Ice skating at Christmas Festival

With the Christmas light installation ongoing, the rink, part of a joint venture between Bexhill Promotions Group and the Pavilion, will raise the festive spirit.

Lights have been put up in Sackville Road and Sea Road following a disappointing light switch-on ceremony in which those streets were left in the dark.

It is hoped that lights taken down in St Leonard's Road last week, after one lighting column fell, will be back up for the festival.

Improvements to lights in Devonshire Road should also be in place.

Brian Storkey, of Bexhill Promotions, said performers dotted around town centre throughout the festival and late night shopping event will help brighten up the streets even more.

"Everything looks very positive," said Brian.

"Lots of shops have said they will be staying open late. There will be a few acts and performers around the town, a marquee at the green at the end of Devonshire Road with Lucky Strike and Band of Two playing, people singing carols at the De La Warr and fire dancers on Saturday.

"We have got the Happy Harold trolley bus giving free rides from outside the De La Warr from around 1pm on Saturday."

The ice-rink is the centre of this year's Christmas festival and the first time the town has had such an attraction in living memory.

It will be on the terrace and open to the public from 3pm-9pm today and 12.15pm-7pm tomorrow.

If the winter weather threatens to interrupt the fun, the rink will be put up inside the theatre.

While skaters take to the ice, shops will stay open for late night shopping and a whole variety of events will take place across the town centre.

TODAY:

In town -

*Late night shopping

At the De La Warr Pavilion -

*Ice-rink open to public 3pm-8.35pm, terrace or theatre, depending on weather if weather is poor.

*Recorded music 3pm-5pm, 5.30pm-6.30pm, 8.15pm-close

*Churches Together carol singers 5pm-5.30pm

*Ding Dong Daddios 6.30pm-8.15pm

TOMORROW: (from noon)

In town -

*Marquee end of Devonshire Road with live bands Lucky Strike and Band of Two

*Bosco Circus Entertainers

*Section Five Drummers

*Happy Harold Trolley Bus, free rides

*Late night shopping

At the De La Warr -

*Ice skating 12.15pm-6.30pm

*Recorded music 12pm-12.30pm, 4pm-5pm, 7pm-close

*East Sussex School of Performing Arts carol singing 12.30pm-1pm

*Battle Town Band 1.15pm-3pm

*Band of Two 3.15pm-4pm, 6pm-7pm

*The Shout choir 5.30pm-6pm

PLUS - mini-funfair and Burning Desire fire dancers in the De La Warr car park.

The Pavilion box office will take personal bookings for the ice-rink from 12.30pm today and 10.30am tomorrow.

The tickets can only be bought in person on the day of skating, with a limit of 10 tickets per person per session. Phone bookings will not be possible.

Skaters will enjoy 30-minute sessions and must only use skates provided at the rink.

The price for a session, including skate hire, adults 3, children 2.

*The Bexhill Observer office in Sackville Road will be open on Saturday from noon-6pm, serving wine, mince pies, sweets and soft drinks to visitors.