The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Wendy Smith, switched on the 4,000 LED lights on Nottingham’s 60ft Christmas tree on Tuesday evening to mark the start of the festive season in the city. It also marked the official opening of Winter Wonderland, The Mellors Group’s stunning Christmas attraction.
Nottingham was recently ranked No 2 in the UK as a festive destination by Time Out magazine and over one million visitors are expected in the city. This year, Winter Wonderland is bigger and better than ever before with a brand-new, exciting Sky Skate Ice Path, the first of its kind in the UK. The ice path allows skaters to glide above the Christmas Market stalls for a unique view of Christmas in Nottingham.
Winter Wonderland will be open from November 15th to December 31st. Super off-peak and off-peak reduced price skating tickets are available on Mondays to Thursdays outside the school holidays and a special all-attractions family ticket will be available from Boxing Day to New Year’s Eve. If you have a Council Tax account number, you can get a discount code for off-peak skating here
There will also be an ice rink at ground level where you will also find the not-to-be-missed Ice Bar. The temperature drops to minus 10 degrees, but gloves and coats are provided.
The sixty stall Christmas market is offering everything from hand-made gifts to delicious food and mulled wine from local and international traders. The much-loved toboggan ride is back on King Street and there are rides for smaller people too. The Helter Skelter Bar has been a fixture in the Christmas Market for over ten years and is back on Long Row.
You can find more festive season activities at http://www.whatsonnottingham.com
Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Planning at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are proud to offer residents and visitors this exciting centrepiece for Christmas in Nottingham. Winter Wonderland will bring people into the city centre, not only from Nottingham but the wider region. I’m sure the new skating layout will be a hit with visitors. We’re pleased that by working with the Mellors Group, we are able to stage this fantastic festive attraction at no cost to local taxpayers.”
Edward Mellors of the Mellors Group said: “It’s great to be bringing Winter Wonderland back to Old Market Square for Christmas. We’re truly excited that this year, alongside our already popular bars and attractions, we are introducing the Sky Skate ice path that will provide a truly unique ice-skating experience. After a tough couple of years for everyone I think Nottingham needs to be both optimistic and ambitious this Christmas. It’s time to come together again, to celebrate, and to have fun.”