How Britain’s most relatable celebs splashed out £70K on summer’s hottest accessory…with Stacey Solomon’s ‘village lido’
WITH the UK eagerly awaiting the sunshine promised for later this week, most of us will be whipping out our paddling pools to make the most of it.
But even the most relatable celebrities won’t have to worry about blowing the pool up – as they’re already sorted no matter rain or shine.
Whether it’s a holiday home in Cornwall or part of their humble ‘cottage’, UK celebrities are splashing the cash on the hottest home accessory – a swimming pool.
Here, Fabulous reveals that even the most relatable celebrities can’t resist spending thousands to dip their feet in the water, and who can blame them when it’s set to reach 28C this week.
Although we’ve had one of the wettest Junes we can remember, it hasn’t stopped them forking out hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Jeff Djevdet, property valuer at Speed Property Buyers, says: “The value a pool can add depends on the type of property and garden it is within. In general, the more pricey the home, the more a fantastic pool complex will add.”
Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon has made a name for herself after her X Factor stint as being one of the most warm and relatable celebrities in the UK.
Her infectious laugh and down to earth nature has made her a hit on Loose Women and even landed her her own TV show, Sort Your Life Out.
While making a living as a relatable mum-of-five to Zachary, 16, Leighton, 12, Rex, five, Rose, two and one-year-old Belle, Stacey has been able to buy her dream home ‘Pickle Cottage’ for £1.2million, sprawled across 2.5 acres of land.
Although she admits being a mum is her ‘favourite thing in the whole wide world,’ she also spends plenty of time perfecting her home, including getting a hotel style pool and outhouse fitted.
Her outdoor pool has different depths to make it kid-friendly for all, and she even built a pool house fitted with a kitchen so she can stay outside all day.
In 2022, Stacey’s pool was transformed into a ‘village lido’ on the hottest day, as she invited her sons’ school friends round to play when their schools closed.
Jeff says:
“Stacey Solomon’s pool house is a neutral dream, blending seamlessly with the serene landscape. A fully-equipped kitchen, dishwasher, and fridge add to the luxury.
“The outdoor swimming pool is a simple, elegant must-have that buyers love. This design provides the ideal balance of functionality and tranquillity, and is worth around £70,000.”
Sue Radford
The matriarch of Britain’s biggest family, Sue Radford, is often sharing snaps of her kids having fun in their mansion home with ten-bedrooms.
Swimming safety advice
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: “If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: “Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
“It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life”.
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: “Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
“Children may try to grab these from the pool’s edge and fall in.”
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: “Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
“And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.”
And when the sun comes out, the kids are often spotted having fun in the families outside pool.
Despite having 22 children, Sue reveals that the couple have never claimed benefits and work hard through their Pie Company as well as media deals such as their hit TV show, 22 Kids And Counting.
While showing off their relatable motorhome staycations in the UK, the family also go on endless trips to DisneyLand Paris and countless trips to the USA.
When they aren’t setting off, the kids are entertained with their massive outdoor heated pool – which we’re sure is a relief to the busy mum.
Jeff says:
“Sue Radford’s home features a charming, budget-friendly swimming pool, the model, H2K Trainer 15, was purchased for £27,000 from The Hot Tub Superstore.
“The garden’s DIY bar and stylish outdoor furniture create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere.”
Michelle Keegan
Despite becoming a household name thanks to her role in Coronation Street, Michelle’s career has gone from strength to strength, from getting the leading role in BBC show Our Girl to popular Netflix show Fool Me Once.
Michelle and her husband Mark Wright, who made his fame through the show The Only Way IS Essex, may have come from humble beginnings but are now millionaires.
The pair now have a mansion in Essex worth £3.5 million and recently updated it with a modern and chic outdoor pool – that resembles an Ibiza hotel.
Showing off the pool on Instagram, Mark said: “It was Michelle’s idea to have white tiles like Majorca and Ibiza.
“I was like ‘well the water’s not going to look blue’. She was like ‘course it will’, definitely right.
“Beautiful. That is absolutely gorgeous. Great finish.”
