My experience at Queens Ice Rink (London) - what is your experience at Queens?

[newskater3223]

Hi everybody
I am an adult skater and so far have only experienced skating at Queens in Bayswater, Central London.

In the past 9 months, I have found the ice rink quality, maintenance and management to be deteriorating. The rink today was completely flooded, with exposed concrete evident. When I raised this with management, they said that it was "still ice because if it was concrete, I couldn't skate on it"... even though my toe pick caught the concrete as I was practicing on the barriers.

I wanted to ask what other people's experiences are because I'm contemplating switching to Ally Pally or Slough. I have met great people at Queens but we are all becoming increasingly frustrated at the state of the rink.

Also, if anyone has any history about the rink because I heard the rink was cut in half in the 90s, that would also be appreciated as a source of insight!

Happy skating

[transmissionoftheflame]

I used to skate there now and again and never really liked it- expensive, lots of entitled kids and coaches taking the money, staff chatting to their mates and showing off. Not been since lockdowns. Alexandra Palace is not perfect (where is?) but I have always found it pretty decent, some good coaches and management, ice is reasonable - and the building and the setting are exceptional. Just a bit more awkward to get to as it’s not right next to a station. Slough I’ve been to only once so hard to comment other than the ice was fine and I doubt they have issues with it as it’s pretty new. Slough is a bit of a walk from the station but the parking is free. People have said nice things about Bracknell. I have some personal experience of other London area rinks (MK, Romford, Streatham, Chelmsford) - let me know if they are of interest. Some places might sound far but with fast trains and rinks near stations you have a few options. There’s a new rink at Lee Valley but I’ve not been.


Happy skating - I’m off to Romford tonight for my 4th skate in as many days.

[newskater3223]

Hey transmissionoftheflame! sorry for the late reply: I forgot about this post.

I can report, however, that Queen's has deteriorated to the point that now the ice rink is regularly shut due to poor maintenance and a lack of care.

Some patreons of the rink have also launched a website in protest: the link is rink.pics

(You have to type the link in manually as the forum does not render the link for some reason)

It shows the state of the rink and up-to-date comments regarding its maintenance. I don't have any affiliation with the site but was made aware through the community.

The management have let the community down and it's a real shame.

As to your comment, I plan to move to Slough most likely as this is most accessible. Thank you for your opinion and I will make the switch as soon as possible to another rink when I'm first free.

[transmissionoftheflame]

It's a shame about Queens - it was never my favourite rink but it's a handy one for central/west London.


I'm sure you'll be fine at Slough.  When I was there I saw a bloke with hockey skates on chatting to some elegant looking figure skater.  I thought he was just some random bloke/her mate, then he started teaching her, skating perfect field move patterns with his hockey skates on.


Happy skating!

The link isn't working by the way.

[newskater3223]

That sounds great, will go there in the next week!

By the way, I found you have to write the link rink.pics manually into the URL / Search bar of your browser.

 

[transmissionoftheflame]

Thanks - I can see the pics now - doesn't look good

[black]

New users cannot post links; https://rink.pics/

This was several years back but..
Here is an extract from a letter from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

“The department can confirm that the safety standards at sporting facilities are primarily the responsibility for the National Governing Bodies (NGB) of each particular sport.

You may find it useful to raise your concerns with the relevant NGB in the first instance. Depending on the nature of the sports facility in question, the NGB may if necessary, in turn refer to either the Sport Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

If however the sport in question is community based, then safety issues could in the first instance be referred to the relevant local authority.”

Different government since then, but you might find it useful.
New department is now https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-and-sport

[transmissionoftheflame]

I would have thought before the governing body gets involved, customers will vote with their feet if things continue to be as bad as has been portrayed.

[WednesdayMarch]

I shared once at Queens back in the early 1980s. It was beautiful, very long rink. It was my first time in new good boots and first pair of Coronation Ace blades. Needles to say, I almost immediately tripped over the toe pick and fell heavily on my knees! The rink was lovely, though. I was very sad when they shortened it.

[black]

Looks like there was a conversation on reddit too;
https://www.reddit.com/r/iceskating/comments/1expo9e/queens_london_ice_skating_deteriorating_rink/

Not sure I believe reason three; (given by management) Hot weather?
If I recall Queens rink is like almost underground, shielded by the building above?

[transmissionoftheflame]

Yes it's at basement level, no natural light.