WONDERLAND!

IT won’t be long before Nottingham’s Old Market Square is once again transformed into a Bavarian Winter Wonderland complete with the smell of sizzling bratwurst, the sight of faux snow and fairy lights and the sound of giggling ice skaters trying to stay upright.

Tickets for the latter – the East Midlands’ largest real ice rink and the centrepiece of Slab Square’s Christmas Market – will soon be on sale at nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk at £10.50 for adults and £9.50 for under-12s.

Opening on Friday, November 16, with a “truly breathtaking” performance from a Dancing On Ice star, the 750-square metre rink will be slightly different to previous years.

For 2018 the 60ft Christmas tree will be placed just outside the ice rink, to offer a better skating experience, say organisers Mellors Group (who also run Nottingham’s Beach and Old Market Scare with Nottingham City Council).

Visitors can skate from the age of four. Children’s stabiliser penguins and lockers are limited and available at the skate hire on a first come, first served basis.

The rink will be open until Monday, December 31. Sessions start on the hour every hour and last for 45 minutes. Sunday to Thursday: First session starts at 11am and the last session starts at 8pm. Fridays and Saturdays: First session starts at 11 and the last session starts at 9pm.

Ticket prices (includes skates) Adult: £10.50, under-12s: £9.50 (must be accompanied by an adult over 18 on the ice). Family of four ticket: £36 (two adults and a maximum two children under 12 or one adult and three children under 12). Penguin skate aid hire: £5. Not available to book online. Can be purchased at the skate hire on a first come, first served basis. Limited availability. Under-12s only. Lockers: £2 (cannot be pre-booked. Pay at the skate hire on a first come basis)(10 percent booking fee applies to online bookings).