From young children to skaters as old as 70 — St George’s Skates has been the place to go this holiday season.

Declaring the venture a roaring success, its owners yesterday announced they will keep the venue open for an extra two weeks in January, as well as preparing to return with improvements next year.

Cher Przelomski of the Planning Factory, who developed the idea with Kathryn Massa, said she had been pleasantly surprised how the community had taken to the idea of a skate rink.

Ms Przelomski said some 1,600 customers attended in the first week alone and, as well as families and groups of friends flocking to the arena, there had been many private functions including birthday parties and corporate events. She said the extended dates will give those who were away or had been too busy over Christmas the chance to try it out before it closes for the season on January 15.

“We had so many requests to keep it open and some even said can’t it be here all year?” she told The Royal Gazette.

“We didn’t want the community to think we didn’t hear that.

“We went into it not knowing what to expect, but it has been very popular. People come to St George’s at Christmas — it’s the historical nature of it — it seemed that this would be another addition that would work well. We have had very young children, a lot of camps and we had so many birthday parties.

“We had a 70-year-old on the rink, we had people who used to skate in Canada and wanted to skate here and we have had lots of visitors come and have a good time. It is a nice activity for everybody.”

Yesterday afternoon, the skate rink was full of children and their families enjoying the new facility in the sunshine. Rachel Puddy was attending the skate rink for the second time with her family, including her four-year-old daughter Ella.

Ms Puddy said: “It is really good fun, we really enjoyed it — the first time we came without the children and the second time with them.

“It is easier than real ice — I find real ice too slippery, but this ice is great. There’s a really good atmosphere; the first time was just before Christmas, so we came in our Christmas T-shirts and it felt very Christmassy.”

Jeanne Norville was there with her twins Alexander and Marissa, their friend Ke’ahra Vanputten, all 10, and Ms Norville’s friend Joy Symonds.

Ms Norville said: “It is great down here.

“My children got on the skates for the first time and I see that they are gliding a bit more now and they are really enjoying themselves. It’s great exercise; it gets them out of the house from video games and it is a beautiful day out here.”

Katherine Cupidore was with her husband Anthony and their children Stella, 7, and son Sebastian, 4.

Ms Cupidore said she had tried to take her children skating before in Boston, but it was always too cold. Putting on her skates for the first time, Stella said: “I really, really wanted to go ice skating.”

Her mother said: “It was always too cold before, so this time we are going to skate in the sunshine.

“It is something unique and interesting to do; it seems a lot of people have taken advantage of it. I like that it is short-term, then it doesn’t lose its interest.”

Ms Przelomski said that thanks to their lead sponsors RUBiS and Bermuda Gas, as well as support from others, the plan is to open again next Christmas.

She said they were exploring ways to improve the service, including the possibility of a bigger rink and facilities for people with disabilities.

“We will meet after the tent is down and decide on the things we want to change and improve and we hope that people e-mail us with suggestions because we want to make everyone happy.

“We will develop birthday parties for next year. We had several corporate nights that were exclusive and they were highly successful.

“We want to refine what we are doing. Under discussion is whether we can make the rink bigger, but we have to figure that all out.

“We wanted to have children with disabilities come and enjoy it, but we didn’t have enough time to plan a sponsor for this. There are sleds that children can be pushed in and there are penguins and snowmen that can steady you.

“We want to grow it, but grow it sensibly, and meet the needs of the community.”

To check dates and times visit ptix.bm