Hitchin Doggy Splash opens £18 slots for 10–11 September

Dog owners can still book places at Doggy Splash in Hitchin on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September. The 90-minute sessions at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre start from 9.30am and cost £18 for one dog and one owner aged 18 or over.

The swimming event for dogs was due to take place at Letchworth Lido, but localised flooding forced the pool to close. Every session has consequently moved to Hitchin, while high demand has led organiser Everyone Active to add more weekday slots.

North Herts Council News confirmed that the weekend sessions on 12 and 13 September are fully booked. A limited number of Thursday and Friday places remain available through the Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre app.

Four days of outdoor swimming in Hitchin

Doggy Splash allows dogs to use an outdoor swimming pool alongside their owners. Each session lasts 90 minutes, with lifeguards stationed poolside throughout.

The extra Thursday and Friday sessions give local owners another chance to attend after places for the weekend were taken. Availability is limited, so the app is the stated booking route for the remaining spaces.

Tim Melvin, Everyone Active contract manager for North Herts, said Doggy Splash had proved popular at other lidos. He described the relocated event as a way for local owners to enjoy the end of the summer season with their dogs.

Existing Letchworth bookings transfer automatically

Customers who had already booked at Letchworth Lido do not need to change or rebook anything. Their reservations will transfer automatically to Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre, retaining the same date and time.

That means the venue is the only change for existing ticket holders. The relocation follows the closure of Letchworth Lido after localised flooding, rather than a cancellation of the sessions themselves.

Councillor Amy Allen, North Herts Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said the event would bring dogs into the Hitchin pool for a special end-of-season swim.

Entry rules, supervision and spectator prices

The £18 booking includes admission for one dog and one owner who is at least 18 years old. Additional spectators may attend for £8 each.

Participating dogs must be fully vaccinated and at least 10 months old. Owners are also asked to make sure their dog is comfortable around other dogs and people before attending.

Although lifeguards will be on duty, responsibility for supervising each dog remains with its owner. Anyone whose dog uses the main pool must enter the water with the animal.

New bookings for the limited Thursday and Friday spaces must be made through the Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre app. Customers transferred from Letchworth should instead attend Hitchin on the date and at the time shown on their original booking.

Source: North Herts Council News