An annual Christmas ice rink has been scrapped after 30 years of festivity. Organisers of the festive attraction in Edinburgh confirmed news that the ice rink on George Street will not be present during the festive programme between November 14 and January 27. The decision to axe it this year was made during the summer, after organisers due to uncertainty caused by the nearby Princes Street being closed due to a fire.
Edinburgh usually holds a seven-week festival, which is organised by the arts company Unique Assembly Ltd, which also produces the city’s Hogmanay and Christmas celebrations on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.
A spokesperson for the company said, “An ice rink requires a great deal of advance planning, with the ice rink supplier, design of structures and site arrangements committed months ahead.
“Those decisions had to be made over the summer, at a time when key parts of the city centre were closed, and there was real uncertainty about when Princes Street would reopen and what the knock-on effects would be.”
They added that “significant costs of staging a rink in the city centre, with no opportunity for funding support”, also played a role in the decision to scrap the ice rink. Organisers will be introducing new festive shows and cabaret at Bristo Square to make up for the loss.
However, locals have shared their disappointment with the news.
One person said: “The excuse is pathetic. It’s clearly a cost cutting exercise if they can still produce the ice bar then they can produce the ice rink! Even if they moved away from George Street.”
Another suggested: “Why can’t it be in Princes Street Gardens the main part?” with a third echoing: “Shame, they couldn’t put it back in the gardens in St Andrew Sq or Princes Street it was always well supported.”
The ice rink has previously been located in East Princes Street Gardens and St Andrew Square before moving to George Street in more recent years, Edinburgh Evening News reports.
The spokesperson for the company said that they hope the long-standing attraction will return in future years.
