the Iron Age and the town’s over the centuries is still evident through the local architecture.
In the 1920s, a swimming pool was opened on the town’s seafront, adjacent to one of the area’s three sandy .
The outdoor lido was a popular spot among locals and tourists over the decades, before eventually closing and falling into disrepair in the mid-1990s.
Now, work is underway to restore the 25 metre pool back to its glory days.
Michael Wood, of the Friends of Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, spoke to the BBC about the pool’s reopening, describing it as a local “gem”;;.
Once restored, it is expected that to welcome around 50,000 paid-for swims each year.
Additionally, there will be membership schemes, events, and food and drink facilities, making the outdoor pool “a sustainable business”;;.
The project is set to cost a total of £10 million, almost double the initial estimate from 2016 due to a rise in construction costs.
Elsewhere, the town’s iconic Gibraltar Rock pub is set to undergo its own transformation.
A local favourite, the combined bar and restaurant underwent a “major renovation”;;, reports Chronicle Live.
Overlooking King Edward’s Bay, the venue has been closed since December 2023 for the ambitious remodel.
Patron capacity has almost doubled with new areas of the building opening to the public for the first time, offering even more stunning views.
A spokesperson for the location’s new owners MCN Hospitality discussed the summer 2025 opening.
“The Gibraltar Rock is an iconic hospitality venue with spectacular views of Tynemouth,”;; they said.
“It is a great opportunity for us to restore an old business and bring it back to life with a new concept and join the already busy Tynemouth hospitality scene.
They detailed plans to open a restaurant and dining area upstairs, knocking down walls at the rear of the building to provide “Tynemouth’s newest and best panoramic views of Kind Edwards Bay”;;.
“Downstairs will be an informal bar and dining area; you can expect pub classics and light meals, drinks, cocktails, and real ales with a modern contemporary vibe.
“The renovation downstairs will also include bi-folding doors leading out to our new outdoor seating area at the side and the rear overlooking The Priory.”;;
The Gibraltar Rock is one of many eateries in the area, while there is also a variety of accommodation options available, with rooms from just £65 per night.
Visitors choose from countless activities, including Tynemouth Makets, the Priory and Castle, and the local aquarium.
