Gzira Lido

The lack of bathing facilities in the Gzira area, has led four hotels located on the Gzira Sea Front to present a proposal to the Planning Authority for the building of a lido on the seafront.  The Planning Authority has approved the development application, and Parlaiment has approved the concession for the lease of the concession.

Polidano Group has been entrusted with the construction of the proposed lido.

The Bayview Hotel, the Kennedy Nova Hotel, 115 The Strand, and the Waterfront Hotel have formed a consortium to build a lido complete with a swimming pool, bathing area, and two small restaurants, with  minor landscaping. Most of the project will be on reclaimed land.

A consultation document presented by the developers and published by PA points out that Gżira is sought after by tourists especially for the three-star and hostel type of accommodation.

The one amenity that is conspicuous by its absence in the area, despite this being a coastal location, is appropriate swimming facilities.

The nearest sandy beach is St George’s Bay, followed by the Buġibba perched beach, Golden Bay and Mellieħa Bay.

These are considered too far to be of direct benefit to the hotels in the Gżira area, which are seeking to improve the product on offer by building a lido that would service the hotels in the area. This would allow the Gżira hotels to compete on a more equal footing with those in Sliema, St Julians, Buġibba and Mellieħa.

The proposed project will jut out from the promenade in the inner part of Sliema Creek, close to Manoel Island. It will involve the reclamation of around 2,300 square metres of land from the sea for the construction of a semi-private lido area consisting of two small restaurants and the swimming pool.

The lido area will be of some 1,700 m2, approximately 47% of the total project area.

It will cater for 120 sunbeds at any one time. The two restaurants will have a total of 39 covers plus an external area on the sun deck that can be used as a seating area.

The promenade area adjacent to the project will be re-paved following construction. A few planters are also proposed in the area.

The whole project will have a footprint of approximately 3,600m2. 

The lido will mainly be a summer facility, though the restaurants can function throughout the year.