Please reach us at hello@11thhourice.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
YES ! There is nothing else like the thrill of skating on a real ice, ice rink. We specialise in creating real ice - skating rinks. Our ice rink system has a distinct advantage over those of our competitors, our system is rapidly deployed, and has a huge surface area on which ice is rapidly formed, speeding up the freezing process. This allows us to reduce the time in which an ice rink is created and reducing costs. A perfect for temporary and seasonal rinks.
We offer both standard and bespoke rink sizes.
An example of ‘off the shelf’ rink sizes we offer:
10M x 10M 100M ² 34 Skaters
10M x 20M 200M ² 66 Skaters
20M x 25M 500M ² 166 Skaters
20M x 30M 600M ² 200 Skaters
20M x 40M 800M ² 266 Skaters
25M x 45M 1,125M ² 375 Skaters
For enhanced skater comfort we allow 3M ² per skater.
We can create square or rectangular rinks, or a rink of any shape and size. We create ice trails / pathways, circular rinks, “L” shaped rinks, along with ice slides and slopes, and ice attractions.
Space will be needed for both the ice rink (the ice pad) and the plant/ machinery as well as an area for skaters to exchange their shoes, along with any other space the event may require for concessions, toilets, fairground rides, caterers, box office etc
Typically the space willl be broken down into 40% ice pad and 60% Off ice space.
We can create ice rinks as small as 8M wide by 10M Long (80M ² for 25 Skaters) to large scale ice rinks 2000M ² upwards.
Limited on space ? Talk to us, lets see what we can do.
YES! Our rinks can be deployed to most locations / environments.
We can collaborate with you to establish who provides what. We can provide as much or as little as needed. Collaborating and pooling resources often leads to cost savings.
We would need from the Organiser -
YES! Absolutely, we strive to ensure that all our rinks we operate are fully inclusive to all.
Disabilities should hold no bounds.
We provide ramped access to the rink for wheelchair users, and give them priority when accessing the rink, and our team is there to help and assist during their visit. We continue to support people, and make them feel welcomed, ensuring no one is excluded.
We recommend that the operating schedule include relaxed SEN sessions. These sessions involve reduced music level and static lighting, with reduced rink capacity for a more comfortable skating experience.
Our staff are trained to ensure that all guests, regardless of age, ability, race, religion, orientation, are very welcome and assisted during their visit. We welcome groups as well as individuals.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) if needed, should be brought to the rink by the individual.
For guest comfort and enhanced skating safety we recommend that 3M ² is allowed per skater.
As an example, based on 3M ² per skater:
A 20M wide by 30M long ice rink = 600M ² = 200 Skaters @ 3M ² per Skater
(20 multiplied by 30 equals square metres divided by 3 equals skater capacity
We understand that guests typically are not seasoned skaters, and lack stamina to skate for long periods of time. We generally recommend either a 45 or 60 minute skating session, with a 15 minute break between each session for customers to return their skates for a capacity up to 166 skaters. For larger rinks, those over 500M ² , we recommend either a 45 or 60 minute skating session, but with a 30 minute break in between sessions.
Sufficient time must be allowed inbetween sessions to process the skate / shoe exchange, and to resurface the ice pad. The larger the ice rink, the longer it takes to resurface and condition the ice surface, ensuring that it is fit to skate on for the next session.
There are so many variables to consider. Typically high yield revenue strategies are used factoring in super off peak /off peak / peak times, online booking / onsite booking, season tickets, special events and days like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.
It also varies according to the rink’s location and size of the rink.
Whilst each rink varies in budget and expenditure, we generally see ticket prices, for temporary rinks range from £5 to £25 for a 45 or 60 minute skating session.
No, we can supply, install and operate ice rinks anywhere in the UK and Europe
Yes, we sell ice rinks as well as hire them.
We manufacture a highly efficient under ice piping system, and header pipes for portable / temporary ice rinks, and year-round ice rinks. Our temporary system is quick to install, and makes ice fast! It has an excellent heat exchange coefficient and with a large surface area enabling the freezing process to be extremely efficient, so you will be skating in no time.
