Essentials such as power generation, distribution and site lighting can be supplemented with everything from project management, ticketing, rink marshalling, decorative lighting, sound systems and even marketing and sponsorship. Effectively, 11th Hour Ice offers a bespoke ice rink service tailored to meet the needs and budgets of a range of organisations. Three of this year's installations amply demonstrate the variety of scale and the spectrum of applications catered for.
In the town of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan Council hosted a series of attractions transforming its Central Park for nine days into Ice Central, where 11th Hour Ice supplied a complete package, including fully-covered ice rink, power and distribution, lighting, sound, marshalling and ticketing. This venture was a first for Barry and one that proved very successful.
The Council was seeking to increase footfall into the town centre to help boost local trade and promote a festive community spirit. More than 4000 skaters took advantage of Ice Central, meeting the Council's aims and prompting one local councillor to bemoan in the press that the rink wasn't in place for longer, such was its positive impact.
Cardiff City centre's Winter Wonderland was the setting for an altogether larger rink. Working in partnership with Sayers Amusements who installed a funfair and Christmas themed amusement park, 11th Hour Ice supplied and managed every aspect of the ice rink as well as supplying power, distribution and site lighting for the whole event, running from 10 November to 3 January.
At the top end of the market, Celtic Manor Resort offered its guests and visitors an extensive covered ice rink on the roof of its large conferencing facility. This venue places its focus on individual customer experience and 11th Hour Ice's attention to every presentational detail was crucial. Again, the company managed all aspects of running the rink and received high praise from the client for the beautiful appearance of the installation and the way in which any aesthetic disruption of the site was kept to a minimum.
John Davies of 11th Hour Ice reflects: "From the smaller, community centred rinks to the large high-end installations, we see a real appetite for the benefits that ice rinks can bring. There's no doubt that there's a significant difference in demographic between the users of Celtic Manor and Barry Town Centre and a difference in purpose between a local authority and a luxury hotel but the common denominator of having fun is inescapable.
"The fact that we're able to provide any scale of provision with as few or as many ancillary services as necessary, means that an ice rink is a viable proposition as a stand-alone facility or as part of an integrated event. We have a highly experienced team at 11th Hour who will deliver without fail. During the set-up for this year's Barry installation we overcame problems with water and electricity supply whilst being simultaneously battered by terrible weather - none of this affected the outcome for the clients, who were unanimous in their delight at the event."
(Jim Evans)
