Grimsby Ice Rink will temporarily close this summer for a major refurbishment project.
The venue will close its doors from 31 July to allow work to begin on what management have described as the “single biggest thing” they can do to safeguard ice skating in the area.
At the heart of the six-figure revamp is a complete barrier replacement, with a new, state-of-the-art system already being manufactured off-site. The chiller unit is also set to be replaced with a newer, more energy-efficient model.
While the closure is expected to last around a month the team behind the rink say now is the right time to carry out the work, with the investment expected to benefit skaters for years to come.
Spokesperson Joanne Routh told Gi Grimsby News: “We are absolutely thrilled to finally be in a position to make this happen.
“We took over this facility 8 years ago and it was in a run down and neglected state then. We made a little headway but then COVID hit, by the skin of our teeth survived it when so many leisure facilities didn’t. Over the last four years we have worked so hard to build up our reserves.
“This project is huge! Replacing the barrier system for something more like you’d see at IceSheffield and swapping out the chiller for a brand new, more economical model. It will not only drastically upgrade our look but make us much more reliable.
“We really believe that this project is the single biggest thing we can do to help safeguard the future of ice skating in our town.”
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.