Details about Jacobs Wells Baths and information on the completed asset transfer process.
Expressions of interest closed
The closing date for expressions of interest was 2 May 2023. This was followed by a selection process to identify a new community-based organisation to take over Jacobs Wells Baths.
We've now completed a Community Asset Transfer lease with Trinity Community Arts Ltd.
This charitable organisation will be taking over the responsibility for managing the building under a 35 year lease. Trinity works closely with local supporters and volunteers and has ambitious plans for improving this much loved historic building.
More information about Jacobs Wells Baths, including detailed historic information about this Grade 2 Listed Building, can be found on the Jacobs Wells Community Hub website.
Property address
Former Bristol Community Dance Centre, Jacob Wells Road, Bristol BS8 1DX
About the property
Jacob Wells Baths is Grade II listed and consists of a central swimming pool, lantern roof, side blocks, boiler house and a large chimney. The former Hotwell Public Baths opened in 1889. The water for the pool came from Jacob's Well on Brandon Hill.
The baths closed in the late 1970s and the building converted into a community managed dance centre. This closed in 2016. Since then, the building has been used on a temporary basis for dance, music, art and community activities.
Information about the old public baths and the building, on the Jacobs Wells Community website.
Floorplans and other related documents are available as part of the 2015 planning application.
Previous CAT process (2017)
A large, national charity was selected in 2017 to restore the building and bring it back into use as a swimming pool, leisure centre, dance and arts venue, and community centre.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic and the rise in energy prices, this project was not completed. The charity eventually withdrew from the project at the end of 2022.
The Jacobs Wells Baths prospectus from 2017 is available on the Mayor's blog. It hasn't been updated, but the information about the property and the type of organisation we're looking for is still relevant.
Feedback: Technical workshop
As part of the Community Asset Transfer ('CAT') process we held a technical workshop for prospective bidders and partners on 3 May 2017.
This was designed to give anyone considering formally expressing an interest an opportunity to ask questions of the various council departments, the surveyor and partner organisations.
Notes from the technical workshop are on the Jacobs Wells Community Hub website.
Feedback: public information event
We organised an information event for the Jacobs Wells Baths building on 28 February 2017.
This was attended by more than 70 people interested in the future of the Baths, including some of the previous and existing users of the building.
Notes from the public information meeting are available on the Jacobs Wells Community Hub website.