Wernick Returns to Ruislip Lido to Deliver Brand New Boathouse

Ruislip Lido has been a vital part of the Hillingdon Borough as a picturesque spot to have a picnic, play or relax on the artificial beach, walk through the woodland and eat ice-cream since the 1930s. Once a proud part of the Ruislip community- teeming with people from March to September every year – in 1970 Lido visitor numbers fell after local traders left the site.  A fire also damaged an historic old building in 1994. This old main building was refurbished after the fire and is now the Water`s Edge Restaurant.

However, an enhancement project led by Hillingdon Borough Council has recently seen the Lido stage a return to its former glory. Wernick Buildings have been playing a part in this journey since 2012 when they provided a new look Woodland Centre and cafe` for the site.

This year the Lido required a brand new boathouse, as the old one was no longer fit for purpose. Andy Biggs, Site Manager at the Lido told us; “The building was built in the 20/30s and was initially used for boat repair and storage etc, but it’s been an education and mess room for Lido staff since the 70s. A number of enhancements were done to the building over the years, but it had really started to become unusable in certain parts; we needed a replacement.”

Thanks to working with Wernick on previous projects, the team at the Lido were well aware of the benefits of working with modular. Having a busy cafeteria onsite (the Woodland Café provided by Wernick in 2012) meant that the Lido needed a fast track build programme with minimal disruption to the surrounding amenities.

Thankfully, the Lido team knew they could rely on Wernick for a quick and efficient installation. The whole programme of work took just 6 weeks, with the new boathouse completed in time for the influx of visitors brought by the school holidays. The building was installed in just one day to minimise disruption to the site. Andy commented “The whole process was impressively smooth, just like our previous experiences with Wernick.”

Not only did Wernick deliver the building in record time, they also ensured it fit the footprint of the old boathouse – a requirement of the programme. The spot in question was located on a steep slope, linked to the retaining wall of the lake, meaning a specialist steel structure was required to provide support for the new building.

The new building still provides a mess room for Lido staff- just like the old boathouse- but also offers office spaces and a common room for educational or woodland groups to meet.

Andy told us “The old boat house was a historic building and we are very happy the new building has slotted into the same footprint. First impressions from visitors have been positive with many saying the new-look building merges into the Lido`s landscape very well.”

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