Ice rink heralded for bringing crowds to town

Christmas-themed events - including an ice rink - attracted about 55,000 people to a town centre, the local council has said.

West Northamptonshire Council said the large rink in Northampton's Market Square was the "first of this scale" in the town.

It was installed by a company that has made ice rinks for ITV's Dancing on Ice and London's Somerset House.

A spokesperson said footfall in the nearby Grosvenor Shopping Centre was up 19.3% compared with the previous year and the £122,000 generated through ticket and bar sales meant it "broke even" on costs.

The ice rink was funded through a budget ring-fenced for leisure and cultural activities, with remaining costs met through local partnerships, including sponsorship and £69,252 funding from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the council said.

The money raised through ticket and bar sales meant "no additional pressure" was placed on core council services, the spokesperson added.

The Christmas events ran from 4 December to 4 January and the rink attracted visitors from as far away as Scotland, according to ticket analysis.

James Petter, who is deputy leader and cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure at the Reform UK-led council, said: "These events have created a real sense of energy and community spirit."

Keith Holland-Delamere, chairman of the community services committee at Northampton Town Council, said the combined events had "created such a buzz around the Market Square" and described it as "amazing".

West Northamptonshire Council said it would put together a "broader programme" of events and activities for Market Square.

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