Winter garden to replace ice rink over Christmas
BBCA winter garden is to replace Leicester's festive ice rink over Christmas, the city council has said.
Leicester City Council had organised an ice rink in Jubilee Square since 2017 but said the attraction will not take place this year after the operator pulled out because of a dispute with the authority.
Instead, officials said the square would be covered with festive lights, Christmas trees, and illuminated igloos as well as a Ferris wheel.
The plan for the new attraction was announced on Thursday along with a range of other events, including the switch-on of the city's Christmas lights on Wednesday 18 November.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Leicester's Christmas switch is an important and much-loved date in the city's festival calendar.
"And although this year's festivities will look a bit different without the ice rink in Jubilee Square, we're excited to try something new."
The ice rink had been due to return to Jubilee Square in December.
However, the council announced in October that it had been pursuing a debt owed by operator 11th Hour Ice that was now in the hands of the local authority's lawyers alongside the alleged breach of contract, which the firm contests.
The firm said it had told the council on 30 September that it was pulling out "with considerable regret" and that a defence and counter-claim had been submitted, and asked elected members at the council to question its management of the situation.
The council has said it cannot comment on the ongoing legal action.
The switch-on of the Christmas lights will take place from 17:00 GMT on 18 November in Town Hall Square, the council said.
It will include musical performances, street performers, funfair rides, festive market stalls, and three separate light switch-on moments across the city centre.
The council said BBC Radio Leicester's Ady Dayman and DJ OPD would switch-on the lights in Humberstone Gate.
Visitors can watch as the city centre lights up for Christmas with switch-ons due to take place at the Clock Tower from 18:30, Haymarket Shopping Centre from 18:45, and at Highcross from 19:00.
After the switch-on, a Christmas Market will open in Gallowtree Gate until the end of December.
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