Ready, steady, skate!

Visitors to Plymouth City Centre are getting ready to get their skates on as the outdoor winter ice rink is set to return. 

Under new management by Blue Martini, the Plymouth Winter Ice Rink will be located at the Piazza, Armada Way, from Thursday 19 November till Sunday 31 January and will offer an authentic Christmas experience.

Peter Gorman, Director from Blue Martini, said: “We are really excited to be managing the Plymouth Winter Ice Rink this year and the city centre is the perfect location. Just imagine skating outside, underneath the Christmas lights to the sound of festive tunes - it’s enough to get anyone in the Christmas spirit.”

Blue Martini is specialists in the design, installation and management of ice rinks and have previously managed ice rinks in major cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Bournemouth and SouthEnd.

Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, Peter Smith, said: “The outdoor ice rink is one of the most popular activities that take place in the city centre during the Christmas period. So much so that we make sure that it remains to the end of January to enable everyone to make the most of it.

“We have been working closely with Blue Martini to ensure that the ice rink operates at times suitable for visitors and we are pleased that this year there will be a number of discounts to make it affordable for the whole family.”

The ice rink will be operating seven days a week except for Christmas Day and will be open on weekdays at 12pm in November and December and 1pm in January.

November will see the ice rink open until 8pm Monday to Wednesdays and 9pm Thursdays to Fridays. Saturdays it will operate from 10am to 9pm and Sundays 10am to 6pm.

Session times will be extended in December, closing at 9pm Mondays to Saturdays and 7pm on Sundays. The ice rink will open at a later time of 1pm on weekdays in January and will close at 6pm everyday except Thursdays and Fridays when it will close at 8pm. Opening times on the weekend will remain at 10am.

Ticket prices are at £10 per adult, and £9 per child at peak times; £9 per adult and £8 per child at off-peak times. Students displaying and ID card can skate for £8 at all times and families of 3 or 4 members can receive a discount; £25 at peak times and £22 at off-peak times for a family of three and £34 at peak times and £29 at off-peak times for a family of four.

All weekends in December and 21 December 2015 to 1 January 2016 is classed as peak skating times.

For more information about skating times and how to book go to www.visitplymouth.co.uk/christmas or  www.theplymouthwintericerink.co.uk