Cheltenham ice rink led to £74,000 council shortfall

The ice rink was installed as a temporary attraction over the Christmas period

A council is facing a shortfall of £74,276 after a Christmas attraction went over budget.

New figures show that a temporary ice rink in Cheltenham ran at a loss to the local authority.

According to the Borough Council's figures, 30,000 skaters visited the rink at Imperial Gardens between 17 November 2023 and 1 January 2024.

A council spokesperson said an extra £1.2m in revenue came into the town because of the attraction.

The figures emerged after councillor Diggory Seacome raised the question of how much money the council made from the rink at a meeting on 18 March, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for economic development, culture, tourism and wellbeing, said the rink was successful in bringing visitors and revenue into the town centre.

Tickets were priced at £11.50 for adults and £9.50 for children.

"An independent analysis of the economic impact of the event showed the following: A total of £1.6m was spent in Cheltenham by all those visiting the ice rink, £860,000 of which would not have occurred without the presence of the ice rink," Mr Wilkinson said.

"A total of £1.2m additional business turnover occurred in Cheltenham as a result of the presence of the ice rink (indirect and induced)."

He said the money would not have come into the town without the ice rink.

"The economic impact analysis of the event shows a return on investment of approximately £11.50 per £1.00 invested by the council," he added.

Full details of the authority's 2023/24 expenditure will be detailed in a report for a cabinet meeting in April.