Portishead Popsicle
CHALLENGE,  Event reviews,  EXTRA,  FEATURES,  January 2025

Portishead Popsicle Party

Portishead Popsicle is a highlight in many swimmers’ calendars and for the second time Ella Foote plunged into Portishead Open Air Pool for its winter event

There are many swimming events that feel more like a social gathering than something sporty, but the Portishead Popsicle is like a party from beginning to end – complete with fancy outfits, warming drinks, making new friends and catching up with old pals.

My ice-fly performance was a bit of a mess at this year’s annual winter swim gala in Portishead. Still very much an amateur butterfly swimmer, I entered the event two years ago and managed to get third place by default as not many people like to swim fly! This year there were three heats and I was in a lane next to skilled swimmer and former Outdoor Swimmer colleague Joanne Jones. I may have been in with some sort of chance, had I not been chatting too much at the start and then forgetting what stroke I was supposed to be swimming as the cool water hit the back of my neck!

Portishead Popsicle

Unlike many swim-gala events, it doesn’t matter much what type of swimmer you are at the Portishead Popsicle, the most important thing at this event is having fun.

The annual event is always a sell-out, and it is quickly becoming one of my favourite events of the year. There are some serious swim distances to tackle in low temperatures, but what always draws the biggest crowd is the relay races – which have become more about what to wear while swimming rather than the swimming itself. The event starts with the ice-fly races, quickly followed by the 333m race and 133m races. These always have a brilliant blend of seriously speedy swimmers and heads-up bobbers. There are prizes and places to swim for, but much of the focus seems to be on being able to swim while laughing, ensuring you get your breathing right in between strokes.

Portishead Popsicle

As well as swim heats to take part in, there are performances by the popular Almost Synchro swim team (pictured above) and a loony Grand National swim race which includes swimming lengths on inflatable animals. Whether you are a swimmer or a spectator there is always something to see, even if often you can’t believe your own eyes. It is the absolute best antidote to festive fatigue.

The relay races have traditionally always been quite a spectacle but each year the costumes become more elaborate and creative. There was a distinct sour theme with sewage this year, but it was sweetened by the brilliance of the costumes. Fancy dress winners, Smurfers Against Sewage, swam head-to-toe in blue complete with litter and poo dragging behind. Grape Expectation swimmers were covered in balloons to look like bunches of grapes and once in the water were unrecognisable as swimmers at all. There was even a team of brides who swam in bridal gowns and managed to stay afloat!

Events like this keep community-run lidos like Portishead going and certainly puts the pool on the map and into the swim calendar each year. If you have a local pool that could do with some support, perhaps consider a swim-gala to raise some much-needed cash and awareness of your local amenity. The Portishead Popsicle celebrates swimming and swimmers like no other event. It’s inclusive, fun and totally thanks to the team and volunteers at the pool who work tirelessly to plan the event and keep us safe on the day.

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Ella is renowned outdoor swimmer and journalist. As well as leading the editorial, digital and experiential outputs for Outdoor Swimmer she is also Director of Dip Advisor, a swim guiding business helping people enjoy wild water. Ella also teaches swimming to children and adults, is an Open Water Coach and RLSS Open Water Lifeguard.