We also design and fabricate barrier systems in both steel and aluminium, and also provide all the accessories your rink may need such as, skates, skate/show racks, skating aids (Penguins, Bears, Seals etc), resurfacing equipment, melt pits and much more.
If you are looking to purchase an ice rink, get in touch, we are here to help. You can see more information on ice rink sales here.
Our rink system is quickly deployed and creates ice rapidly due to the vast surface area of our refrigeration system. This allows us to build rinks very quickly, saving on costs. Our system is perfect for temporary or seasonal ice rinks, no matter what time of year.
Of course it depends on the size and construction of the rink, but typically a square 600msq rink will take 2 to 3 days to construct with a further 36-72 hours for the freezing process to get to the required ice depth.
We can provide as little or as much as needed.
Typically for an ice rink we provide:
The Ice Rink Equipment, including ice mat, barriers and chillers
A Package of Skates including Skate/Shoe Racks
Skate Aids – Penguins, Seals, Polar Bears, Dolphins
Ice Resurfacing & Conditioning
In addition to this we also offer:
Marquee Structures & Decking
Temporary Power & Generators
Lighting & Sound
Online & On-site Ticketing and Merchant Services
Ice Slides & Slopes
Ice Attractions
Operational Staffing
Medical Staff
Accessible Aids
YES! Our ice rinks are available all year.
Our temporary rinks are of course extremely popular over the traditional festive period, however we also provide ice rinks at any time of the year.
Looking to offer a ‘cool’ experience during the summer? We can create ice rinks indoors or out during the summertime also.
Ice rinks will increase footfall, and dwell time, they provide an opportunity for income from concession stalls and seasonal markets, acting as a differentiator between you and your competitors.
YES! Our experienced management team can instill you with all the training and support you need to manage an ice rink yourself. With over 15 years of rink operations and management experience, our team can assist you in all areas of rink management and offer a tailor made training package for you and your staff.
Of course, you can always let us manage and operate the rink on your behalf. We can provide Management Staff, Technical Staff, Front Of House Staff, Medical Staff, and Box Office / Ticketing Staff.
YES! Real ice is made by freezing water. Our real ice rinks need a good water supply to create the ice rink. A suitable water supply, such as a fire hydrant is needed for an ice rink build. We can create an ice rink using a garden hose, it just takes a very long time!
Maintenance of the ice surface is highly important to ensure that the ice surface is fit for skating. As the ice surface deteriorates through use, it is important to keep the surface as smooth as possible, by resurfacing it, mitigating any accidents caused by defects in the ice.
For our smaller rinks, these are typically resurfaced by hand, using manual ice / snow scrapers. On larger rinks, we use either gas, diesel or electric ice resurfacing machines to resurface ‘cut’ the ice and condition the ice. Our own staff are able to resurface the ice in-between skate sessiosn, or we can give you all the training to resurface.
YES! Our seasonal work needs a lot of manpower. We are always interested to hear from people with and without rink experience interested in working on seasonal ice rinks.
Each year we need Managers, Front of House Staff, Box Office Staff, Multi Skilled Technicians, Carpenters and General Labourers for installing, operating and dismantling everything ice rink related.
Remember to check out our jobs page throughout the year. Here you will find our current vacancies advertised. Alternatively, you can send your CV to hello@11thhourice.com, and we shall be in touch.
NO! An Ice rink does require a reasonably level / flat surface, however, if your area is uneven or has a gradient, we can install a decking system to create a suitable floor as a sub-structure to support the ice rink.
We can build ice rinks on slopes, on water, around trees, street furniture and other obsticles. We can build ice rinks in TV studios and film lots, in sports halls, parks, beaches, and on lakes. You name it we can do it.
NO! We specialise in designing and installing bespoke and delivering unique projects, we can design the ice pad (rink) to your requirements.
We can also design and install ice slides, ice slopes, real snow playgrounds, ice trails & ice walks, ice attractions, ski slopes, and much more. We can create any shape ice rink.
