Christmas is coming to Bristol’s harbourside in a big way this year, with a brand new winter festival bringing ice skating, towering rides, tipi bars, live music, festive food and mulled drinks to the waterfront.
Bristol On Ice will take over the Amphitheatre at Bristol Harbour from Saturday, November 28th until Sunday, December 27th, situated next to the well-established Bristol Spiegeltent. Creating a new, free-entry, Christmas destination where visitors can skate by the waterfront, take in views across the city from a 65-metre Star Flyer and head into the tipis for drinks, food and live music.
Created by Crow Leisure Group, the family-run events company with six generations of experience behind it, the festival will bring almost a month of Christmas entertainment to the harbourside, opening daily from 12pm until 10pm.
At the heart of Bristol On Ice will be Bristol city centre’s only ice rink, covering 540 square metres with hourly skating sessions throughout the afternoon and evening.
Alongside the rink, the 65-metre Star Flyer will take visitors high above the festival site, while the Après Ski Party ride will add another attraction for those looking for something a little faster.
For those who would rather stay on the ground, the Après Skate Tipi Bar and Mulled Tipi Bar will offer somewhere to warm up over festive drinks, with food available across the site and live music in the Après Tipi every weekend from 3pm.
The festival has been created for all ages, from families looking for a festive day out and couples meeting for winter drinks to groups of friends and colleagues getting together in the run-up to Christmas.
Kennedy Crow, Managing Director of Crow Leisure Group, said: “We can’t wait to bring Bristol On Ice to the city for the first time. Christmas is such a special time of year and the Amphitheatre gives us an incredible setting to create something right on the harbourside that people can enjoy throughout the festive season.
“We want it to be somewhere you can really make an afternoon or evening of it. You can bring the children skating and go on the rides, meet friends for mulled drinks and food, listen to live music in the tipi or come down with everyone from work for a Christmas night out.”
Ice skating sessions will run hourly, with tickets priced at £14.95 for adults 17 + and £12.95 for Children aged 5 to 17. Family tickets for four admissions will be available for £49.95, while skate aids can be hired for £5.
Visitors will be able to book skating sessions in advance, with walk-ins also welcomed subject to availability.
The event will also offer dedicated packages for schools and corporate groups, with further announcements about the festival, entertainment and special activity set to be revealed in the run-up to opening.
Alex Crow, CEO & Founder of Crow Leisure Group, said: “We’re a family-run business and, as parents ourselves, creating events that different generations can enjoy is really important to us. There’s a lot more still to come and we’re excited to start revealing everything we’ve got planned as we count down to our first Christmas in Bristol.”
Bristol On Ice opens on Saturday, November 28th and runs until Sunday, December 27th at the Amphitheatre, Bristol Harbour, closing on Monday, November 30th and Christmas Day. Opening hours are 12pm until 10pm, with the final skating session beginning at 9pm.
For more information, visit crowleisuregroup.co.uk. Tickets for Bristol On Ice will be available to book online soon.