The ice rink in the grounds of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton looks likely to return – for the next five winters.
A planning application has been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council seeking approval for a temporary rink, restaurant, café, toilets, skate hire and associated plant.
If approved, the rink will be bigger than last winter – 800 square metres rather than 700 square metres – and open to the public for nine weeks instead of eight.
Building work would get under way at the start of the October half-term holiday, the rink would open on Saturday 12 November and close on Sunday 22 January.
The site would be cleared in a week and the returfing completed by early March.
Last winter the rink attracted thousands of people a week and was credited with creating 130 jobs for the duration.
The company behind the application, Laine Ltd, said that the rink and its associated buildings had been designed to enhance views of the Pavilion.
It said that the structure would have glass walls facing the rink and Old Steine and transparent roofs in all areas except the toilet block.
Laine added: “The ice rink will provide an important source of income which will help to fund repair and maintenance of the grounds and the building itself.”
It was widely agreed that the rink was a success last year, offering another attraction for tourists and locals alike.
The application is expected to be decided within the next six weeks.
This is great news, we didn’t make it to the rink last year and have been waiting for new dates to be announced. Fingers crossed it goes ahead – can’t see why it wouldn’t