This year sees a return to having a synthetic ice rink in Torquay, this time in the Arena at the Riviera Centre.

28 years ago there was a synthetic ice rink in the Pavilions and one local teenager, Richard Lambert, was amongst the youngsters who started skating and developed a passion for the sport. So much so that he went on to gain tests and win competitions and eventually turned professional by joining Walt Disney’s World on Ice and touring the World for nearly 8 years.

Now with an established lighting and events company in London, the opportunity to bring a synthetic ice rink back to Torquay for the Christmas period has come along with the Riviera Centre welcoming this venture.

Jenny Thompson, Riviera International Conference Centre’s operations manager, said she was looking forward to adding Torquay to the number of British towns with an ice rink. She added: “It’s great news. I think it’s going to be fun at that time of year. I’ll definitely be having a go myself. Having the ice rink will coincide with the last two party nights at the centre, so party-goers will have an added benefit”

The rink will be 10 metres by 12 metres in size, and it will be open to the public until January 3.

Richard, now a national skating judge and Technical Specialist, added: “It’s a very popular activity at Christmas. It’s indoors so will be dry and warm and still operational even when it’s raining, a definite advantage over the real ice seasonal rinks! It’s something you can do together with your family and friends. For me it would be a dream to have a rink in the Bay, because that’s where I started my skating career. I think the opportunities I’ve enjoyed should be available to others who might enjoy skating. It will be a lot of fun to bring back skating to the Bay this Christmas. There’ll be family sessions, group lessons, family disco, general public skating and late-night disco sessions. We’ve engaged two fully-qualified coaches, who will be available for group lessons and private lessons at some of the sessions. Hopefully there’ll be something here for everyone”

More than 60 synthetic ice rinks will be installed in Britain this Christmas, including 12 in London alone.

For detailed session timetable please see www.christmasskatingrink.co.uk