A new Christmas festival – complete with ‘towering rides’, bars, live music and a huge ice rink – has been announced at the amphitheatre at Bristol’s harbourside.
Organisers say the ‘Bristol On Ice’ festival will be bigger and better than previous winter venues in Millennium Square – this one will take place at the Lloyds Amphitheatre, next to the Spiegeltent entertainment venue.
The ‘Bristol On Ice’ will open at the end of November and run until the Sunday after Christmas, and as well as a 540 sqm ice rink, a new 65-metre high ‘Star Flyer’ ride will be installed next to the water.
The Christmas destination will be free to enter – although ice skating, rides, drinks and food will need paying for. It’s being created by the Crow Leisure Group, and will open at noon every day until 10pm.
“At the heart of Bristol On Ice will be Bristol city centre ’s only ice rink, covering 540 square metres with hourly skating sessions throughout the afternoon and evening,” said a spokesperson for the event.
“Alongside the rink, the 65-metre Star Flyer will take visitors high above the festival site, while the Après Ski Party ride will add another attraction for those looking for something a little faster. For those who would rather stay on the ground, the Après Skate Tipi Bar and Mulled Tipi Bar will offer somewhere to warm up over festive drinks, with food available across the site and live music in the Après Tipi every weekend from 3pm.
“The festival has been created for all ages, from families looking for a festive day out and couples meeting for winter drinks to groups of friends and colleagues getting together in the run-up to Christmas,” she added.
The ice rink will be the only one in the centre of Bristol this winter, and skating sessions will last for an hour, and can be booked in advance. It will cost £14.95 for adults over 17, and £12.95 for children over five. Family tickets for four admissions will be £49.95, and skate hire is £5.
Kennedy Crow, the managing director of Crow Leisure Group, said: “We can’t wait to bring Bristol On Ice to the city for the first time. Christmas is such a special time of year and the Amphitheatre gives us an incredible setting to create something right on the harbourside that people can enjoy throughout the festive season.
“We want it to be somewhere you can really make an afternoon or evening of it. You can bring the children skating and go on the rides, meet friends for mulled drinks and food, listen to live music in the tipi or come down with everyone from work for a Christmas night out,” he added.
Chief executive Alex Crow added: “We’re a family-run business and, as parents ourselves, creating events that different generations can enjoy is really important to us.
“There’s a lot more still to come and we’re excited to start revealing everything we’ve got planned as we count down to our first Christmas in Bristol.”
