Christmas Has Arrived in Tunbridge Wells!
The most beautiful open-air rink in the South East, the Tunbridge Wells ice rink, is now open to the public until Sunday 3 January 2016. Set in the wonderful splendour of Calverley Grounds’ amphitheatre, the ice rink provides a spectacular festive destination with something to excite people of all ages, from general skating, mother and toddler sessions, and meeting Father Christmas in his cosy, warm log cabin!
Since its launch in 2011, the ice rink is an established Christmas attraction, firmly becoming the town’s most popular winter event.
The wooden chalets have returned once more and are selling Christmas gifts and festive produce. Whether you’re a skater or not, everyone is welcome – if you don’t want to skate you can simply sit back and watch all the fun! There will be lots of good food – skate-side eating courtesy of Apple & Cor! serving gourmet sirloin steak burgers, BBQ smoked pulled pork in a brioche, hot dogs and homemade waffles topped cream strawberry, chocolate or toffee sauce and sprinkles; something for all the family.
There are also freshly made to order pizzas from mobile wood-fired specialist, Pizza Cucina. Thin bases with homemade tomato and basil sauce, fresh Italian mozzarella and your choice of topping, baked on site in their pizza van – definitely worth popping down for!
We’ve given one of our chalets to local charities to use over the skating period and are delighted to welcome The Kent Greyhound rescue team will be on site trying to find a loving home for greyhounds, lurchers, whippets and other sight hounds. Plus, the Nourish Community Foodbank will be collecting food and financial donations to help see their clients through a stressful Christmas period.
Inside the ice rink marque there’s a great bar, ‘Fuggles’, selling real ale and craft beers, some Belgian classics and Christmas beers, alongside their famous mulled cider as well as a range of seasonal gins, wine and soft drinks. Basil Café does a delicious hot chocolate as well as coffee, mulled wine and daily soup specials, along with a fabulous selection of award-winning cakes and bakes – including gluten free options.
And no family visit to the ice rink would be complete without a visit to Father Christmas. To book your tickets in advance or for further information and reviews go to www.fatherchristmasinkent.co.uk. We strongly advise booking in advance to avoid any disappointment for children expecting to see Father Christmas.
Advanced booking is recommended at peak times – Thursday and Friday evenings, school holidays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Motorised and non-motorised wheelchair users are welcome to enjoy the rink in their own wheelchair but must be accompanied by an assisting companion. The cost of one hour’s skating including hire of boots will be from £7 for children and £9.50 for adults.
The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is supported by Kent and Sussex Courier, Index Magazine, Heart, Dandara and AXA PPP.
For further information about ice skating and the chalets please go to http://www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com.
