A huge ice rink and funfair will soon be setting up in the heart of our city, bringing a little winter magic our way. North Pole Cambridge is open 21 November until 5 January and features a 600m2 open-air ice rink (bigger than in previous years) with a viewing platform and a café for that compulsory post-skate mulled wine.
Plus, this year, Ice Box Entertainment has invited Cambridge’s favourite street food vendors from foodPark to create a pop-up food market, ensuring there’ll be plenty of delicious edibles on hand – from hot sausages to Vietnamese fusion buns – to get you warmed up. The street food market is open all day Saturday-Sunday, then for lunch 12-2.30pm and 5-8pm Monday-Friday.
Says Richard Elmer, MD at Ice Box Entertainment: “We’ll have wood-fired pizzas, burritos and Christmas favourites such as roast pork and stuffing rolls. There’s also an airstream caravan coming along to serve cocktails.”
Don’t gorge on gourmet burgers all night though: there are lots of rides and games to enjoy too. Traditional funfair staples – including a helter-skelter and beautiful carousel – will be joined by the likes of bungee trampolines, penguin bumper cars and even a mini ski slope.
“What we wanted to create was a real destination for people from Cambridge and the surrounding area,” says Richard. “This is the biggest, longest-running event of its kind in the district: it’s got the ice rink, street food market, and a range of roughly 15 rides to suit everyone from two year olds up to adults wanting something a bit extreme.”
He adds: “Open-air ice skating, especially at night when all the lights are out and there are Christmas carols playing, is one of those wonderful experiences that gets everyone in the mood for Christmas. I think it brings out childhood memories in people and gives everyone the opportunity to experience something they only get to do once a year.”
North Pole Cambridge is open 11am-9pm Monday-Friday (8pm last skate) and from 10am weekends. Closes 7pm New Year’s Eve; closed Christmas Day. Tickets are £7.95-£10.95.
www.thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk
