Indoor Snow Centres to Reopen
10th July 2020
Last modified on May 14th, 2021
The indoor centres in England can open again under the easing of covid-19 restrictions. The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead was first out of the blocks and others have followed.
The changes were announced by the government yesterday, and we predicted that the indoor snow centres would be able to open towards the end of July in our rolling blog: Coronavirus impact on skiing and snowboarding.
They have all been shut since 20th March.
The Snow Centre, to the north of London, announced yesterday that it would be reopening but was unable to give a date.
“Further to the UK Government’s latest announcement, I am delighted to announce we will be re-opening later this month. We will announce further details at 2pm, Friday 10th July,” said Ian Brown, the MD of the Snow Centre at Hemel Hempstead.
And now we have the information.
It is reopening on July 30th at 10.00AM.
“We are delighted to announce The Snow Centre will re open at 10AM on THURSDAY 30TH July,” said Ian Brown.
“The Snow Centre Team have been busy during lockdown working hard on innovating many activities and procedures in readiness for the return of our guests.
“We will initially be offering Lift Passes, Lessons for those in the same household or bubble, Private Lessons, and Family Ringo Slide sessions.
“Our online booking and contact centre will open at 10am Tuesday morning, and we’ve got some great value sessions on offer throughout the summer.”
Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead
It has been a while coming as it had hoped to open in early July when other restrictions were lifted in England, but was unable to do so.
“So we’re not able to open the slopes on 4th July as we’d hoped 😢 but we’re ready and waiting for when we are able to slide again,” said the Snow Centre at Hemel Hempstead at the end of June.
Here is a taster of what things may be like in a video made during lockdown.
https://www.facebook.com/TheSnowCentre/videos/523778284956656
It will be an altogether different experience with social distancing measures needed.
PlanetSKI hopes to be on the slopes for its reopening to see what the experience is like.
Other indoor real snow centres in England have been giving details of their plans.
The Snowdome at Tamworth in Staffordshire has announced that it will open for skiing and snowboarding on Friday 31st July.
More information will be posted on its website in the next few days but it is now accepting online bookings.
Its Fitness Centre will six days earlier for members, on Saturday 25th July.
Some slopes, though, have not yet set a date.
Snozone, which has indoor snow centres at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and Castleford in Yorkshire, says it is aiming for early August.
“Whilst currently reading through the updated restrictions and limitations, we are targeting an opening in early August, but we will make a full announcement in due course via our website and social media channels,” Snozone says.
The Chill Factore in Manchester is also hoping to open sometime in August.
It has been used as a giant fridge to store food while it’s been closed for snowsports as we reported on 22nd May in our rolling blog, Coronavirus Impact On Skiing & Snowboarding
“Whilst we are very keen to open our doors and welcome our guests back to the slopes, we are currently reviewing the guidelines to ensure that we can reopen safely and operate within the restrictions being placed upon us,” the Chill Factore website states.
“At the moment, we are unable to confirm at definitive date however, it is likely to be in August 2020. Once we have more information, we will post it on our website and social channels. ”
Scotland’s only indoor real snow centre, Snow Factor in Glasgow, remains closed for the time being.
The Scottish Government is responsible for deciding when and what restrictions are lifted there.
