Visitors to Cheltenham's ice rink in Imperial Square during the winter spent £1.6 million with businesses in the town centre, Cheltenham Borough Council has revealed this March 2024.
As well as benefiting the local economy, the council is also reporting a significant reduction in the rink's environmental impact compared to previous years — with an innovative new power system producing 98 per cent less emissions than in 2021.
The economic impact has been identified through independent research carried out by the South West Research Company, with visitors using the ice rink having spent a total of £1.6 million — £860,000 of which wouldn’t have been spent in the town if the attraction wasn’t in place.
A survey also identified that around 75 per cent of visitors came from Gloucestershire, with 25 per cent travelling from further afield.
Of around 30,000 people who visited the rink, 83 per cent cited the event as the main reason for their visit to Cheltenham.
Local families were given free tickets to the rink by the council to help out during the cost of living crisis.
An innovative new power solution — created in partnership with Cheltenham-based firm KoniK and ice rink operators S3K Group — meant the rink used only 12.7 per cent of the generator fuel and reduced carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 98.7 per cent, when compared to the town’s 2021 ice rink.
Councillor Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for economic development, culture, tourism and wellbeing, said: 'This council is fully committed to the environment while supporting the economy too.
'This is why the team have worked so hard to develop such an innovative power solution and I’m pleased to see these fantastic results.
'These results show that we can put on fun events while reducing our carbon footprint.'
