THE shortlist

10 ICE RINKS

In London ...

Queen's: 17 Queensway, W2 (0171 229 0172). A little gem. Mon-Fri, 10am- 4.30pm, 7.30pm-11pm, Sun 7-10pm. From pounds 5 with pounds 1.50 skate hire. Reductions.

Broadgate Ice Arena: 3 Broadgate, Liverpool St Station, EC2 (0171 505 4000). Outdoor chiller. Noon-2.30pm, 3.30-6pm weekdays; 7-10pm Fri eve session, Sat and Sun, 11am-1pm, 2-4pm, 5-7pm. pounds 4.50 off-peak, pounds 5 peak, pounds 2 skate hire. Discounts.

Streatham Ice Arena: (0181 769 7771). 1930s nostalgia at 386 Streatham High Road SW16. pounds 4 plus pounds 1.50 skate hire. Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm, Mon, Thurs, Fri 5-7pm, Tues 7.15-10pm, Wed-Fri 7.30-10.30pm, weekends 10.30- 5pm, Sat 8-11pm, Sun 8-1pm.

The Bellway Ice Rink Albert Square, Manchester (0161 234 3712). Temporary outdoor ice rink (closes 5 Jan). Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, pounds 3.50, Sat/Sun 10am- 10pm pounds 2.50. Prices include skate hire. Under-18s disco Thurs.

The Rink at Barrow-in-Furness, Dalkeith Street, Barrow, Cumbria (01229 433445). The UK's first plastic surface. pounds 2.50 to skate as long as you want. Mon-Wed, 10am-9pm, Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri/Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm.

East Kilbride ice rink, Olympia Centre (01355 244065). Thurs-Sun from 11.30am-1.30pm, 2-4pm, 7.30-10.30pm, 5.30-7pm Sats. pounds 2-pounds 3.

Plymouth ice rink, the Pavilion, Millbay Road (01752 229922). Alpine decor. Sessions from 10am-8pm. pounds 2.75 plus 50p skate hire, pounds 1.50 for the 10am, noon and 2pm sessions.

Bristol ice rink, Frogmore Street (0117 929 2148). Open 7 days from 10.30am-10.30pm in sessions. pounds 2.80-pounds 3.60 plus pounds 1 for skates.

Blackpool Ice Drome at the Pleasure Beach, Ocean Boulevard (01253 341707). Oldest in the world. Mon-Fri 9.30am-3.30pm (pounds 3), 3.45-5.30pm (pounds 2.80), Tues, Thurs, Fri 7.45-10.15pm from pounds 2.60, Sat 10.30am-12.30 (pounds 3.20, free skates), 2-4.30pm disco (pounds 3.20), 7.45-10.15pm and Sun 10.30am-12.30 (pounds 3.20, free skates), 2.30-4.30 (pounds 3.20). Skate hire pounds 1.

The Dome, Bawtry Rd, Doncaster (01302 370777). Mon-Fri 11am-1pm, 2-4pm and Mon-Tues plus Thurs-Sat from 7.30-10.30pm. pounds 2.10 plus pounds 1.20 skate hire with disco pounds 4.10 including skates.

Compiled by COLETTE HARRIS