'Excuse is pathetic' : Edinburgh locals react to Christmas ice rink being axed

Edinburgh locals have branded the decision to axe the city’s Christmas ice rink “pathetic” after the popular festive attraction was cancelled for this year.

The popular ice rink, which has been a fixture of Edinburgh Christmas celebrations for almost 30 years, will not be making a return for the 2026 winter festival.

It follows concerns over rising costs and uncertainty caused by the summer Princes Street fire.

The ice rink has previously been located in East Princes Street Gardens and St Andrew Square | Ian Georgeson Photography

Organisers at Unique Assembly said the decision was made due to a lack of funding and uncertainty over the impact of the closure of Princes Street following the blaze at the former Debenhams building in July.

This announcement has prompted a wave of reactions from locals, with some questioning why the fire has affected the rink's future and suggesting alternative locations for the attraction.

One local questioned the cancellation, writing: “If the ice bar is going in the same place how would that make any difference if there was another closure/fire?”

Others suggested the rink should return to its former home in Princes Street Gardens, with one commenting: “Why can't it be in Princes Street Gardens the main part?”

Another local expressed their disappointment at the loss of the attraction, saying: “Shame, they couldn't put it back in the gardens in St Andrew Sq or Princes Street it was always well supported.”

Some commenters also questioned whether the cancellation was more to do with money than the fire, with one branding the explanation “pathetic”.

The decision was made due to a lack of funding and uncertainty over the closure of Princes Street | Third Party

They said: “The excuse is pathetic. It's clearly a cost cutting exercise if they can still produce the ice bar then they can produce the ice rink! Even if they moved away from George Street.”

Others were less impressed with the decision, with one simply commenting: “Rubbish not a great idea.”

The ice rink has previously been located in East Princes Street Gardens and St Andrew Square before moving to George Street in more recent years.

An Edinburgh’s Christmas spokesperson said the rink requires extensive advance planning, including arrangements with suppliers, the design structures and decisions about the site.

They said these decisions had to be made over the summer, when key parts of the city centre were closed and there was uncertainty about when Princes Street would reopen.

The spokesperson said: “This, alongside the significant costs of staging a rink in the city centre, with no opportunity for funding support, resulted in us taking the difficult but necessary decision not to present the ice rink on George Street this year.”

They added that they hope the long-standing attraction will return in future years,

To make up for the loss of the ice rink, they will instead be introducing new festive shows and cabaret at Bristo Square.

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