Get your skates on at Derby Cathedral Quarter 3aaa Ice Rink

Ice Rink

Mon 20 Nov 2017

For the seventh time at Christmas, Derby Market Place welcomes The Derby Cathedral Quarter 3aaa Ice Rink in partnership with Derby LIVE, Derby City Council and Christmas Ice Rinks.

The ice rink attracts around 20,000 visitors from 1 - 31 December and if you have ever wondered how an ice rink is laid, the company’s Project Manager, Alexandra Kirby explains that it’s a simple process but one that requires specialist knowledge, which is why you’ll see their team of workers preparing the rink over a period of two weeks.

Alexandra explains, “First of all, because of the water, it’s essential you have a level base, with lots of legs to support that base.  The rink is like a giant snooker table, and it has to be firm as well as level.  Once that is ready, a waterproof sheet is laid down, and that has to be specially made as it’s covering a 92 by 46 feet area.  On top of that we lay the pipes.  If you look at the back of your fridge, it’s the same process going on here, just a hell of a lot bigger.  You then pour on the water to a depth of four to five inches and here the process is akin to your domestic central heating – just the opposite way round.  You get warmth, we get cold – minus 10 to 12°c.”

Derby is fortunate to have Christmas Ice Rinks Ltd as during one recent winter of unseasonable warmth, a few ice rinks around the country had to close for a time.  Not so at Derby.  Rain can pose a problem with standing water but, as Alexandra points out, the rink is regularly maintained: “Every couple of sessions, we always get our huge scrapers out to clear the water or the excess frost that is thrown up by the skaters.”

Derby Christmas Ice Rink is organising four themed evenings of music and fun on Thursday 7, 14, 21 and 28 December from 6pm onwards. Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed skater on each session of these evenings. Gem, the official radio station for the event, will be DJ’ing and playing interactive games with the skaters on 7 and 21 December. The themes are music from the 80s, 90s, 00s on 7 December, music from the Star Wars films on 14 December, festive songs for Christmas on 21 December and a magical Disney theme on 28 December. The Christmas Arts and Craft Fair will also be returning to the Market Place from Friday 1 - Saturday 23 December.

The Derby Cathedral Quarter 3aaa Ice Rink will be open from Friday 1 - Sunday 31 December and tickets are priced from £6.50 - £8.50 with concessions typically available from £4.50-£7.00 to over 60s, under 16s, students, unemployed and disabled people.

Information and tickets are available from Derby LIVE on 01332 255800 or online, they can also be purchased at the Sales and Information Centre, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH (advance booking is recommended). Tickets also can be purchased at an on-site Ice Rink Box Office when the rink is open.