Plans have been revealed for Lancaster On Ice to remain a long-term Christmas attraction for the city.
Organisers of the popular outdoor ice rink have applied to Lancaster City Council for planning permission to allow the attraction to run on a permanent basis each winter.
Planning permission for the Dalton Square ice skating facility, which traditionally opens in November, December and January, was first granted in 2019. A subsequent extension agreed by the council allowed it to operate until January 2026.
A statement issued with the plans says: "The previously agreed seasonal timeframe under which Lancaster On Ice was allowed to operate has ended.
"This application seeks further planning approval for the event to operate in Lancaster on a permanent, seasonal basis."
Lancaster On Ice is the brainchild of Martin and Hannah Horner, who run the nearby pub, restaurant and hotel The Borough (below).
Recently Mrs Horner spoke to Beyond Radio about their plans for Lancaster On Ice to return.
LISTEN to Hannah Horner talking to Beyond Radio's Phil McGrath about the return of Lancaster On Ice, at the recent Renes Fashion Show at Lancaster Castle
"It's in the hands of the council, we are quietly confident that it's going to go ahead," she said.
"There will be a few changes and a few surprises.
"Watch this space!
"You only know it's Christmas when the wheel and the rink start going up, so fingers crossed."
The Lancaster On Ice Big Wheel
Lancaster On Ice has become a popular fixture of the Christmas season in Lancaster, and in 2019 won the Lancaster Tourism Award for best Large Event.
In 2025 the rink surrounding the Queen Victoria Memorial opened to the public on November 21 and ran until January 4 2026, pulling thousands of visitors.
Two recent applications have gone in to the council; one for construction of a temporary ice rink, chillers, fencing and hoardings, skate exchange tent, access ramp and market stalls and observation wheel and permanent siting of electricity distribution box and one listed building application for the construction of a temporary ice rink and erection of temporary fencing and hoardings.
"The application proposes the positioning of the ice rink in the same location as that approved under the original planning permission," says the statement issued with the plans.
The Lancaster On Ice rink has been an extremely popular attraction over the Christmas period
"Various options for the site layout are sought by the applicant as this will allow greater flexibility how the event can operate.
"The applicant has learned that having some flexibility for the event allows them to refresh the event on offer each year, providing something different for returning customers to experience.
"The applicant would therefore like the option of changing the site layout and offering a different mix of what is on offer at the event.
"Over recent years, Lancaster On Ice has been an immense success and drawn large numbers of tourists and residents to the city centre. This application will allow the attraction to remain in seasonal operation in perpetuity and allow greater flexibility in how the event can operate.
"The applicant had considered whether to go down the route of a further temporary permission for the event, for a timeframe of 10 years. This would ensure operation of the event until January 2037. However, informal discussions with Lancaster City Council have indicated that the preferred option is to pursue a permanent, seasonal permission for the event rather than make a repeated application for temporary consent."
The plans are publicly available to read in the planning section of the Lancaster City Council website lancaster.gov.uk, reference numbers 26/00591/FUL and 26/00592/LB.
The council will make a decision on planning permission in due course.
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