Jeff says:
“The clean lines of this fabulous pool and surrounding sun deck has the vibe of an exclusive celeb hotel in the Med.
“A great choice and well worth the cost of £200,000.”
The Beckhams
We’ve all seen the clip of Victoria Beckham claiming she came from a humble working class background, but David was quick to remind her that her parents car was a Bentley.
Despite both being well-deserved millionaires thanks to making one fifth of Spice Girls and one of the most popular football players of all time, they’ve notoriously spoken about how they bring their kids up as ‘normal’ as possible.
Parents to Brooklyn, 24, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 18, and Harper Seven, aged 12, the pair have relatable parenting techniques to keep their kids as normal as possible.
HELLO! reports that Victoria once said of her kids, “They won’t be these children that stay at home and don’t do anything. They will definitely work.”
But that doesn’t mean they don’t get to enjoy their parent’s hard work either.
The couple’s Cotswold home includes extensive upgrades, such as a natural lake-type swimming hole filled with recycled water, an apiary, gardens, meadows, fields, and an orchard with 23 types of trees.
They also have a tennis-court-turned-soccer pitch with bleachers, an outdoor swimming pool, a traditional Estonian sauna and hot tub, and a plunge pool.
Jeff says:
“The stunning outdoor swimming pool complements their natural, eco-friendly aesthetic and is valued at £200,000.
“With a traditional Estonian sauna, hot tub, and plunge pool, this setup is ideal for buyers seeking a blend of luxury and sustainability.”
Coleen Rooney
Coleen Rooney is notoriously private about her family and home life.
But she has shared a rare glimpse into her £20million Cheshire mansion.
The Wag has three sons, Kai, 12, Klay, eight, Kit, six and Cass, four to keep entertained and what’s the best way than building a giant swimming pool?
Unlike most, Colleen’s swimming pool is inside making it perfect to enjoy no matter the weather outside.
The giant pool can be seen attached to a large Jacuzzi fitted in with luxurious white marble in a glass pavilion so they can enjoy panoramic views of their garden.
Jeff says:
“Coleen Rooney’s Cheshire home boasts a spectacular indoor swimming pool worth £180,000 surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
“With a hot tub, plunge pool, and steam room, this arrangement exudes grandeur and makes for an ideal hideaway.”
Gemma Collins
The glamorous GC, as she is affectionately called by her fans, has always been a truth-teller since her early days on The Only Way Is Essex.
Gemma has her fans in hysterics with her down to earth take on the world and started out as a car sale assistant in Essex before hitting the big time.
Now she’s worth millions and has kitted her£1.3million mansion out accordingly.
the star purchased a giant outside pool to enjoy the hot weather, and in classic GC style – got it bejewelled with thousands of sequins.
Revealing the design on Instagram, Gemma penned: ‘When you can’t get to Mykonos you bring it to your garden #gcstyle COSTA DEL GC
‘I had this thought two nights ago I need a sequin swimming pool #gcstyle I can’t thank @sequinwallsukofficial for making my dream a reality the only one in the world.
Jeff says:
“The dazzling swimming pool with sequin-spangled walls catches the sunlight beautifully.
“This one-of-a-kind, elegant touch sets the pool area apart and probably cost £80,000 to complete.
“Buyers seeking a stylish, eye-catching outdoor space will find this setup irresistible. It’s a perfect blend of luxury and personality.”
Joey Essex
Keeping it ‘reem’ as always Joey’s lad pad has been kitted out with his own ‘paradise’ garden.
The Reality TV star who has appeared in The Only Way Is Essex and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here is estimated to be worth £6 million, and has spent his money accordingly.
Despite having a hard start in life with his mum passing away at the age of just 10 Joey, now 33, has clearly made the most of the opportunities that have come to him.
Outside his Essex mansion, he now has an enormous garden complete with a grande staircase leading to his outdoor pool, beach bar and bubbling hot tub.
Jeff says:
” That’s a gorgeous pool, shaped to be sympathetic to the house – who likes boring rectangles anyway, clearly not Joey!
“This is a £30,000 addition.”