A festive outing in South London turned into a letdown for a group of friends who visited a rooftop bar advertising an ice rink, only to discover the skating surface was made entirely of plastic tiles.
A Christmas Celebration Goes Sour
Lupe Baeyens, a social media manager, booked the Bussey Rooftop Bar in Peckham as what she thought would be the ‘perfect way to kick off Christmas’. She and her friends arrived expecting a genuine winter skating experience, based on promotional material that prominently featured the word ‘ice’ and images of people gliding.
Their excitement quickly evaporated. ‘After we got our skates, we saw there were only two other people there and there were plastic tiles instead of ice,’ Ms Baeyens explained. She noted the logical flaw, realising ‘they wouldn’t have been able to get all the ice onto a high rooftop.’
‘Impossible’ to Skate on Synthetic Surface
The reality of the synthetic skate-rink proved profoundly unsatisfactory. Attempting to move on the plastic flooring was a physical challenge. ‘As soon as you tried to skate, you would get stuck in the plastic and fall forward and there was no way you could glide,’ she described. While the group found humour in the situation, calling it a ‘good laugh’, they concluded it was physically impossible to skate properly.
The advertised ‘cosy, après ski winter lodge’ atmosphere also failed to materialise. Ms Baeyens reported that the atmosphere was poor and that fellow visitors seemed equally underwhelmed by the wintery offer. The group grew bored within ten minutes and departed the venue after only twenty.
Refund Issued After Complaint
Having paid £15 per person for the experience, Ms Baeyens said she felt ‘a bit scammed’. The disconnect between the advertising and the reality was stark. ‘All the advertising said “ice” and even the big screen on the rooftop said “ice”,’ she emphasised.
Following their disappointment, the group complained via email and were successful in obtaining a full refund from the venue. Their brief visit culminated in walking around the rink and admiring the view, rather than the festive skate they had anticipated.
Metro has contacted the Bussey Rooftop Bar for a comment on the incident.
