Skate Manchester — Local services in Manchester

We were the first in line we arrived 23 mins before the due to skate time ( it stated doors open 15 mins before, but we got in a little earlier. We also happened to be the first in the queue to get on the ice so we got as long as we could out of the 45mins skate time. That being said, it took ages to get everyone on the ice if you were much further down that queue I suspect you'd be losing a good 15 mins of skate time. If you come off the ice a couple minutes early you can save yourself a long queue to change your skate for your shoes back as well.

To access a toilet, because my daughter decided she needed the toilet right after we arrived, my husband had to take her to some nearby portaloos. This meant exchanging their skate for shoes, walking out to locate the portaloos and then walking back round to the front re exchanging their shoes and then coming back on the ice. They took about 20 mins to get back on the ice. So make sure you use the toilet before you go in.

What really made me dislike the experience though is having my 6 yo denied a skate aid (I'd pre booked one but apparently he was too tall). But he couldn't get the hang of it without. (Note at this point we have been ice skating before at Altrincham and they provided skate aid for all my kids). After 25 mins and several falls I asked again and still got a no. I saw they had the two rung over the shoe at the shoe exchange and went to inquire if we could swap for those (this is a tactic we did with his sister when at Altrincham Ice rink) still told he's too tall(?). Which ,fair enough, I get it there are 'rules' and this would just be a horrible time for my crying 6 yo and me having to sit with him rather than skate with everyone else... I'd happily accept that... If there weren't numerous other people adults and older children alike who had managed to use one of the penguin skate aids (using a siblings/child's/commandeering one someone else left behind) and were happily jaunting around with it and none of the attendants approach to enforce the 'rules'. There was also another kid that had a fall (taller than my kid) and he was given the overshoe skates. My kids had a fall bad enough that I had to carry him off the ice whilst skating. I don't mind following the rules if that's the rules but that means upholding the rules...

Ok, so this comes from a specific point of view. A parent with a young adult with special needs. We have been to many popup rinks over the years and never experienced this before. Firstly the place is rammed (even if the website says it's still have plenty of tickets to sell). The staff have had no training in these types of scenarios. One staff member just stands there shouting out instructions as loud as possible. Seeing our child was physically and mentally upset, he continued, before we could move her out, making her even more hysterical. No consideration.

That's my issue. Not every place can cater for Special needs, that's fine , and to be honest maybe we should have done some better homework (doesn't say anything on their website). But when you see children and young adults struggling (we were not the only ones) and don't react with concern that's terrible. In any scenario.It was obvious they could have accomadated to some extent, without breaking their guidelines. But chose not too.

Coming off the ice the queue is as long and jumped, complete mess and no-one from the staff care again. Our child got themselves into such a state i have never see them get into that before in 18 years!!!!

It just feels like a cattle money making machine. The mother wasn't even allowed to enter because she was just watching. Even when her child was at their worst.

So if you are in the same situation as us, I would advise you find somewhere else less central, with a bit more breathing space and ALOT more consideration.

If however you don't mind queuing on and off for half your allotted time, being elbowed and queue jumped, the skating bit is pretty good fun with an indoor and outdoor section, and you're probably looking at a 4...

was there tonight and I was disgusted by the staff! There was a girl who was no more than 16 years old and she had fallen in front of me, I tried not to hit her and she went to the manager and said that I did it on purpose. The manager came to me and kicked me out without being able to explain what happened. From my point of view, it has nothing to do with the job he has and makes the company laugh as much as he himself. There was also someone from security who didn't know how to behave, this makes me understand that you passed the security courses without him and he doesn't know his duties. I've walked all over England to the skating rink, but I've never seen more stupidity than tonight. 😅😅😅 that's all I want to tell you that you are absolutely not professionals and the manager should resign from my point of view. I will take this whole issue to court, let's see what they will say. He will have to check the CCTV to bring good...