ORGANISERS of York’s ice rink say it will return to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in November after attracting a record 46,200 skaters during its recent season.
They say analysis of visitors has shown that almost half came from outside the county, and the outlet’s shops also saw record sales during the rink’s season.
Maria Farrugia, executive producer at Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and organiser of the event, said: “With 45 per cent of customers coming from outside North Yorkshire, the event is bringing people into the area, having a direct impact on other businesses in and around the city.”
She said she believed the increase in skater numbers was a result of Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland – a funfair, Christmas market and Santa’s grotto – which was created alongside the rink, as staff had received so many compliments about it.
She said that the eighth year of the rink was now being planned and she could confirm that the Winter Wonderland and rink would open on Saturday, November 24, and run through until January 6, 2013.
Mike Thomas, centre manager for the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, said he was “thrilled” the event was such a success in its second year at the complex.
The rink was originally based in the Eye of York until complaints from officials at nearby York Crown Court about noise and disturbance, after which it relocated to the outlet at Fulford, where there is room for a much bigger skating surface.
The rink won the York Tourism Awards in 2010 and has been voted one of the top ten ice rinks nationwide by several national newspapers and best ice rink to visit in the country by BBC Radio 2.
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