Have you been ice skating this winter yet? We were invited to try the ice rink at Bournemouth Pavillion with our 4 and 6-year-olds. Here’s what we thought.
We love ice skating! I always thought of my kids as future British Ice Hockey superstars. That was before I thought about potential injuries. Now I’m leaning towards Chess perhaps?
But ice skating is such a lovely family activity that almost anyone gets to enjoy. Even if they don’t go in the rink themselves. I’ve seen tiny toddlers holding onto the little penguin support aid so they can enjoy themselves and feel independent and proud grandparents cheering from the side of the rink. Undoubtedly a day out for the entire family!
So we were delighted when BH Live invited us to try out Cool Coast Ice Rink at Bournemouth International Centre. We knew we’d have a great day with our kids.
But not all ice rinks are the same and I can say I loved Cool Coast! I wasn’t expecting it to be so warm and welcoming. Warm? You must be wondering why I use this word when talking about ice skating but you’d be surprised how comfortably warm it feels outside the rink. The Alpine Terrace cafe is super convenient and serves all sorts of kiddie favourite treats. We had pizza, hot chocolate, coffee and waffles.
We also loved the music and the atmosphere in general. We went on a Friday afternoon, straight after school when the kids are usually overtired and behaving a bit frantic. But the ice skating experience was very chilled. The kids were doing their own thing while singing along to some of their favourite tunes. Even I got a bit carried away with a few Queen hits.
I’ve included below everything else you need to know.
Where is it?
At Bournemouth International Centre’s Purbeck Hall. If you travel by car and you park at the BIC car park, simply follow the signs to your left as you walk out of the car park building.
When is it open
From 18th December 2019 until 22nd February 2020.
How much is it?
Individual tickets start at £8 plus a transaction fee. There are family tickets, food and drinks promotions and group discounts so you can choose what works better for you. Pre-booking is recommended.
Other facilities?
The rink is wheelchair friendly for any session. There’s a cafe just outside the rink with hot drinks and snacks. Toilet facilities just outside the rink area. Lockers for your shoes and other belongings. Also penguin aids for little ones at an extra cost.
Is it worth the money?
Yes, in my opinion. I really liked the pizza ‘Family skate, 2 pizzas & 4 drinks for £50’ and ‘Family skate, 4 waffles & 4 drinks for £45’ promotions. We are planning to go back next weekend with friends. It’s an awesome activity for a rainy day to get the kids to take some exercise and have fun away from electronic devices.
Anything else I should know?
Not suitable for under 4’s. Each session includes 15 minutes to put your skates on, 60 minutes on the ice and 15 minutes at the end to take your skates off. Allow plenty of time to find parking during busy times. And you must wear socks, and ideally also gloves.
Disclaimer
We’d like to thank BH Live Tickets for this amazing invitation. Everything written here reflects my personal opinion. No amount of delicious waffles and pizzas would make me write something I don’t believe in. Promise.
Blog written by Maria Vargas.
