South London's highly anticipated Christmas market and ice rink has been forced to delay its grand opening due to the severe conditions brought by Storm Claudia.
Weather Forces Festive Postponement
Lewisham's Winter Gardens was scheduled to open at 11am on Saturday, November 15 at Beckenham Place Park. However, organisers made the difficult decision to push back the launch by one week to Saturday, November 22.
The move comes after the Met Office issued an amber weather warning for Storm Claudia, which is predicted to bring a month's worth of rain within 24 hours. Lewisham Council stated that the decision was necessary to allow the grounds time to recover and to ensure the safety of contractors, staff, and visitors during the final setup phase.
What Visitors Can Expect
When it does open, Winter Gardens promises to be a spectacular festive destination. The centrepiece will be an ice rink housed within a wooden bandstand, accompanied by a festive market featuring over 15 stalls selling handmade gifts, local crafts, ornaments, and seasonal food and drink.
The event will also feature performances from the Revel Puck Circus, an award-winning East London circus company known for combining storytelling, skill, and showmanship in their thrilling shows.
Additional Attractions and Ticket Information
The site's crowning glory is The Winter Lodge, a frosty glass complex with three distinct zones: a traditional bar for adults; a family zone with board games and Christmas music; and 'the hideaway' - a lively games bar featuring table tennis, pool, and shuffleboard, with UV gaming sessions at weekends.
Other attractions include a festive fairground with over 15 traditional and festive-themed rides, and Plonk Golf - a 9-hole Christmas-themed crazy golf course. Visitors can also purchase Christmas trees and decorations from O' Christmas Tree, London's premier Christmas tree retailer.
While entry to the site is free, tickets are required for the golf course, ice rink, and circus. Golf course tickets are priced at £12.05 for adults, £9.36 for children under 12, and £35.24 for a family of four. Ice rink tickets cost £15.27 for adults, £9.90 for children under 12, and £42.84 for a family of four.
The council is directly contacting all affected customers and ticket holders with updated information about rescheduling bookings to the new date.
