Plans to bring an ice rink and bigger Christmas market to Cheltenham this winter have been approved by Cheltenham Borough Council.
Cheltenham’s new ice rink will be situated at Imperial Gardens, in front of the Queen’s Hotel, and will feature transparent sides and a roof, so skaters can take to the ice in all weather – providing safety measures around Coronavirus allow.
Cheltenham’s new and improved Christmas market will be expanded too. Cotswold Markets, who run regular craft and farmers markets in Cheltenham, will have its Christmas market along The Promenade. There will also be a Christmas-themed outdoor bar at Imperial Gardens.
Cheltenham BID director, Kevan Blackadder, said: ‘We are delighted that we have been given the go-ahead to improve Cheltenham as a Christmas destination, which will be so important on the back of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘We are aware that we will have to take further advice as to whether it will be safe to go-ahead with the ice rink with social distancing measures still likely to be in place. If that means it will be unsafe to proceed, we now know that we will be able to bring this eagerly-awaited attraction to the town next year.’
Plans for an ice rink at Imperial Gardens were originally approved in November 2019, but the location was changed due to the ongoing building work at The Quadrangle.
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