New winter ice rink opens in Manchester with karaoke huts and festive films for Christmas 2024

A corner of Manchester city centre has been transformed into a 'winter wonderland' with the arrival of a new ice rink.

The covered rink has been unveiled at the recently-opened Courts Club, a new basketball and tennis court with adjoining bar and terrace in St Johns, just over the way from Spinningfields.

Tucked away off Quay Street amid the towering blocks of the St John’s development - the former site of Granada Studios which is now being redeveloped with hundreds of flats and offices - the place couldn't look any more festive for the Winter Assembly event.

Visitors are greeted with ‘Chalaoke’ huts – revamped log cabins decked out with karaoke machines where groups of up to 10 can sing their hearts out.

Once inside there are various food and drink vendors, selling festive food favourites including winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials and more.

The bar also sells giant marshmallows for guests to toast around the huge open fire pit.

There's a big screen, surrounded with comfortable deckchairs, which will be showing Christmas classics like Love Actually and Home Alone, with screenings from 2pm each Tuesday and Sunday.

But the huge focal point of the Winter Assembly is the twinkling ice rink, welcoming anyone from the age of three. Of course those little ones might need the help of one of the weighted penguins, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

It's the tennis and basketball courts themselves that have been transformed into the rink, from the people who previously operated the Spinningfields ice rink when that used to pop-up for Christmas.

The Courts Club rink is open from 3pm Monday to Friday, and from 10am at weekends, with final sessions starting at 8pm daily. Christmas hours are restricted, with the venue closed completely on Christmas Day. It's the second rink in the city centre after the Skate Manchester one opened in Cathedral Gardens last week.

Ice skating sessions cost £16 for 45 minutes and can be booked online. Karaoke huts are booked for two hours, costing £30 for up to 10 people. It's recommended to book online to guarantee a hut.

Shiko Group – the team behind the festive programme – is also, for the first time, welcoming people to peek into The Dome: a Winter Oasis in Spinningfields previously only accessed by those ‘in the know’. From Friday, November 22, the rooftop space will transform into 'a dazzling Christmas dreamscape', dressed to make guests feel as though they’re inside a giant snow globe.

And just over the road in Spinningfields, The Lawn Club has also relaunched its magical Festive Yurt. Fitted out with sheepskin blankets, twinkling lights and 'a stunning Christmas centrepiece', guests can enjoy festive eats, boozy hot chocolates and winter-warming cocktails.