Whitley Bay Ice Rink
Whitley Bay Ice Rink
3
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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Address
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Restaurants
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.0
98 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
12
Average
22
Poor
16
Terrible
29
Rob A
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK389 contributions
Apr 2022
I do not often give 1 star reviews but i feel like this "ice rink" deserves such a rating!
We arrived with our child who was playing ice hockey at the arena and altohugh she had a great time the fun stopped there!
The toilets were filthy when we arrived and looked like they hadnt renovated for some years. To the credit of the rink on the way out they had been "cleaned" but my god how much bleach did they use! it literally made you gag from the smell of bleach!
Into the café area. The floor levels are all over the place with random dips which are dangerous! The tables seemed to be covered in glue or so it seemed they were so sticky! The café made you spend a minimum of £5 to use your card! who does this in 2022 seriously!
Into the rink tne first thing that hit me was the smell! it smelt like it was old, very old! Then the darkness hit me! I am visually impaired and useless in the dark and i have never been to a rink with such poor accessibility. If it wasn't for my wife i wouldnt have been able to enter the arena! Dark and dingy for sure!
The outside doesn't look to much better with scaffolding all around! maybe this is a sign they are in the process of renovating the arena!
Free parking is available if your lucky enough to find a spot
I cant comment on the state of the ice as i didnt skate but the zamboni driver needs lessons on how to cut the ice and not miss huge patches
We arrived with our child who was playing ice hockey at the arena and altohugh she had a great time the fun stopped there!
The toilets were filthy when we arrived and looked like they hadnt renovated for some years. To the credit of the rink on the way out they had been "cleaned" but my god how much bleach did they use! it literally made you gag from the smell of bleach!
Into the café area. The floor levels are all over the place with random dips which are dangerous! The tables seemed to be covered in glue or so it seemed they were so sticky! The café made you spend a minimum of £5 to use your card! who does this in 2022 seriously!
Into the rink tne first thing that hit me was the smell! it smelt like it was old, very old! Then the darkness hit me! I am visually impaired and useless in the dark and i have never been to a rink with such poor accessibility. If it wasn't for my wife i wouldnt have been able to enter the arena! Dark and dingy for sure!
The outside doesn't look to much better with scaffolding all around! maybe this is a sign they are in the process of renovating the arena!
Free parking is available if your lucky enough to find a spot
I cant comment on the state of the ice as i didnt skate but the zamboni driver needs lessons on how to cut the ice and not miss huge patches
Written April 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sindims
38 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
i used to ply ice hockey so i was excited to get back on the ice after years of not skating. I was a bit downhearted when i actually got on the ice. the ice rink could do with the ice being done properly . It's full of bumps, chips and is terrible to skate on because it's so dry, felt like you were skating on plastic. I left my own skates there to be sharpened and they didn't sharpen them enough, my skates were sliding out, ÂŁ7 wasted.
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnaW1980
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK21 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
The whole place needs a refurbishment. The toilets were disgusting, there were far too many people on the ice so you couldn’t really have a good skate. It’s not cheap either so you are paying to skate in a dirty old rink using rusty boots that were so uncomfortable I couldn’t even walk in them never mind skate. I had to swap the skates as the pain was horrific from the boots. There should be a limit to how many people are on the ice as it did not make for a pleasant experience. I was really disappointed.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JazzJeff
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK54 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
This place is a health and safety hazard, needs major investment, there’s still northern electric sponsor boards? How old? Frances needs to put his hand in his pocket instead of being tight and putting peoples lives at risk, the place is full of asbestos, ceiling tiles cracked and missing. The food in the cafe is appalling, I’ve seen better food on 3rd world charity appeals. The skates are the same ones from 20 years ago, more than likely catch an STD wearing them.
The whole place needs to be demolished.
The whole place needs to be demolished.
Written November 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xsegxd
North Shields, UK3 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
We come to Whitley Bay ice rink multiple times per week with our child who loves figure skating, and have been doing so for a number of years.
Unfortunately there are no other rinks in the area, so like most people, we have to use this one despite it being less than ideal.
It’s always busy, and it’s expensive, so I imagine they are making a reasonable amount of money, however the place is falling apart. It’s genuinely the most unloved ice rink I’ve ever been to. It’s dark, damp and mouldy, and In need of some serious Investment and updating. It really is not a pleasant place to spend time while the kids train.
Such a shame, as the kids who use it are so dedicated and passionate about the sport, and the coaches are also largely very good.
Unfortunately there are no other rinks in the area, so like most people, we have to use this one despite it being less than ideal.
It’s always busy, and it’s expensive, so I imagine they are making a reasonable amount of money, however the place is falling apart. It’s genuinely the most unloved ice rink I’ve ever been to. It’s dark, damp and mouldy, and In need of some serious Investment and updating. It really is not a pleasant place to spend time while the kids train.
Such a shame, as the kids who use it are so dedicated and passionate about the sport, and the coaches are also largely very good.
Written December 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rw2233
Hull8 contributions
Nov 2022 • Family
I visited to watch a family member play ice hockey and was warned its not a pleasant place, well in fact its disgusting.
The whole place smells of mold, the toilets are not well kept and not clean the only decent part is the canteen but the service was without a smile.
My family member said the ice is awful to skate on and the whole place is in desperate need of a revamp
The whole place smells of mold, the toilets are not well kept and not clean the only decent part is the canteen but the service was without a smile.
My family member said the ice is awful to skate on and the whole place is in desperate need of a revamp
Written November 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JazzJeff
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK54 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
This place is an absolute death trap, it’s like an escape the room experience.. the best thing about this place is the exit.
The building looks like Reactor 4 from the Chernobyl disaster.
