Festive delight as Lytham is given go-ahead to host an ice rink for first time in 10 years

An ice rink is coming to Lytham town centre this Christmas.

It will be the first time in 10 years that the town has hosted a rink and follows a late highways wrangle with Lancashire County Council last year which thwarted a bid for its return by the Lytham Business Partnership of traders.

This time, the Partnership has ensured all the necessary details are in place and is celebrating receiving planning permission from Fylde Council for the rink to be sited in Clifton Square at the heart of town.

That permission was granted last year but the rink was ruled out by the need for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, as Clifton Square counts as a highway despite being pedestrianised.

The aim now is have the rink - of real ice - in the Square from November 21 until the opening days of the New Year, with some associated seasonal stalls alongside.

Suzanne Taylor, who chairs the Lytham Business Partnership said: “We’re thrilled that Fylde Council voted unanimously in favour of our temporary real ice rink, and we thank the officers at Fylde for their advice and support too.

“The ice rink will be a great visitor draw to Lytham for local families as well as for people from farther afield, and the uplift in footfall for the town will provide a significant lifeline for challenged local businesses.”

The aim is to start work on setting up the rink the day after the town’s Christmas lights switch-on, which is on November 14.

“We hope it will be open from the weekend of November 21 through until the opening week of 2027,” added Suzanne.

“We also plan various seasonal stalls adjacent to it and hope we get the go-ahead for other stalls at other locations around town, too. The aim is to crate a wonderful festive atmosphere.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Andy Wolfe of Creative SpARC architects here in Park Lytham who has given his talents and time to assist greatly with the our application.

“Thanks also to the Cubbins family and in particular Steffen and Savannah for coming forward to back this initiative and with their knowledge and experience as ice rink operators.”