Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths have welcomed the news the facility will reopen next week.
But they have repeated their call for its owner, Carlisle City Council, and operator, GLL, to promote the hidden gem.
The authority has revealed that it has been given some TLC before it reopens on Monday.
Julie Minns, chair of the friends group, said: “The reopening of Carlisle’s historic Turkish Baths is just the tonic after a challenging 18 months for everyone in and around Carlisle.
“This 112-year-old gem was looking a little tired and unloved pre lockdown and the recent repairs and repainting have given it an overdue facelift ahead of it opening its doors to old and new users alike next week.”
The friends group was set up in May after Carlisle City Council appointed consultants to consider a series of alternative functions for the James Street baths.
Julie added: “The next step is to get Carlisle City Council to agree to keep the two small pools in the public baths open.
“We believe even more people will want to use the baths if they can enjoy a leisure swim and a relaxing Turkish Bath at the same time.
“But we know from what’s happened in Keswick that refilling a pool after closure costs over £20,000.
“We want the council to keep the two pools in use while we work with them to secure funding to develop the Health and Wellbeing Centre, and avoid running up a bill for tens of thousands of pounds bringing the pools back into use in the future.”
The Friends of Carlisle Victorian & Turkish Baths have attracted over 2,000 followers to their Facebook page and a petition in support of their vision has already gathered nearly 1,000 signatures.