Missing roof tiles, smelly toilets, prison food from the cafe. Great day out if you want your kids to get asbestosis and you have to issues with basic health and safety.
Needs demolished!
The building looks like Reactor 4 from the Chernobyl disaster.
Missing roof tiles, smelly toilets, prison food from the cafe. Great day out if you want your kids to get asbestosis and you have to issues with basic health and safety.
Needs demolished!
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterG
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
Enjoyed skating and friendly staff but please, please invest in the ice rink. The interior was in poor state, toilets disgusting and amenities spartan ... exactly like Durham ice rink 35 years ago. Come on, the world has moved on and Northerners deserve better !!
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Holidayswith3kids
12 contributions
Feb 2017 • Family
I am only giving this one star as it is not possible to award zero stars! We took our two girls (age 10 and 4) here this afternoon. They had been looking forward to it for a while and it was a huge disappointment. We paid ÂŁ31 for two hours including skate hire. The first thing you should know is that the skates are like hockey skates, with no toe pick at the front, which makes it very difficult to skate or stop. Incredibly dangerous when you are trying to hold up a four year old. The boots are very old fashioned, the blades were rusty and blunt and my husband's skates were wet inside. The area where you sit to put on your skate contraptions is very dimly lit and shabby. The whole place is dirty. While we were there, a man fell on the ice and split his head open. His trail of blood remained all over the ice for the whole time we were there which was very unpleasant and unhygienic. This place needs to be either demolished or to undergo a complete renovation. We will never return and would not recommend it to anyone.
Written February 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JTraveller84
Newcastle upon Tyne51 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
As a frequent user of the ice rink (over 10 years), I live in hope that one day, the owners will give it a proper overhaul and make it into a half decent facility. But don't hold your breath waiting for that, nothing good will happen to you.
It's shabby and yes, it does smell funny (you get used to it after a bit). It's probably a health and safety nightmare, and if you fancy watching the hockey, do so within 2 weeks of the season starting as the ice isn't maintained well enough to keep the line markings down, so you just have to guess when someone is offside after that.
Top tip: Take your own loo paper. Finding loo paper at the rink is a bit like unexpectedly finding a ÂŁ20 note in your pocket - rare and exciting.
The café seems to do quite well, although I never buy from them, there is often a queue of parents when the junior hockey teams are practicing, so if the regulars like it, it must be okay.
It has recently re-done the car park, which is nice and smooth, and has parking bays marked out, although they're a bit tight. This is a huge improvement on the previous incarnation, and all the patron's car suspensions are doing much better, thanks for asking. In Winter, grit is an unseen commodity, so be prepared to slide about.
For all it is a constant disappointment, it is the only skating facility in the area (Billingham is next nearest, it's been recently refurbished - *sigh*), so it's a case of suck it up and get on with it. November to February, I usually swap to skating at the outdoor ice rink outside the Centre For Life in Newcastle instead. Also, the majority of Whitley rink employees are lovely, rays of sunshine who always acknowledge you and make conversation. And I can absolutely say that over the past decade (and earlier!) I've met some of the most interesting/weirdest/nicest folk, by hanging around at the rink.
Even though it's a sorry-looking place, Whitley Bay Ice Rink does have a certain charm. A bit like your Aunt Mildred's scratty three-legged terrier that's missing half it's teeth and occasionally urinates on itself. It means well, but it's not going to win Crufts.
It's shabby and yes, it does smell funny (you get used to it after a bit). It's probably a health and safety nightmare, and if you fancy watching the hockey, do so within 2 weeks of the season starting as the ice isn't maintained well enough to keep the line markings down, so you just have to guess when someone is offside after that.
Top tip: Take your own loo paper. Finding loo paper at the rink is a bit like unexpectedly finding a ÂŁ20 note in your pocket - rare and exciting.
The café seems to do quite well, although I never buy from them, there is often a queue of parents when the junior hockey teams are practicing, so if the regulars like it, it must be okay.
It has recently re-done the car park, which is nice and smooth, and has parking bays marked out, although they're a bit tight. This is a huge improvement on the previous incarnation, and all the patron's car suspensions are doing much better, thanks for asking. In Winter, grit is an unseen commodity, so be prepared to slide about.
For all it is a constant disappointment, it is the only skating facility in the area (Billingham is next nearest, it's been recently refurbished - *sigh*), so it's a case of suck it up and get on with it. November to February, I usually swap to skating at the outdoor ice rink outside the Centre For Life in Newcastle instead. Also, the majority of Whitley rink employees are lovely, rays of sunshine who always acknowledge you and make conversation. And I can absolutely say that over the past decade (and earlier!) I've met some of the most interesting/weirdest/nicest folk, by hanging around at the rink.
Even though it's a sorry-looking place, Whitley Bay Ice Rink does have a certain charm. A bit like your Aunt Mildred's scratty three-legged terrier that's missing half it's teeth and occasionally urinates on itself. It means well, but it's not going to win Crufts.
Written August 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do 13-14 year olds need accompanied by an Adult ?
SAINTLEE
Fawley, UK256 contributions
No they don't unless they can't skate,it said under 12's needed an adult
Can you hire figure skates?
Paul Q
1 contribution
They do have figure skates, our 5th replacement pair were, but take a crowbar or method of torture to pry a pair out of them!
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Claim your listingWhitley Bay Ice Rink - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Whitley Bay Ice Rink
- Whitley Bay Ice Rink is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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- Restaurants near Whitley Bay Ice Rink:
- (0.47 mi) OMNI Cafe
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Whitley Bay Ice Rink Information
Excellent Reviews | 20 |
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Very Good Reviews | 12 |
Whitley Bay Ice Rink Photos | 17 |