If you're looking to attempt an axel or try a twizzle on Great Yarmouth town centre's real ice rink this winter, you should be ready to move fast when tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday, November 6.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council will be releasing tickets online tomorrow, and has also announced the opening times and pricing for the special attraction.
People will be able to enjoy the coolest Christmas and go ice skating in the historic Market Place from noon on Friday, November 20 to coincide with the Christmas lights switch-on, fireworks display, and the start of the three-day Great Yarmouth Christmas Fayre.
And with the exception of Christmas Day, the rink will open daily until Sunday, January 3, with special late opening until 9pm on the late shopping nights, which will be every Wednesday from November 25 to December 23 inclusive.
Ticket prices for a 45-minute session and ice skate hire are: £6 per adult, £5 per child aged four to 16, and £26.50 for a group of up to five people. Children aged three and under are unfortunately too young to skate on the rink. Children aged 12 or under must be accompanied by an adult.
People can buy tickets for a particular session at www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/gyChristmas
Tickets can also be bought at the rink's box office, which will be open in the Market Place between Tuesday, November 17 and Thursday, November 19, from 10am to 4pm. The box office will then remain open during the rink's scheduled opening hours.
School party sessions and corporate skate sessions will also be available. To enquire, schools or businesses should email djh@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
While the real ice rink, which is sponsored by Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership and NORSE joint ventures GYB Services Ltd and GYN, is open, shoppers will also be able to continue to take advantage of the free weekend parking trial in six town centre car parks, as well as free parking in all town centre car parks on weekdays after 4pm.
Cllr Barry Coleman, the deputy council leader, whose portfolio includes the town centre, said: 'These extra incentives to visit the town centre are part of the borough council's Town Centre Initiative, launched in response to a major borough-wide consultation, which identified the town centre as a top public priority.
'The rink is open for 44 days, and up to 100 skaters can use it at any time, so there should be plenty of opportunity for everyone to go on the ice. However, there is likely to be extra demand on some days, especially during the Christmas Fayre and festive fortnight, so people wanting specific sessions are encouraged to book in advance.
'Ticket prices have been set as low as possible to make the attraction affordable for families and enable them to spend more on Christmas presents in town centre shops, thereby boosting the local economy during the vital festive period. I look forward to seeing hundreds of people chilling out and enjoying the free parking, ice rink and varied festivities in the town centre.'
George Jarvis, business development manager at GYB Services Ltd, said: 'We are delighted to sponsor the ice rink for Great Yarmouth and also provide essential services to set up the event. We are firm believers in ensuring that as a business we actively add social value to the communities in which we operate.
'Supporting the ice rink through sponsorship is another way to help encourage people to the town and to add value to local businesses which is a big part of our own business ethos, as we also buy from local suppliers. I look forward to seeing lots of people using the ice rink and having fun in the town centre.'
Further details about this year's full Christmas offer in the town centre are available at www.great-yarmouth.co.uk/gyChristmas
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