If your festive plans usually involve wobbling around Leicester’s Christmas ice rink while clutching an overpriced hot chocolate, we’ve got some really bad news.
The city’s much-loved Jubilee Square ice rink won’t be returning this winter after the company behind it pulled out just weeks before it was due to open.
Now there’s a blame game brewing between the operator and Leicester City Council, with councillors warning the cancellation could hit city centre businesses right when they need Christmas shoppers the most.
Eleventh Hour Events has run the Jubilee Square attraction since 2019 and was due to return in early December.
In an announcement made on Friday (October 23), Leicester City Council confirmed the company had pulled out of the contract, meaning they will have to explore other uses for the square this winter.
The council says it has been pursuing a debt owed by the company. The debt recovery and breach of contract are now in the hands of the council’s lawyers.
However, Eleventh Hour Events owner John Davies disputes the council’s claim and is asking elected members at the council to question its management of the situation.
In an email sent to councillors, he said: “It is with considerable regret that I made this decision. I wanted the rink to proceed.
“My position is that the council’s delays, failure to bring outstanding disputes to a coordinated resolution meeting, and inadequate responses to substantive correspondence materially contributed to the outcome.”
Graham Callister, the city council’s head of festivals and events said: “We know that the ice rink has become a popular feature of Christmas in Leicester, and we are disappointed by this late cancellation.
“We are currently looking at other options available to us and aim to give an update on this very soon.”
Full details of the Christmas in Leicester activities will be on the Visit Leicester website in the coming days.
By Caitlin James (Local Democracy Reporter) and Laura Wilde (Extra Gubbins)
