National Ice Centre

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.

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

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

• Ice skating sessions
• Skating lessons
• Ice hockey programs
• Figure skating training
• Recreational ice sports

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. Holiday Club: Day camps for ages 7-13 at £35/day including multi-sport activities, arts & crafts, ice skating, meals and snacks.
5. Equipment Rental: Ice equipment (penguins, zambonis, snowmen, etc.) available for £5/session plus skate sharpening services. Gloves and socks at £2.50.
6. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers11 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nottinghamshire PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperation 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided 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 SkatingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body delivering Let's Skate initiative for disabled people. Introduced inclusive Skate UK dispensation scheme with Activity Alliance collaboration.
• Nottingham PantherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElite 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 ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadmarsh Car Park partnership offering £6/3-hour parking rate validated at NIC. Makes visiting more affordable and convenient.
• Active NottinghamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiscount partnership offering £8 skating sessions for Active Nottingham card holders. Requires 72-hour advance email arrangement to apply discount.
• Blue Light CardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiscount 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 ChristmasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership collecting brand new unwrapped gifts for disadvantaged children during Christmas period. NIC serves as collection point for community donations.
• Children's Book ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership hosting book drive March 2025, collecting 565 books for disadvantaged children who may have no books at home.
• National CateringminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOn-site catering partner operating T&D Cafe offering food and beverages including 200 Degrees coffee and Twining's Tea.
• Nottingham Synchronized Skating Academy (NSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElite synchronized skating club training at NIC, producing world championship competitors and professional performers for Disney on Ice and Holiday on Ice.
• Nottinghamshire Ice Racing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeed skating club providing pathway from learn-to-skate programme to Speed Skating Performance Programme and GB representation.
• Torvill & DeancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlympic 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

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NationalIceCentre
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalicecentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/nat_ice_centre
• Xx.com/nat_ice_centre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Ice Centre