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Cabot Circus created its very own winter wonderland in the heart of Bristol city centre when it switched on its Christmas lights last week and unveiled its first ever skating rink in Quakers Friars.
The 360 sqm skating rink is the first of its kind in the city centre and adds a new dimension to this year’s celebrations – giving visitors of all ages the chance to get their skates on and enjoy the fun and frivolities that the festive season brings.
The festive season officially got underway when the lights, featuring Cabot Circus’ iconic giant reindeer and baubles, were switched on by Father Christmas himself, who made a special appearance under the glass roof of the main circus at 6pm. The event also featured music and entertainment, capturing the joy and excitement of the festive season.
The skating rink is made using synthetic ice, which requires less power than conventional ice rinks. The artificial surface is specially engineered to match the density of frozen water. It is also non-toxic and 100% recyclable. The centre piece of the rink will be a large polar bear which will be lit by 1,900 eco-friendly LED lights.
Cabot Circus’ Christmas lighting scheme uses 127,000 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) rather than conventional bulbs, providing an 80% power saving and echoing the scheme’s many sustainable features.
The skating rink will be open until Sunday, January 9. The rink will open daily from 10am until 9pm and from 10am until 6pm Sundays and bank holidays. A family ticket costs £15, adults £6 and children (up to the age of 12) will be £4.