Tomorrow is the last day the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink is open for this season. We took the little ones on for their very first skating experiences leaving them wanting more.
The ice rink came to Brighton’s most iconic landmark for its sixth year last November. Tipped as one of the best skating rinks in the country, tourists and city dwellers alike have been flocking to cut up the ice.
This was our first season trying it out, as both kids were finally old enough and I found helpers to take the place of my skate-phobic husband. Our first trip was on New Year’s Day, we braved the drizzle and crowds to start off 2016 on ice. As the adults were a bit hungover, it seemed like a good idea to get some air in our lungs and blood pumping around the body. And we were right. Our focus on technique and trying not to crash with anyone pretty much distracted us from feeling queasy.
The kids both used one of the penguins for balance while they got to grips with balancing their blades on the ice. Our youngest, Boo, wasn’t so thrilled with the experience at first as she fell very early on, although with help from some of the adults she came around, even having a giggle the faster she went. Seven-year-old Loulou was determined to skate properly with support from the penguin, practising her balance and pushing out the blades to move forward. She’s quite the keen gymnast, so intuitively aware on how to hold her core to keep steady.
Our second trip today was just me and Loulou. We’d only popped in for a coffee at the cafe after swimming lessons but the sky was perfect blue, the sun was out – we just could not resist. After a few spins round the children’s area with a penguin, she decided to ditch it and come round the main area holding her hand. Practising with the penguin, going at a slower pace also helped me with my dodgy technique. I can stay standing and make my way round at a medium pace but not without some precarious wobbling. We did a good 10 laps together, enough to relax, moving to the music and taking in the sunny atmosphere. We absolutely did not want to leave!
Provided (and assuming) that the rink makes a return this November, I will look into buying an adult season ticket at £99.00. It sounds like a lot of money but when a peak session adult ticket is £13 or a family ticket is £36, if you’re planning a few sessions over the period, you will save overall. However, it does exclude the Christmas period which last year they cheekily set from 12th December to 3rd January. It’s also worth noting that there are discounts for Members of the Royal Pavilion. Plus, regular sessions could be a novel way to keep in shape as you can burn around 250 calories skating at leisurely pace.
So it’s goodbye for another year. And thanks for making it a great experience!
