National Ice Centre
National Ice Centre is a private Nottingham-based ice sports venue operating two rinks (Torvill & Dean and CCM), serving families, students, skaters, schools, and corporate groups with public skating, Skate UK lessons, hockey, figure skating, speed skating, events, and inclusive programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What National Ice Centre does
National Ice Centre (legal entity: Nottingham Ice Centre Ltd) is a private, for-profit ice sports and entertainment venue located in Nottingham, United Kingdom, founded in 2000 and operating two ice rinks — the Torvill & Dean Rink and the CCM Rink — supported by 251–500 employees. The venue delivers a full-spectrum ice sports programme: public skating admissions, the eight-level Skate UK learn-to-skate pathway, specialist lessons in ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating, and synchronized skating (via the Nottingham Synchronized Skating Academy), plus tots lessons, school programmes, holiday clubs, birthday parties, and inclusive Let's Skate sessions for disabled people. The site is the home venue for the Nottingham Panthers and the GB Short Track Speed Skating Performance Programme, and has hosted Olympic athletes and ISU World Championship competitors.
The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining transactional public-skating admissions (roughly £6–£13 per session, with skate hire included), monthly direct-debit subscription lessons (£42–£80/month), one-off event packages (birthday parties at £275, holiday clubs at £35/day, premium camps at £100–£300), ancillary add-ons (ice equipment hire, lockers, food and beverage at the T&D Cafe operated by National Catering), and corporate/school group bookings. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the GladstoneGo online booking platform and mobile app, supplemented by on-site sales, school booking portals, and channel partnerships with Active Nottingham and Blue Light Card. Ancillary infrastructure includes a bespoke glycol-based refrigeration plant (replaced in 2020), a water recycling system producing 25,000m³ annually, and on-site T&D Cafe. The parent entity also operates Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, National Merchandise, and Saltbox as wholly-owned subsidiaries, though the venue itself reports no public revenue figures and has no recorded external funding rounds.
National Ice Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Ice Centre
- Legal name
- Nottingham Ice Centre Ltd
- Website
- https://national-ice-centre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- National Ice Centre is a private Nottingham-based ice sports venue operating two rinks (Torvill & Dean and CCM), serving families, students, skaters, schools, and corporate groups with public skating, Skate UK lessons, hockey, figure skating, speed skating, events, and inclusive programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Ice Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ice Skating Facilities
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG)
Keywords
Where National Ice Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Ice Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Skating Admissions: Ticket sales for public skating sessions with varying price tiers based on age, student status, and family packages. All tickets include skate hire.
- Skating Lessons: Monthly direct debit programme offering weekly 30-minute group lessons plus unlimited public skating. Includes tots (£42/month), general/hockey/speed (£60/month), and skills classes (£80/month).
- Birthday Parties: Package-based party bookings at £275 for up to 15 children including skating, equipment, activities, and catering. Additional children and hosts available at extra cost.
- Holiday Club: Day camps for ages 7-13 at £35/day including multi-sport activities, arts & crafts, ice skating, meals and snacks.
- Equipment Rental: Ice equipment (penguins, zambonis, snowmen, etc.) available for £5/session plus skate sharpening services. Gloves and socks at £2.50.
- Food & Beverage: T&D Cafe operating as concession offering hot/cold food, beverages including 200 Degrees coffee and Twining's Tea, plus alcoholic drinks. Operated by National Catering brand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Children 5 and under |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Juniors (ages 6-15) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Adults (ages 16+) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | University/College Students |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Seniors (ages 60+) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Active Nottingham & Blue Light Card Holders |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family of 3 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family of 4 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family of 5 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Essential Companion |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Equipment Hire |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gloves and Socks |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Group Bookings (15+) |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Birthday Party Package |
| Subscription | Monthly | General/Hockey/Speed Skating Lessons |
| Subscription | Monthly | Tots Skating Lessons |
| Subscription | Monthly | Skating Skills Programme |
| Subscription | Monthly | Unlimited Practice Ice |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Intensive Skating Lessons |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Holiday Club |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | NIC Short Track Camp |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Megan Bozek Hockey Camp |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Let's Skate Sessions |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Broadmarsh Parking |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Santa's Grotto |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
National Ice Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Ice Centre operates a dual-rink ice skating facility in Nottingham, offering public skating sessions, structured learn-to-skate lessons, and ice sports programmes including ice hockey, figure skating, curling, and speed skating. The venue provides inclusive and adaptive skating sessions for disabled skaters, hosts birthday parties and school visits, and includes ancillary amenities such as a gym, dance studio, coffee shop, and skate hire.
Product overview
National Ice Centre is an ice skating and sports venue offering a comprehensive portfolio of recreational and competitive ice sports programmes. The core offering centres on Public Ice Skating Sessions and structured Skate UK Learn to Skate Lessons (Levels 1-8 progressing to Star levels). The centre provides specialized programmes across multiple disciplines: Ice Hockey Lessons (Skate Hockey and Play Hockey), Speed Skating Lessons, Figure Skating, and Synchronized Skating via Nottingham Synchronized Skating Academy. Supporting services include Tots Skating Lessons for children under 5, Schools Ice Skating Programme, Birthday Parties, Holiday Club, Speed Skating Camps, and Let's Skate inclusive sessions. The centre operates on a membership model via direct debit (£42-£80/month depending on programme), with add-on facilities including ice equipment hire, locker hire, and T&D Cafe. The venue also hosts elite training including the GB Short Track Speed Skating Performance Programme and is home to the Nottingham Panthers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Skating Sessions
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% trust increase reported by vulnerable children participating in Operation Polarised scheme
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use National Ice Centre
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
National Ice Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
National Ice Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nottinghamshire PolicecoreOperation Polarised partnership providing free 10-week ice skating sessions for 30 vulnerable children aged 8-17. Includes educational inputs on knife crime, child sexual exploitation, and personal safety. NIC provides discounted skating, police deliver prevention tutorials, young people rewarded with Panthers tickets for attendance.
