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Battersea joins list of winter skate rinks
Ellen Widdup29.10.08
BATTERSEA is to get its own rink, as the ice skating season gets under way in the capital.
The Asda car park in Lavender Hill will be transformed for just one week into a 20metre by 10metre skating area. It will open to the public on 24 November.
Anthony Laban, leader of the Lavender Hill Traders Association, which has organised the event, said: "We wanted to try and rejuvenate Lavender Hill and we also wanted to encourage more people to visit the area, to help boost local business."
The "ice" rink will be built using a high-slip resin in place of frozen water. Mr Laban said: "It works in exactly the same way as ice but you don't get as cold or as wet."
All Wandsworth schools have been invited to bring pupils to enjoy the rink, which aims to attract over 10,000 skaters and spectators.
Money raised will be donated to local charity The Devas Club, a young people's project which holds evening events and classes for children in Stormont Road.
A record number of skating rinks will be open in the capital this winter. Hannah Collingbourne from Visit London said: "London really sparkles over the festive season. London's ice rinks are getting more imaginative each year.
"This year Somerset House is putting on skating DJ nights and The O2 is opening a temporary indoor ski slope."
Ice rink locations include old favourites Somerset House, The Natural History Museum and Kew Gardens, as well as the Winter Wonderland experience in Hyde Park, which is in its second year and said to be the largest in Europe.
The first to open is at the Natural History Museum on 6 November.
ICE RINKS AROUND LONDON
* Somerset House, Strand, WC2 Runs from 19 November to 25 January
Call 0844 847 1520 or visit
www.somersethouse.org.uk
* Tower Ice Rink, Tower of London, EC3
Runs from 22 November to 11 January
Call 0844 412 4640 or visit www.toweroflondonicerink.com
* Kew Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, TW9
Runs from 29 November to 4 January
Call 0844 412 4642 or visit
www.kewgardensicerink.com
* Winter Wonderland at the Hyde Park Ice Rink, W1
Runs from 22 November to 4 January
Call 0844 847 1771 or visit
hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
* Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, East Molesey, KT8
From 29 November to 11 January
Call 0844 412 4641 or visit
hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.com
* Broadgate Ice, Broadgate, EC2
Runs from 15 November to 8 March
Call 020 7505 4068 or visit
www.broadgateice.co.uK
* Natural History Museum Ice Rink, South Kensington, SW7
Runs from 6 November to 18 January
Call 0844 847 1576 or visit
www.nhmskating.com
* Canada Square Park Ice Rink Canary Wharf, E11
Runs from 22 November to 22 February
Call 0844 847 1556 or visit
www.canarywharficerink.com
* Battersea Ice Rink, Asda, Lavender Hill, SW11
Runs from 24 November to 30 November
Call 0870 0666844 or visit
www.quaytickets.com
* Hampstead Heath Ice Rink, Parliament Hill Fields, NW3
Runs from 19 November to 18 January
Call 01268 764 437 or visit
hampsteadheathicerink.com
