Northampton Market Square ice rink 'broke even' bringing in £122,000 in ticket and bar sales, council reveals
Christmas events including the ice rink in Northampton’s Market Square brought in more than 55,000 visitors, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has revealed.
With revenue from tickets and bar sales at £122,000, WNC says the ice rink “broke even" without “placing any additional pressure on core council services”.
The ice rink combined with the festive events help boost footfall in the town centre with the council stating the Grosvenor Centre was 19.3 percent busier compared to the previous year. Visitors using the ice rink came from places such as London, Birmingham, Devon, Kent, Coventry and Glasgow.
The ice rink was open from December 4 to January 4 and ran alongside Carols on the Square, Christmas Jumper Day and Santa on Ice.
Councillor James Petter, WNC’s deputy leader and cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said: “The response to the ice rink and festive activities has been fantastic and it’s been great to see Northampton Market Square so busy over the Christmas and New Year period.
“These events have created a real sense of energy and community spirit encouraging people to spend time in the town centre and support our local traders and businesses. Importantly, we’ve delivered this programme with the support of our partners in a financially responsible way while achieving exactly what it set out to do – bring people into the heart of Northampton.”
The festive programme was delivered by WNC with support form Northampton BID and others. Sponsors of the ice rink and wider activities included Northampton Town Council, London Northwestern Railway and the South Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan.
Councillor Keith Holland-Delamere, chair of the community services committee at Northampton Town Council, said the ice rink brought a buzz to the town centre.
"The skating and additional activities built on the success of our Christmas Lights Switch On event at the square in late November, and we are pleased to have worked with WNC and other partners to deliver an amazing festive experience for the town.”
A spokesperson for WNC said: "The ice rink was funded through a budget specifically ringfenced for leisure and cultural activities designed to attract visitors into the town centre, with remaining costs met through local partnerships, including sponsorship and £69,252 funding from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
“In addition, the council generated over £122,000 in income through ticket and bar sales, enabling the programme to break even overall and ensuring the activities were delivered responsibly, without placing any additional pressure on core council services.”
Mark Mullen, operations manager for Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID), said: “Christmas in Northampton is always special but this year had an extra buzz, with the ice rink, Santa’s Grotto, Grinch takeover, live music and entertainment proving a huge hit and bringing in the crowds.
"Giving visitors access to experiences that create lasting memories and make them want to return time and time again is the key to a successful town centre, and this year saw Northampton leading the way in delivering feelgood festive activities for the whole family."