Where to book your tickets as 1,000 attend Bury St Edmunds first ever real ice rink

The official opening of the Ice Rink in the Arc shopping centre in Bury. (Image: Archant)

The first ever real ice rink in Bury St Edmunds has proven a real success after launching on Saturday, with around 1,000 people getting their skates on.

The ice rink was built over the last week in Charter Square, in the Arc Shopping Centre, and will remain in place until January 3.

The project was organised by the Business Improvement District, OurBuryStEdmunds, and is the first time a real ice rink has been hosted in the historic town.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of OurBuryStEdmunds, hailed the ice rink’s successful first weekend.

The official opening of the Ice Rink in the Arc shopping centre in Bury. (Image: Archant)

He said: “It has gone very, very well. It was at about 60% capacity on Saturday and has been very popular today as well.

“We will have seen about 400 to 500 people on both days – roughly 1,000 people this weekend.”

A similar real ice rink built in Colchester suffered problems caused by the milder weather this December and November.

Mr Cordell said: “We wish it could be a little bit colder, but I think that is coming. We have not had the problems they have had in Colchester but I think that is due to theirs being in an open area, whereas our ice rink in enclosed.

“I think the problems in Colchester were caused by the winds whipping through, but we don’t have that here.”

The rink, which is open for group bookings, advanced tickets and sessions payable on the day, is open to 7pm every night.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday it will remain open until 9pm. The only day it will close is Christmas day.

To book your tickets and find out more about prices, visit www.ourburystedmunds.com/icerink