FAQs
ICE SKATING & ICE EQUIPMENT
You can view all of our times and prices here.
Please direct any queries relating to your online account, booking tickets and any other skating and ice sports questions to icesports@national-ice-centre.com or message us via our social media channels.
For any general queries regarding skating, you can call us on 0115 853 3101. However, we are unable to take bookings for skating sessions or lessons over the phone so if you have a query about this, please email the ice sports team directly.
Thank you for your patience.
Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your booking to allow for time to queuing and putting skates on. Entry to the National Ice Centre is on Bolero Square to the right of the box office. You will be asked to wait outside if you arrive before this time so please be sure to dress for the weather.
We politely ask that bookings are made online via our website, this is to ensure you are guaranteed a skating slot. If you cannot book online, please arrive early for the session we accept contactless card and cash on the door, however online pre-bookings are preferable.
We can’t accept screenshot tickets or confirmation emails from sources other than our National Ice Centre booking address. You may be asked to pay on the door if you present a ticket that does not comply with our usual ticket types.
Staff will direct you to skate hire from the balcony of the CCM rink.
Yes, skate hire is available and included in the price of your admission ticket. You will be asked to keep your shoes and store these safely in a locker. Be sure to ask for the same size as your standard shoe size.
Gloves and socks are also available to buy at Skate Hire for £2.50 in both Junior and Adult sizes.
We have a number of different items of ice equipment that can help toddlers and youngsters with skating – snowmen, penguins, mini zamboni’s, seals etc. Those available for use will vary depending on the height of the skater. We also have equipment that toddlers can sit on whilst being pushed by an adult. On ice equipment can be hired for £5.00 and are subject to availability.
Yes, you are more than welcome to come along and watch most sessions. However, on Friday and Saturday evenings, we don’t allow spectators unless it is a parent or guardian accompanying an under 18 skater.
We have some seating at the side of the ice and would recommend wrapping up warm! You can also see the ice from both the Sub Zero café and Encore Bar & Restaurant so you can grab yourself a drink or some food whilst watching if you wish!
Yes! We currently offer speed, figure and hockey skates for public skating sessions.
Yes, Ice Locker offers hand skate sharpening and machine sharpening.
The smallest skates are toddler size 5. The largest skates are adult size 15.
Please return your skates to Skate Hire and exit the venue through the Bolero Square entrance.
Our skating lessons run throughout the year on our direct debit plan. Visit our skating lessons page for information.
You can view our skating lessons progression chart to find out which grades you need to achieve for different ice sports disciplines.
As a guide we recommend that children no younger than 18 months old skate on the ice but they can enjoy the ice from their pushchair. Find out more here.
If bringing youngsters under 5, we do have a Tots Zone in the centre of the ice at certain sessions, which you are welcome to use. This provides a great learning environment where you can make use of the on ice equipment available. We welcome parents/carers with young children and will do everything we can to help you have a great time on the ice! Find out when the Tots Zone is on here.
Tots skating lessons are also available for children aged under 5 (we recommend a minimum age of 24 months). Our experienced coaches will take your little ones from learning to stand on the ice to fully fledged skaters. More information can be found here.
No food or drink purchased off site is allowed in the venue as stated in our T&Cs.
We have a great selection of food and drink in the Sub Zero café and Encore Bar & Restaurant which are both located in the venue.
Details of our coaches are found here. In addition to the coaches fees, a ticket for the Public Skating session or Practice Ice will need to be purchased.
There is an age restriction of 8 years and above for children not accompanied by an adult for all skating sessions. The themed parties offer skating in a controlled and supervised environment, but please be aware that it is darker than usual as the lights are down and the session is popular with teenagers and young adults. You will need to be happy that your child is a confident skater and ensure that they are supervised at all times.
GROUPS
We usually say that a comfortable number is between 30-60, we try to split groups up into even numbers for each game station (as it gives everyone the same amount of time to have a go at the task). If you did wish to bring a different number, do let us know and we can look at what would be best to accommodate your group for a fun day at the National Ice Centre.
We hire the rink out for team building sessions on an hourly basis, so it just depends how long you would like on the ice.
We always start off our team building sessions with a small introduction into the basics of skating, this helps to build confidence and break the ice (pardon the pun). We also have skate aids that can assist with anyone who wants a little bit extra support whilst on the ice.
All ages are welcome to take part in the sessions, we just recommend that all participants are confident enough to try something new (and bring their competitiveness with them).
Absolutely, we invite spectators to sit in one of our Ice Hockey players bench zones, and we encourage photography and videos throughout (just so you can show others how competitive your colleagues and friends are).
OTHER
Enjoy parking within just a few minutes’ walk of the National Ice Centre! See our car park map for nearby car parks. If you park at NCP Stoney Street, please visit Skate Hire to validate your ticket and get a discount for the first three hours of parking.
Yes, you can buy a locker token from us for 50p at Skate Hire or our token machines. Please note they are single use tokens.
Yes, we do! Please visit the birthday parties section of our website which will give much more information on what you can purchase and what’s included.
We offer free child safe wristbands for your children in the unfortunate event they are separated from a parent or guardian. A contact telephone number should be written on the wristbands and in the event of your child being lost, you will be contacted by our Ice Sports Team. You can collect your wristband from Skate Hire near the CCM rink which is located on level 1 of the venue.
Yes. We are committed to providing a safe environment and ensuring the welfare of children and adults whilst at our venue and have a number of safeguarding policies and procedures in place.