Rollacity — Local services in Rochford

We went here during the February half term with two under 10s who got skates for Christmas but hadn't really tested them out in any nice environment like a dedicated roller rink!

We booked online for a three hour session and arrived on time with a queue outside. When the doors opened it moved quickly and they were accepting walk ins as well as those who had pre booked - I assume there is an capacity limit where they would have to turn the walk ins away!

As it was half term it was mostly kids on the rink but lots of adults of course too with them, with varying levels of skill, ability and experience.

The skates some of us hired were surprisingly good quality - I'll admit I was expecting some worn out ropey pair (a bit like how bowling shoes are) but they were all well maintained, durable and very much did the job! I was impressed with that.

There was always a couple of staff skating on the rink too making sure anyone who fell over was ok, and a special mention to the DJ who was brilliant - taking requests, interacting with everyone, did a couple of games, that didn't last long so if you didn't take part it didn't feel like you were being robbed of skate time. You could watch for a few minutes and then it was back on.

I think one of the challenges with a roller rink especially with heaps of kids around is that lack of spatial awareness and responsibility for our own actions - of course kids are learning, and it was open to all levels, but there was a fair few 'out of control' kids who ended up causing others to crash because they weren't aware of who was around them and how their actions can create accidents for other people. To me, that's something on the accompanying adults though, to make sure the kids in their care are having fun, learning a new skill, but part of that is making sure others around you aren't being knocked over and pushed because we aren't paying attention to surroundings. That is part of being a skater after all!

I think this sort of place will always be an activity where your enjoyment of the session very much depends on the actions of others as well.

Dropped a star because of the ladies toilets - they absolutely stank! Worse than what a men's toilets usually do. Such a strong urine smell and even a little of the sanitary bins. It doesn't help that the toilets feel like primary school ones, being cold and devoid of any nice comfortable features but the smell was overwhelming. Really disgusting! And that was not long after it had opened so it kind of feels like it's an ongoing problem that the management have never seen too bothered to fix. It could be an expensive plumbing issue, but either way, to have no attempt to mask the smell is crazy considering how cheap room diffusers, Febreeze etc are these days.

But I'd definitely go back, it was great fun and something everyone should try, maybe just lay off the drinks so you don't need to use the toilet... Or take some smelling salts.

Or maybe I'll just pop to nearby Home Bargains, get a few cheap diffusers and sneak them in...

Rollacity leads you to believe that they are a decent company, with an excellent venue - if a little small for the traffic it handles - however the management is ignorant and, quite frankly rude, taking a defensive stance and acting aggressive upon enquiry. The rink staff 'cherry-pick' their terms and conditions, and to whom they enforce them. There is clearly a preferential treatment given to the stewards' 'buddies' allowing them to bend the rules which are clearly written in the terms and conditions upon booking. Having said this, when we challenged the selective rule enforcement we were met with condescending, aggressive responses from James the manager who refused to listen to us and outright talked over us. He told us that if we didn't like the way this 'business' is run, "there's the door". (Amazing way to treat your long-term loyal customers and run a business, right?) After being asked politely but sternly to listen to us, he told us "I'm not having this conversation," and turned away. It was after we refused to end the conversation here that he turned aggressive, clearly just looking for a fight, making back-handed remarks intended to provoke a (possibly violent) reaction. (Isn't that a great attitude for a 'family friendly' venue?) They've lost four loyal customers, we won't be returning here - just hope Madison Heights will be a bit more professional and accommodating! We'll be passing this on to our many skating friends - RC chose the wrong people to mess with.

Edit: @ "Paul Hill", wow, you are utterly deluded. The reason i was up in your precious buddie's face was because he refused to move to an area that was more quiet because the music was so loud, ya know...it is a "rollerdisco" after all, so just to hear each other we had to shout and be in close proximity to one another. He was so aggressive and determined to make a scene he outright refused to move before i even managed to make one complaint so we could speak easier, having a defensive, aggressive stance the whole time with his arms closed, like a bouncer or some other aggressive male nonsense. When i decided to finish the conversation as it wasn't going anywhere as your friend refused to listen to us i said, quote "I'm ending this conversation", i turned my back to him, started skating away to which your precious friend responded with "Oh look a big tough man!", at that point yes, i did get aggressive, as i was responding to someone who was already being aggressive. Seriously what sort of a second rate, clueless punk who claims to be a professional speaks to his customers and acts like that? Also you can get out of here with the racist abuse nonsense, at no time did that ever happen and you are simply making up lies and slander now, and its a pretty low life thing to do to bring racial issues (that never existed) into an argument to try and make yourself look good. This is the type of people who run and go to this establishment? Congratulations you just made every point ive made even stronger than before, proving my case...

Been going for a year now with my wife, 3 children and baby, at first it was brilliant, great atmosphere brilliant food, great prices! Always had 2 stewards on the rink at all times! As time has gone on it has really gone down hill yet prices are going up. It's always ram packed and feels like they will keep letting people on regardless of how busy it is, although they claim they do limit it..... We always went on a Saturday night 7pm to 11pm. Most of the staff seem very incompetent of their jobs, alot of the times have staff behind the bar whom can't sell alcohol 🙄 seems very pointless putting the member of staff on that jobs role.... They claim to have all information extremely visible everywhere apparently, please be very cautious and make sure you ask staff on payment as you WILL get picked on by the regulars who seem to be very friendly with the staff/supervisors and seems to be 1 rules for them amd 1 rule for everyone else!! Absolutely horrendous down then, no1 takes any care of little ones whom skate round by the side holding on, they just seem to skate as fast as they can without caring if they bump into and children! my advice is to avoid like covid!! I won't be going back at all! And will happily take my custom elsewhere! Don't be fooled by their loyalty card what literally means nothing..... absolutely pointless, got nothing once it was full.....

Oh and food and drinks are not very well stocked, so make sure to eat before you go (what i used to do)

Happy to pay extra elsewhere where they actually sell more variety of drinks food and have much...