Pittville Pump Room

Pittville Pump Room is a neoclassical building in Pittville Park featuring a colonnade of Ionic columns and three statues representing figures from Greek mythology positioned above its entrance. The interior contains a central hall with a marble pump and surrounding rooms designed for social gatherings and mineral water consumption.

Completed in 1830 by architect John Forbes, this building represents the final and grandest spa facility constructed during Cheltenham's transformation into a major health resort. Its construction marks the peak of spa culture in Britain during the Regency and early Victorian periods.

This pump room was once the heart of Cheltenham's spa culture, where visitors gathered to drink mineral water and socialize in its grand halls. The building embodies the 19th-century belief in the healing power of water and the central role such places played in people's daily leisure and health routines.

The building now functions as a venue for weddings, conferences, and musical performances, with a café housed in a neighboring building offering daily refreshments. Parking is available behind the main structure, making access straightforward for visitors exploring the surrounding park.

During World War II, this elegant spa building housed American soldiers from 1942 onwards, temporarily serving as military accommodation rather than an entertainment venue. This unexpected role reveals how even the most refined public buildings adapted to wartime needs.

Location: Cheltenham

GPS coordinates: 51.91200,-2.06735

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:26