Oxford Ice Rink — Local services in Oxford

I have given two stars as, once on the ice, my daughter really enjoyed herself but it was everything else that I found really disappointing.

The staff on reception didn’t seem friendly - just visibly bored and looking like they would rather be anywhere else in the world. The cafe was closed but we had not been made aware as there was no notice on the website, so we arrived really hungry with nothing to eat. All that was available was an overpriced vending machine.

The toilets were absolutely disgusting. They looked and smelled like they hadn’t been cleaned in months.

I was also really disappointment with staff. It felt like the whole place was run by teenagers who generally didn’t care. A few went on the ice and just messed around. One bumped into a man and another nearly bumped into some of the younger children that were there as they seemed to just be showing off to each other. I saw a girl who was probably about 7 years old fall over and her penguin support flew across the ice. A staff member went across (I thought to help the child) but completely ignored the child and just talked to their colleague instead rather than helping. Others congregated in the top area just drinking energy drinks and using their phones. I didn’t think they were staff at first, until I saw that some were wearing staff t-shirts and others went back behind the reception desk. Whilst I get that there would be quiet periods where they probably are bored, it just comes across as really lazy and doesn’t project a great image. It gave the impression of a manager being away and staff being left to do what they like.

It’s a real shame as with decent management and decent cleaning this place could be great but would recommend...

Disappointing Experience and Unethical Subscription Model

As a mother who wanted to give my child a chance to learn ice skating, I’m utterly disappointed with the cost and the subscription policy at Oxford Ice Rink. The yearly course for kids is a staggering £480, and on top of that, I end up paying nearly £420 annually just for parking! It’s outrageous that they don’t even offer any kind of discounted parking for parents bringing their children weekly.

What’s worse is their unbreakable and downright unethical subscription model. I tried to pause my child’s lessons during the summer when we wouldn’t be around, thinking that it would be reasonable to hold the payments for two months. But to my shock, they still charged me for those summer months! If that wasn’t bad enough, when I asked to cancel just for the summer, they informed me I’d have to pay again for the missed months upon re-enrolling!

Their excuse? They need to know how many students are in the class, so they can manage their lessons. Honestly, why am I paying for their inability to manage their own classes properly? Shouldn’t their planning be more flexible to account for families like ours, who can’t always commit year-round?

Overall, I’m left feeling like this place is more interested in squeezing every penny from parents than actually offering a fair service. Be aware of these hidden and ongoing costs if you’re considering enrolling...

doesn’t even deserve 1 star…save yourself the misery, if you attend by car on a Saturday afternoon especially the 2.45 session… slim pickings with reference to parking on site, no easy route to and from the ice rink itself, massive cues tailing all the way back to redbridge due to all traffic entering westgate shopping center mainly due to the fact the council seem to be doing everything in there power to absolutely destroy oxfords road network .. , car park absolutely rammed, on returning skates a pair of trainers had vanished into thin air, couldn’t go behind to look for them, £100 parking ticket on leaving as had to use what used to be the overspill car park but has now been earmarked for student accommodation so they shut it down….profit over people i guess,…. this used to be a really enjoyable afternoon with the kids, now its a nightmare, had a valid ticket to park just could not park in a bay as there simply aren’t any at that time of day in either the westgate or the ice rink, i wasn’t alone in my frustrations , disgraceful, absolute disgrace.....