Imagination is the only limitation.
YES! ice walks and trails are a great addition to an ice rink you can even add an outdoor ice walk to an indoor ice rink. We designed, manufactured and installed the UKs first Alpine Ice trail and at 250m long is one of the longest in the UK.
YES! With our system, we can install our smaller ice rinks directly onto a level grass area, without the need for a deck. Larger ice rinks however, with resurfacing machines, do need a deck or support the system underneath them to distribute the weight.
We can also build ice rinks directly on to stable sand for that beach experience.
And YES, we can even build ice rinks on water, we can create a “floating” ice rinks on lakes, and bodies of water.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
YES! We can provide ice rinks for just one day. Need an ice rink for a TV special?
Our ice rink system is deployed and frozen quickly, for that one-off moment. Of course the build, freeze, and dismantle time depends on the size ice rink that is needed.
We have delivered Ice rinks for TV specials / film production, private Birthdays and party celebrations for high earners.
Contact us for your ice rink solution.
YES! Where we supply and operate an ice rink we are covered worldwide with £10 million Public and Product Liability insurance, and we are happy to supply our policy documents for clients. Clients should also have their own event and wet weather insurance.
For Clients / Hirers who are ‘dry hiring’ an ice rink from us, and operating the ice rink themselves, the Hirere would be responsible for providing their own Public Liability Insurance, Event Insurance and if deemed necessary wet weather insurance.
YES! Of course we provide a full package of health and safety documentation. A full risk assessment is carried out following a site visit, and before the use of any newly installed ice rink.
We also provide (if necessary) Method Statements, COSHH Assessments, Noise Management Plans, Event Management Plans.
We work with expert health and safety consultants who specialise in sporting activities.
RAIN-
Typically wet weather does not affect the ice surface, other than making the ice wet. Whilst skaters may get wet, often skating in the rain adds to the real feel of an outdoor event
HAIL & SNOW -
Hail and Snow does not impact the operation of an ice rink, in fact it complements and ice rink, and makes for an enhanced and magical skating experience when outdoors.
WIND -
Wind, especially warm wind, can impact rink operations. Wind due to friction has a thawing effect upon the ice surface, which may impact rink operation and cause closures. Wind, in extreme circumstances can also initiate event stop procedures, as temporary structures maximum wind loading may be reached, forcing a site to close for safety.
YES! We provide a selection of different size skates, depending on your rink size and target audience. We provide skate sizes from the smallest of dual blade bob skates for toddlers to adult size 14, and of course everything in-between.
And for non-skaters, we can also supply ice grips which are fitted over the shoe and allows for safe walking on the ice.
YES! This is a great way to generate additional revenue, by selling advertising space. The barriers that form the perimeter of the rink can have advertisements applied to them, on both sides. From individual panels to rink wide displays, anything is possible.
We can give you the specific dimensions of our barriers for your graphic designers and printers. Typically the printers of the graphics are responsible for the instillation and removal of the graphics.
We recommend that a low tack / adhesive vinyl is used. Please remember that it is your responsibility to remove any and all advertising after the rink has finished.
Revenue streams come in many forms including, but not limited to: Ticket Sales, Skate Aid Rental, Cloakroom, Sponsorship, Advertising, Photographers, F&B, Car Parking, Ice Skating Lessons, Merchandise, Concessions. All of which help to fund the costs of the ice rink.
YES! Full security provision is required during operational hours to deal with guests, and also overnight security to secure the site and look after assets. We are more than happy to provide security staff to facilitate this.
The rink is offered to all skaters 3 years old upwards.
We also welcome seniors, and also recommend organisers when planning schedules allow for relaxed senior sessions.
We also supply:
We also supply:
We are here to help you every step of the way, from concept to creation, and it all starts with a conversation, so feel free to get in touch and say hello.
Please complete our enquiry form on our contact us page found here, or feel free to call us on 01257 733707 alternatively you can drop us an email at hello@11thhourice.com and we will be pleased to discuss your requirements and book a site visit.
Let us take the headaches out of your ice rink experience !