City Island Ice Rink

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We are thrilled to announce that London City Island, the Capital’s newest cultural destination, will unveil City Island Ice Rink (12 – 22 December). There is no ice rink in Canary Wharf this year so City Island Ice Rink will provide East London with festive but affordable Christmas skating fun. Alongside this, there will be a four-day artisan Christmas market (12-15 December), and a host of festive workshops, including pre-ice-skating dance warm-ups (led by English National Ballet), wreath-making, seasonal cocktail masterclasses, wine tasting and much, much more.

• Special skating sessions for children, aided by skating penguins
• Four-day artisan Christmas market will kick-off the ice rink opening, with festive food, drink and gifting vendors (12-15 December)
• Festive musical performance by English National Ballet’s Sinfonietta Orchestra on 12 December (7-9pm)
• Pre-skate workshop warm-ups with dance artists from English National Ballet
• Array of festive workshops, including wreath-making, seasonal cocktail masterclasses and wine tasting
• Festive Winter Wonderland sensory classes led by Gymboree for children
• Opportunity to buy or pre-order Christmas trees

 
On Thursday 12 December, London City Island, the Capital’s newest cultural destination, will unveil City Island Ice Rink, bringing Christmas magic to the recently opened Hopewell Square with its first open-air winter ice-skating rink, running from 12 to 22 December. The open-air, 45-person ice skating rink will host 45-minute sessions and will be open into the evening, offering skating under the glistening lights of City Island. Parents and carers can relax while their little ones take to the ice supported by fun penguin skating aids and with no ice rink at Canary Wharf this year, City Island Ice Rink will provide East London with festive but affordable Christmas skating fun.
 
Hopewell Square will capture the seasons’ spirit with a four-day artisan Christmas market, from 12-15 December. Festive tipis will showcase a sumptuous selection of locally sourced food, drink and gifts from some of the Capital’s finest vendors, and visitors will be able to purchase their Christmas trees (pre-ordered or taken away on the day). Food vendor highlights include festive street menus from island residents Central Market Group and Espresso Room, burgers, fry-up classics and Christmas bratwurst sausage from Original Fry Up Material, cheese selections from The Urban Cheese Maker and plenty of sweet treats. Drink vendor highlights include festive tastings hosted by Wanderlust Wine and Real Kombucha will be providing a selection on non-alcoholic brews and tastings. An exciting range of Christmas gifts will be available to purchase, including ethical chocolates by Tosier Chocolatemaker, hand-knitted children’s clothes by Milk and Black, luxury skin care items by Soapsmith and JoJi Natural, jewellery from Chalk Jewellery, and Christmas bouquets and wreaths from Henrietta Hinkling.
 
City Island will also host a series of craft-led workshops and festive experiences between Thursday 12 December – Sunday 15th December. The iconic English National Ballet, who took up permanent residence here in September, will mark the opening of London’s newest ice rink with a Nutcracker themed musical performance from the English National Ballet Sinfonietta Orchestra, as well as offering Nutcracker themed pre-ice-skating dance warm-ups during December, led by English National Ballet dance artists.
 
Additional Workshop programme highlights include:
 
Thursday 12^th December 

• ‘Wine Not’ hosted by Wanderlust Wine: Top tips and wine tastings to ensure you have a very Merry Christmas. Timings: 20.00-21.00. Cost: £20p/p (25 spaces)

 
Friday 13^th December 

• Festive wreath-making workshop with Henrietta Hickling: Learn how to create your very own Christmas wreath in this two-hour course. All materials and beautiful fresh foliage will be provided for you, and you get to take your creation home. Timings: 19.00-21.00. Cost: £25 p/p (25 spaces)

 
Saturday 14th December

• Gymboree Baby & Toddler Class – Festive Winter Wonderland class for children under five years old and babies. The class will be a sensory experience packed full of music, movement, singing and dancing. Timings: 10.30 – 11.30am. Cost: £8 for the first child, £3 for siblings. Adults go free. (12 spaces)

• ‘Shake Your Pom Poms’ hosted with Little Dots Loves – Learn how to make pom pom baubles for your Christmas tree. Timings: 15.30-16.30. Cost: £20 p/p (20 spaces)

• ‘Wine Not’ hosted by Wanderlust Wine: Educational and interactive France VS England wine tasting session focused on lesser known wines VS classics. Timings: 17.00 – 18.00. Cost: £20 p/p (25 spaces)

• Christmas Day cocktail masterclass with Soul Shakers: Learn to make a selection of Christmas cocktails to see you through the festive day, from breakfast to the big lunch, through to your evening turkey sandwich. Timings: 19.00 -21.00. Cost: £35 p/p (40 spaces)

 
Sunday 15^th December 

• Gymboree Baby & Toddler Class – Festive Winter Wonderland class for children under five years old and babies. The class will be a sensory experience packed full of music, movement, singing and dancing. Timings: 10.30 – 11.30am. Cost: £8 for the first child, £3 for siblings. Adults go free. (12 spaces)

• Christmas Bauble Embroidery Workshop hosted by Wimperis Embroidery: Create your own 3” bauble for your tree, complete with washi taped embroidery hoop and red Christmas ribbon to hang it with. You will be taught four leaf stitches as well as the ever-popular French knots. The leafy Christmas design is subtle and sweet, and you can choose from Hope, Joy or Peace as the inner text. Timings: 14.00-16.00. Cost: £25 p/p (12 places)

• Christmas Cracker Workshop with Make and Create E17: Plastic free, planet friendly workshop where you will be guided through making your very own crackers, made from recycled tissue, card and eco-friendly gift. Timings: 16.30-18.30. Cost: £25 p/p (15 spaces)

•  Festive Social Art-working: Join this fun painting party where you’ll learn to paint on canvas with step by step direction from your teacher. At the end of the class you will have a beautiful festival painting to take home with you. It’s the ultimate form of relaxation. Timings: 19.00 – 21.15.  £25 p/p. (12 spaces)

 
Thursday 19^th December 

• Nutcracker pre-ice skating dance warm up with English National Ballet, welcoming all levels and ages, guaranteed to warm you up before you hit the ice. Timings: 18.30-19.15. Cost: £15 p/p. Location: Mezzanine in ENB’s building at 41 Hopewell Square. (30 spaces)

 
(Please note all workshops may be subject to change and must be pre-booked)
 
City Island Ice Rink and workshops sessions will be on sale from 12pm on 12^th November 2019.  Tickets are available now at www.londoncityisland.com/icerink. For 20% off tickets use code: EARLYBIRD20 – Valid until 22th November
Follow @ballymore @ecoworld_uk and tag #SkateLCI
 
To register your interest in the English National Ballet Sinfonietta Orchestra performance on the opening night, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/city-island-ice-rink-launch-night-with-english-national-ballet-sinfonietta-tickets-81716731945
 
Key information
Prices:
Market entrance – free
Ice skating tickets – £8pp (adults), £5.50 (children)
Workshops – £10-35pp (dependent on activity)
 
Getting here:
Tube: Canning Town station, on the Jubilee and DLR, is a 3-minute walk to Hopewell Square
Buses: 115, 309, 5 all go to Canning Town Station