Snow Centres in England Open Again
12th April 2021
Last modified on May 12th, 2021
England’s indoor snow centres are back in business as the lockdown eases still further. Most of the slopes have welcomed skiers and snowboarders for the first time this year.
It’s been a long, long wait.
The indoor centres have closed, opened, closed and opened again as lockdown rules have changed since March 2020.
Finally, snowsports fans in England who’ve been desperate for their fix are able to get it.
Here are the first few runs as the Chill Factore in Manchester opened at 1pm on Monday, 12th April.
Although indoor hospitality venues are still not allowed to open, sports centres given the Visit England seal of approval, can.
They’ve had to make changes to their day-to-day operations including social distancing measures and staff training to ensure they’re safe places for the public to visit.
Changing areas will remain closed.
“The whole team can’t wait to welcome the ski and snowboard enthusiasts as well as families of the north west back to the slopes, Managing Director Ian Brown told the Manchester Evening News ahead of the opening.
“It’s been such a long time since we’ve been able to take part in any sport or exhilarating activities together that it’s a momentous occasion for all of us.
“With the ‘We’re Good To Go’ accreditation from Visit England and all of the safety measures in place, in line with Government and industry covid-19 guidelines, we want everyone to know that we’re taking the safety of our guests and team members very seriously.
“We’re so excited that everyone can start having fun in the snow again and it will be done as safely as possible.”
The Chill Factore has recently been bought by the closest indoor slope to London, The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, as we reported.
The Snow Centre has also opened its doors for the first time in months.
It was looking inviting as it prepared to welcome its first skiers and snowboarders at 10am on Monday.
The Lodge Bar & Kitchen is open for takeaways only until 16th May.
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The SnowDome in Tamworth is open for sport-based actitivies.
Ski and snowboard lessons are permitted as well as climbing, swimming and using the members’ gym at SnowDome Fitness.
Under the new restrictions no other activities are allowed so tobogganing, the snow fun park and ice skating will not reopening until 17th May.
The Snozones at Milton Keynes and Castleford are open and the instructors tested the snow conditions for the first visitors.
The rules regarding what is and is not allowed are detailed.
Snowsport England has produced this table of where we stand as of the lifting of some restrictions on 12th April.
Snowsport England guidelines from 12th April
Full details with all the rules and guidelines for snowsports can be found on the Snowsport England website.
Here’s a list of what the full rule changes include:
· All shops can reopen
· Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services can open
· Restaurants and pubs are allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors
· Gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres can all open
· Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation
· Up to 15 people can attend weddings and 30 can attend funerals
· Children can attend any indoor children’s activity
· Care home visitors will increase to two per resident
· Driving lessons can resume, with tests restarting on 22 April.
Here’s what you can do in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland:
· In Wales, shops can reopen, close-contact services can resume, as can driving lessons, and travel in and out of the country from the rest of the UK is now allowed. All students will return to face-to-face teaching.
· In Scotland, all school pupils are returning to school full time. However, not everyone is returning on Monday because differing term times mean some schools are still closed for the Easter holidays.
· In Northern Ireland, the “stay-at-home” order is ending and up to 10 people from two households will be able to meet in a private garden. The remaining school year groups 8-11 will also return to the classroom.
