COUNCIL chiefs are set to welcome back a Christmas ice rink to Southampton despite this year's project making a loss of £66,000.
More than 12,000 people paid up to £8 to pull on a pair of skates on the rink between December 15 and January 21. It was the first time they were able to skate in the city since the city's Banister Park ice rink closed in 1988.
The temporary rink in the Guildhall Square formed the centrepiece of Southampton City Council's Christmas and new year celebrations.
These also included a German market and improved festive lights.
Council chiefs blamed poor sponsorship and a "sharp change" in weather after new year for the failure to balance the books and said there were good prospects for breaking even or making a profit if it was put on again.
Council leaders agreed in October to underwrite any losses from the £135,000 costs of the ice rink.
It was sponsored by WestQuay shopping centre, Breeze Volkswagen, Southampton Solent University, Carswell Gould and West Quay Retail Park.
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