- Nottingham Express Transit (NET)minorProvided complimentary tram travel passes to young people in Operation Polarised scheme for safe travel to/from sessions. Also funding treat gift bags and refreshments.
- British Ice SkatingcoreNational governing body delivering Let's Skate initiative for disabled people. Introduced inclusive Skate UK dispensation scheme with Activity Alliance collaboration.
- Nottingham PantherscoreElite ice hockey team using NIC as home venue. Partnership includes Meet the Panthers school experiences and reward tickets for programme participants attending 7+ sessions.
- Nottingham City Council Parking ServicesminorBroadmarsh Car Park partnership offering £6/3-hour parking rate validated at NIC. Makes visiting more affordable and convenient.
- Active NottinghamminorDiscount partnership offering £8 skating sessions for Active Nottingham card holders. Requires 72-hour advance email arrangement to apply discount.
- Blue Light CardminorDiscount partnership offering £8 skating sessions for Blue Light Card holders (NHS, emergency services, armed forces). Requires 72-hour advance email arrangement.
- Cash for Kids Mission ChristmasminorCharity partnership collecting brand new unwrapped gifts for disadvantaged children during Christmas period. NIC serves as collection point for community donations.
- Children's Book ProjectminorCharity partnership hosting book drive March 2025, collecting 565 books for disadvantaged children who may have no books at home.
- National CateringminorOn-site catering partner operating T&D Cafe offering food and beverages including 200 Degrees coffee and Twining's Tea.
- Nottingham Synchronized Skating Academy (NSSA)coreElite synchronized skating club training at NIC, producing world championship competitors and professional performers for Disney on Ice and Holiday on Ice.
- Nottinghamshire Ice Racing ClubcoreSpeed skating club providing pathway from learn-to-skate programme to Speed Skating Performance Programme and GB representation.
- Torvill & DeancoreOlympic gold medalists with rink named in their honour in 2025. Legendary British ice dancers whose legacy inspires local skating community. 24M+ TV viewers for 1984 Boléro performance.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Ice Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- David Lloyd Leisure: UK premium health, racquets, and family leisure club operator with broad programming including children's activities and family entertainment. Comparable member-based, multi-programme leisure business model.
- The Gym Group: UK low-cost gym operator with subscription-based model and nationwide estate. Comparable subscription-driven UK leisure business, though at much larger scale and different vertical.
- Motorpoint Arena Cardiff: Multi-purpose indoor entertainment venue with ice rink, hosting Cardiff Devils ice hockey. Comparable venue configuration combining ice sports, concerts, and events programming.
- Sheffield Ice Sports (Utilita Arena Sheffield): Multi-purpose arena with ice rink hosting Sheffield Steelers EIHL team, public skating, and concerts. Comparable as a combined ice sports + entertainment venue with arena-style subsidiary structure.
Direct peers
- Chill Factore: UK's longest indoor real-snow ski slope near Manchester, also operating ice activities. Comparable as a UK indoor winter sports venue focused on experience-based leisure and lesson programmes.
- Silver Blades Ice Rinks: UK operator of multiple ice rinks offering public skating, lessons, and ice hockey. Direct competitor with similar programme portfolio and UK regional footprint.
- The Snow Centre: Indoor snow sports and ski lesson centre in Hemel Hempstead. Comparable as a UK indoor winter sports facility combining instruction, lessons, and family leisure experiences.
- Planet Ice: UK's largest operator of ice rinks, managing multiple facilities across the country. Direct competitor in public skating, lessons, and ice hockey programming with similar revenue model.
- Lee Valley Ice Centre: London-based twin ice rink facility operated by GLL offering public skating, lessons, and ice hockey. Directly comparable as a UK municipal/operator-run ice venue with similar programme mix.
Regional players
- Ice Centre Wales: Public twin ice rink facility in Cardiff Bay serving Wales. Comparable as a public twin-rink ice venue though operating in a different UK region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Ice Centre social profiles
Digital presenceNational Ice Centre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
National Ice Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Ice Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
National Ice Centre subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
National Ice Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Ice Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Ice Centre
What does National Ice Centre do?
National Ice Centre operates a dual-rink ice skating facility in Nottingham, offering public skating sessions, structured learn-to-skate lessons, and ice sports programmes including ice hockey, figure skating, curling, and speed skating. The venue provides inclusive and adaptive skating sessions for disabled skaters, hosts birthday parties and school visits, and includes ancillary amenities such as a gym, dance studio, coffee shop, and skate hire.
Is National Ice Centre a public or private company?
National Ice Centre is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was National Ice Centre founded?
National Ice Centre was founded in 2000. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is National Ice Centre based?
National Ice Centre is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does National Ice Centre make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Public Skating Admissions are the primary driver. The others are skating Lessons, birthday Parties, holiday Club, equipment Rental and food & Beverage.
Who are National Ice Centre's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are David Lloyd Leisure, The Gym Group, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff and Sheffield Ice Sports (Utilita Arena Sheffield). Direct peers are Chill Factore, Silver Blades Ice Rinks, The Snow Centre, Planet Ice and Lee Valley Ice Centre. Ice Centre Wales is listed as a regional player.
Does National Ice Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Ice Centre.
What industry is National Ice Centre in?
National Ice Centre's product category is Ice Skating Facilities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAEAG, Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities. Its NAICS code is 713940 and its SIC code is 7997.