There have been two outdoor tidal bathing pools at Saltcoats. In April 1907 Saltcoats Town Council agreed to build a tidal bathing pool at the North Pans, in Winton Circus, using money from the McAlister Fund. The bathing station opened in 1908 with changing facilities and seating for spectators. The Council employed a bathing pool attendant at a weekly wage of £1, supplemented by fees for swimming lessons.
A refreshment stall provided tea, coffee, etc., along with towels and bathing outfits. In 1910 the facilities at the bathing pool included stone steps at the entrance to the water, a floating rest in the middle of the pool, a diving stage, springboard and a water chute. A lifeguard was stationed in the middle of the pool onboard a boat. Over time the original building was added to, and the pond was deepened.
On Saturday 10th June 1933, a new outdoor tidal bathing pool was opened on the original site by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sir Alexander B. Swan. He was asked to open the pool as a testament to the thousands of city dwellers who visited Saltcoats for a ‘doon the water’ summer holiday or day trip. Also in attendance were chairman Baillie Andrew Kennedy, Provost John Christie, Burgh Surveyor George Harley and members of Saltcoats Town Council. Admission to the opening event was 7d; reserved seats cost 2/4d and unreserved seats cost 1/2d.
It was the largest tidal pool of the time in Scotland and had modern changing rooms, a tearoom, seating, a roof balcony, and flood lights for midnight bathing. A full-time bath master, Allan Nelson, and an assistant bath master, James Rainey, were employed to look after the pool and give swimming lessons to the children. The tidal bathing pool was an instant success with 2,000 people a day using the facilities. In July 1933, a record 4,511 people came to the Bathing Pool in a single day.
On Saturday 2nd September 1933, the inaugural floodlighting ceremony at the bathing pool was witnessed by over 10,000 people. The event included diving and swimming displays and a water polo match. Afterwards hundreds of bathers enjoyed having a late-night swim in the floodlit pool. A 1930’s season ticket for the bathing pool cost 2 shillings. Swimming galas, life-saving demonstrations and diving contests were held regularly. The bathing pool proved to be popular with both the local residents, and the thousands of holidaymakers and day trippers who visited Saltcoats.
On Monday 26th August 1957 the Saltcoats Tidal Bathing Pool was the site of a mass baptism when 47 people were baptised by Mr John M. Moore, Superintendent of the Tent Hall, Glasgow. Around a thousand people attended the event.
The bathing station closed at the end of the 1972 season and Auchenharvie Indoor Swimming Pool opened in May 1973. The old Bathing Station was let to George Havlin, seafood purveyor, who ran his business there for three years, prior to the bathing station being demolished.