Lancaster On Ice to feature 120ft big wheel in exciting new plans

A 120ft big wheel will tower over Lancaster as part of a programme of winter entertainment in the city, the Lancaster Guardian can reveal.
An artist's impression of how the wheel will lookAn artist's impression of how the wheel will look
An artist's impression of how the wheel will look

Subject to planning permission, Lancaster On Ice will install an “observation wheel” - twice as high as the city’s town hall - in Dalton Square this November.

Featuring enclosed pods that rotate around the arms of the wheel, the structure is the biggest portable observation wheel in Europe.

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It will be situated on the cobbled area of Dalton Square between The Borough pub and Jo and Cass Hair and Beauty.

Lancaster on Ice. Image by Nick Dagger Photography.Lancaster on Ice. Image by Nick Dagger Photography.
Lancaster on Ice. Image by Nick Dagger Photography.

Last year, Lancaster On Ice attracted 37,000 skaters to the city, with numbers expected to hit 50,000 in 2019.

The hugely successful event is set to be even bigger and better this year, with more ice to skate on, the return of the tipi bar, more stalls, and the huge wheel that will provide unique views over the city and wider district.

Dan Knowles, from Lancaster On Ice, said: “We started the ball rolling on this a couple of months ago, and gave a lot of thought as to how we could make it brilliant.

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“To ensure its continued and long term success, Lancaster On Ice has to go from a small one day event for Lancastrians to a weekend away in the city for the wider region.

Photo Neil Cross Hannah and Martin Horner of The Borough.Photo Neil Cross Hannah and Martin Horner of The Borough.
Photo Neil Cross Hannah and Martin Horner of The Borough.

“We want to encourage the rest of the community to start standing up and thinking about what else could be happening in the city over the Christmas period, and what they could be doing to make that happen. There needs to be planning going on, places people can stay, and things to do in the wider city so that there’s a benefit for everyone.

“We see Dalton Square and Lancaster On Ice as a landing spot for tourists over the Christmas period, who will then go on to enjoy the rest of what the city has to offer.”

Organisers say the skating rink “will be prettier looking” this year, and will also be run by greener energy, with more skate aids for skaters and a wider variety of food stalls.

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Lancaster On Ice will take place between November 23 and January 5.

Entry to the wheel will be £5 per person.

Lancaster On Ice Came to the city for the first time in 2018.

Martin and Hannah Horner, who run The Borough in Dalton Square, said they often looked out of the pub’s function room and imagined seeing an ice rink there during the winter.

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Last year the event raised over £6,000 for St John’s Hospice and offered free skating to Unique Kids and the food bank.

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