Part of The Parks Trust, Willen Lake is one of Milton Keynes’ biggest and most popular recreational parks, spanning approximately 100 acres. Across the site, Willen Lake offers adventures for all, from the adrenaline-fuelled ‘Treetop Extreme’ high ropes course to water-based activities and a variety of sports such as mini golf, cycling and archery.
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Structures
Premier
Skating into the festive season
Christmas at Willen Lake is no different, as a range of seasonal activities join the roster, including fairground rides, festive food and drink stalls and the main attraction, a stunning ice rink located in front of Willen’s iconic observation wheel.
A successful relocation
GL events UK were delighted to assist Ice Leisure with a robust temporary ice rink structure to house ‘Willen on Ice’ for the 2025 festive season. Working in close partnership with the client team, we collaborated to reassess and improve the location of the rink, ensuring it supported visitor flow, integrated seamlessly with other attractions, and remained operationally robust.
Through site visits, surveys and open dialogue, an initial location was refined and ultimately repositioned to a more prominent, level site that enhanced customer experience and supported a successful, extended seasonal operation from October half term through to January.
Constructed using our versatile Premier structure to provide an enclosed space, the 24m x 60m clearspan temporary structure took shape over a three-day build programme and was finished with an elegant curved roof. Following installation, the structure was transformed into a fully operational ice-skating rink, complete with dazzling lights, classic festive tunes, storage for ice resurfacing machinery and skate hire and exchange facilities.
A challenging location
Due to its exposed location, the weather presented a key challenge to both the installation and use of the ice rink structure throughout the season. Our Premier pavilion range carries high wind ratings and is a popular, reliable choice for the winter months. Its lightweight composition also eliminates the need for cranes or additional machinery during installation, meaning work can be carried out in all weather conditions, there is less disruption with plant movement, and it reduces the risk of damaging the ground. In addition, the Premier structures effective weatherproofing meant that the ice rink remained operational throughout its 3-month tenancy.
Another key challenge throughout the site build was the management of pedestrians and children, as the site remained open to the public throughout. This was particularly challenging as vehicles needed to use the main pathway for access, so ensuring the safety of the public was key to all operations. Control measures were put in place throughout the build to keep the public safe.
Looking to cover an ice rink?
Create a memorable winter destination with custom ice rink structures, marquees, pagodas, lighting and power for covered or open-air temporary ice rinks.
The result
Willen on Ice was a great success, drawing thousands of visitors throughout the festive period. The successful delivery of this project reinforces GL events UK’s credentials for delivering reliable, high-quality temporary structures for events in all seasons and meeting the needs of clients with collaboration and teamwork at the heart of our approach.
If you need a reliable, flexible structure for your next winter event, get in touch to see how we can help.
Make your winter event sparkle
In addition to ice rink structures, GL events provide a wide range of winter event infrastructure to make your event sparkle. Discover everything you need to activate your ice rink structure through a single trusted supplier.