11th Hour on ice for Winter Wonderland
- Details
The rink is part of Winter Wonderland presented by Sayers Amusements, which is running for nine weeks and boasting a fairground with big wheel, rides, stalls and an authentic alpine village, complete with Bier Keller. Last year, 60,000 visitors attended the rink, so this year's rink will be larger to accommodate up to 290 skaters at a time.
The 11th Hour team is responsible for every aspect of constructing, maintaining, managing and staffing the rink, which is once again sponsored by Cardiff-based car insurance giants Admiral. A ClearSpan covering structure, capable of withstanding storm-force winds (closure is only necessary if wind speeds exceed 80mph) not only ensures that it remains open for all sessions, but that ice temperature is more easily maintained at a constant temperature within the micro-climate created.
11th Hour director John Davies comments: "Since last year, we've added two new 100kVA generators to our fleet, enabling us to eliminate the need for sub-contractors, which gives us complete control over power to the site, increasing efficiency and further reducing the event's carbon footprint. The lighting of the rink employs more than 4000 energy efficient LED lamps - in line once again with a commitment to green values.
"We run the box office for the event and supply all the operational staff for the rink, ensuring that ice-marshals are trained to the highest standards. We believe that service is enhanced by virtue of the fact that customers deal with dedicated 11th Hour staff in every aspect of their experience. It's a pretty comprehensive and challenging undertaking but project management on this scale is part and parcel of what we deliver on a regular basis across a broad spectrum of large events."
(Jim Evans)
