UTTOXETER is set for an ‘exciting’ new leisure facility creating a host of new jobs, the Advertiser can reveal.
One of the country’s leading leisure companies will be taking on the Cinebowl development in Dovefields Retail Park, off Town Meadows Way, and adding a spectacular new ice rink.
The company behind the project own and run 15 ice arena venues across the UK under the Planet Ice and Silver Blades names, including the Leisure Box development in Birmingham.
The owner of Dovefields Retail Park, Malcolm Barrett told the Advertiser that the new ice rink, which will be in the unit formerly home to the Big Top Fun Centre, was ‘good news for the town’.
He said: “It is a great unit next to the Cinebowl which is going to be converted to a proper ice rink. It is a very exciting addition and I’m really chuffed that it is coming to Uttoxeter.
“The company that are doing it are one of the leading ice rink companies and have many in the country. They do it right and the unit is just right for them to put a quality skating rink in.
“When you see Dancing On Ice on the television, when you see them practicing, that’s at a place in Altrincham near Manchester and that was done by the same company.
“It will absolutely bring in some extra employment to the town as well. It is good news for the town and I believe they are trying to get it open to coincide with the next series of Dancing On Ice.” As well as creating a new visitor attraction to entice tourism to the town, the ice rink will give the opportunity for Uttoxeter people and clubs to take advantage of the facility.
Spokesman for Ice Media Productions. the company behind the scheme, Heath Rhodes, confirmed how excited the company was to bring an ice rink to Uttoxeter and what it would offer the town.
He said: “The Cinebowl is a great asset to Uttoxeter and we hope that by adding the ice rink, Uttoxeter will be seen as a major local leisure destination.
“The ice pad will be two-thirds the size of an Olympic rink offering public skating every day, plus Learn to Skate courses for children and adults that are endorsed by The National Ice Skating Association under the SKATE UK initiative, special sessions for parent and toddler during weekdays, and planned sessions specifically targeted for young people after school too.”
Mr Rhodes added that Mike Petrouis, owner of both Planet Ice and Silver Blades ice skating brands, was ‘delighted with the acquisition and looks forward to bringing ice leisure to the area’
