Tom HallArena UK & Europe has confirmed the addition of Skate Manchester at Cathedral Gardens – the new ice rink which will be part of the Ice Village Manchester experience, which opens on 8 November 2019.
Skate Manchester will provide capacity for up to 180 skatersduring the festive season from November to early January. With the addition of a transparent roof, the ice rink will also give visitors the opportunity to skate under the stars and soak up the enchantment of the beautiful Cathedral Gardens, no matter the weather.
This is the second year that the Ice Village returns to the city, following its successful debut last November, attracting millions of visitors to experience the area’s winter-themed attractions and entertainment including Christmas Markets, Santa’s Grotto, Arctic Bar and the Ice Cavern.
The Ice Cavern is an ice sculpture experience which incorporates more than 250 tonnes of ice. Last week visitors got their first taste of things to come at the Ice Village Manchester event preview at Cathedral Gardens which featured an ice sculpture of a baby dragon as well as a throne made from blocks of ice.
This November will also mark 20 years of the city’s Christmas Markets, with over 300 traders stationed across the city’s squares, including stalls in Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square and St Anne’s Square.
Kate Karagholi, Arena’s director of marketing & PR, said: “Ice Village Manchester is one of the UK’s most unique events, providing an immersive festive season experience for visitors. We are pleased to partner with Manchester City Council and suppliersto bring ice skating back to Cathedral Gardens – the hub forfestive season celebrations in Manchester – for another year.”
Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said “What is Christmas without a turn on the ice? So, it’s with a huge amount of festive pleasure that we welcome a brand newrink to the Ice Village in Manchester’s Cathedral Gardens – part of the family area of our world-famous Christmas Markets.
“This is an all-weather rink, open right through the Christmas season, so grab those skates and we’ll see you on the ice.”
Skate Manchester adds to Arena’s burgeoning ice-skatingportfolio, following the recent announcement of the return of theirice rinks in London, Cambridge and Liverpool this November.
Tickets are now on sale and can be pre-booked online at Skate Manchester for skating sessions from 8 November 2019 to 5 January 2020. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased at the Skate Manchester Box Office, which opens on 8 November 2019.
For more information on Ice Village Manchester, visiticevillage.co.uk and follow social updates using the hashtag#MCRChristmas.