Bury St Edmunds will feature an ice-skating rink at the arc Shopping Centre as part of its 2025 Christmas celebrations

An ice-skating rink will return to Bury St Edmunds town centre at Christmas this year, it has been announced.

The popular attraction is being organised by Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) and will be located at arc Shopping Centre.

The synthetic skating rink is thanks to funding from Bury St Edmunds Town Council and expected to be in place for the duration of the school Christmas holidays.

Chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID Mark Cordell said: “We had a synthetic ice-rink here in 2023 and it was a real highlight of the Christmas holiday period.

“It gives people an additional reason to spend some time in the town centre and a free activity with family or friends.

“This one will be even bigger, allowing around 40 people to skate at any one time. I am very grateful to Bury St Edmunds Town Council which is making a significant increase in the funding it has given to Christmas activities in previous years – allowing us to make this the main attraction of the season.”

The rink will be part of the Christmas In Bury St Edmunds Experience which will see a variety of events in the town centre from mid-November and through December arranged by a partnership of different organisations.

Bury St Edmunds Town Council is one of the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds Experience partners and has agreed to put £50,000 into town centre Christmas activities in 2025.

Details of the exact dates and opening times of the skating rink as well as information about other Christmas activities in the town will be available at www.christmasinburystedmunds.com.

Cllr Diane Hind, Bury St Edmunds Mayor, said: “I had the honour of officially cutting the ribbon to open the rink in 2023 and seeing the first group of children skating.

“They, and so many others throughout the weeks that followed, enjoyed it so much that we were very happy to support what will be a bigger and better project this year and provide an excellent free activity for residents and visitors.”

Allan Hassell, manager of arc Shopping Centre, said: “We were delighted to host the skating rink two years ago and it was wonderful to see people of all ages having such fun.

“I was only too happy to offer the space for another one when I heard about the proposal from Our Bury St Edmunds BID.

“Having a synthetic rink here is the most environmentally friendly way to offer skating without the high energy use to keep the rink frozen.”