Nearly half a million pounds will be spent making essential repairs to the historic Victoria Baths in Southport.
The stunning Victorian building, which was once home to the Palm Court and Manhattans nightclubs, has been empty for the past 15 years and its condition is said to be deteriorating. It is Grade II Listed.
Southport’s ‘new Victoria Baths’, on the Promenade, were opened in 1871 on the site of the original baths with the same name. In addition to the Turkish baths, there were first and second class swimming pools, slipper baths and showers, separate sets of each being provided for men and women. There was also a gymnasium for men.
The baths were originally built for the Southport Baths and Assembly Room Company Limited, but changed hands twice before being leased by Southport Corporation in 1910, and bought by them in 1919.
The Turkish baths closed in 1978.
Since around 1980, the building was sub-divided. Victoria Leisure & Fitness has operated successfully in part of the site over the past four decades while other parts of the building were used for the Palm Court and Manhattans nightclubs underground, with bars including Hogans and Cue Bar on the ground floor.
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Sefton is now due to ask Maysand Ltd from Oldham to carry out essential repair work to the outside of the building at a cost of £462,526.
In his report to councillors, Sefton Council Head Of Corporate Resources Stephan Van Arendsen said: “The Council owns the freehold interest in the Victoria Baths Complex. Since around 1980, the complex has been sub-divided and used for a number of leisure uses. Today the northern section of the complex is leased to a private operator and used as a fitness club with swimming pool, gyms and a squash club, however the southern portion remains under the Council’s control and has been vacant for over 15 years and is deteriorating.
“Building fabric condition surveys of the entire complex were commissioned from Ian Bright Architects in March 2015 and March 2019 followed by a structural report commissioned from Curtins Consulting in July 2019. These surveys identified that major repairs are urgently required to the external building fabric.”
The urgent works are predominantly structural works to:- the main facade stonework to the front elevation, rear elevation walls, including party walls; rear elevation brick tower various roof areas the subterranean brick vaults at the front of the building, which includes works to the walls and brick piers
The contract period on site would be up to 18 weeks plus a 2-week mobilisation period. It is envisaged the contractor would be appointed within three weeks.
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