Leicester Christmas ice rink cancelled as operator and council dispute debt

Residents planning a Christmas skate in Jubilee Square will miss out this winter after Eleventh Hour Events withdrew from its contract. The operator had been expected to open the rink in early December, having run it since 2019.

Leicester City Council announced the cancellation on Friday 23 October. According to Leicester Mercury, the withdrawal follows a dispute between the company and the council over a debt the council says it is owed.

Operator challenges council’s account

The council says its lawyers are handling debt recovery and a breach of contract. Eleventh Hour Events owner John Davies disputes its claim and has asked councillors to scrutinise how the situation was managed.

In an email to councillors, Davies said he had wanted the rink to go ahead. He argued that council delays, a failure to arrange a meeting to resolve outstanding disputes and inadequate replies to correspondence had contributed to his decision.

Green city centre councillor Liz Sahu expressed concern about the effect on Christmas trade. She feared the loss of the attraction would harm businesses competing with other festive destinations.

Lib Dem councillor Zuffar Haq also criticised the cancellation, saying people would have to travel to other cities to skate and warning that city centre businesses would lose visitors.

Other uses for Jubilee Square being explored

The council is considering alternative uses for the square this winter. Graham Callister, its head of festivals and events, said the council was disappointed by the late cancellation and was examining other options, with an update planned soon.

Details of Leicester’s wider Christmas programme are due to appear on the Visit Leicester website in the days following the announcement.

Source: Leicester Mercury