For a second year the National Ice Centre is bringing outdoor ice skating into the heart of the city, with new sponsor the Victoria Centre.

The huge 20m by 40m rink will open on the evening of Wednesday, November 19, as part of the Christmas light switch-on and will remain open for seven weeks until Sunday, January 11, 2009.

Each ice skating session will last 45 minutes and the rink will be open from noon to 9pm during school term time and 10am to 9pm during school holidays and weekends.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, October 24, and are priced at £8 adults, £6 for children and £3 for under-5s. You can also buy a family ticket priced at £23. Tickets purchased from the NIC box office or at the Victoria Centre Rink will not be subject to booking fees but tickets purchased through See Tickets on the 24 hour phone line and the internet will incur fees. All prices include free skate hire

NIC Deputy Chief Executive, Martin Ingham said: "Over 60,000 skaters took to the ice last year so we are delighted to be bringing the outdoor rink back to the city.

"We have made a few changes to the layout of the rink this time. We have managed to lower the rink by reducing the infrastructure to only one marquee which opens out the viewing area on the Debenhams side of the Square. This is great news for spectators as it means they will have more space to see what's going on.

"We also have a Box Office on site this year so you can buy your skating tickets at the rink and you can purchase tickets for shows at Trent FM Arena Nottingham. Plus one of the biggest changes is the name –we're delighted to welcome Victoria Centre on board as our new sponsors."

• Tickets for the Victoria Centre Ice Rink can be booked by phone on 08444 124 639, online at www.national-ice-centre.com or in person at the National Ice Centre, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LA. For Group and School Bookings call 0115 853 3063.




• From November 19 you can also buy tickets at the Victoria Centre Ice Rink, Old Market Square, Nottingham.