Caterer loves ice skating

After British ice-skating legends Robin Cousins, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were crowned Olympic champions in the 1980s, ice skating became one of the country's most popular pastimes.

Sadly, however, its popularity didn't last. There were no British champions to follow in their heroes' skates, and slowly but surely ice skating became just a memory from that now often-ridiculed decade of shoulder pads and bouffant hairdos.

But over the past couple of years the tide has started to turn again and, as we embrace the 1980s styles of fashion and music once more, skating rinks have returned and are becoming an increasingly popular place to spend a winter evening.

Skating is one of the most enjoyable ways to start getting into the Christmas spirit. The glittering lights around the rink, the Christmas carols in the background and winter warmers such as mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies all make for an enchanting evening out.

Whether it's a romantic date, an office party, or a gathering of friends, what better way to have a laugh together than by trying to glide gracefully across the ice only to fall flat on your bottom?

This winter, seasonal ice rinks will open up across the country in cities including Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, York and Warwick. In London alone, eight rinks will be set up in some of the capital's most beautiful venues, such as Somerset House, the Tower of London, Hampstead Heath and Kew Gardens.

So get your skates on and show off your skills at one of the following:

• Somerset House Ice Rink, open until 28 January. See www.somersethouseicerink.org.uk.
• Natural History Museum Ice Rink, South Kensington, open until 21 January. Visit www.nhm.ac.uk.
• Kew Gardens Ice Rink, until 7 January. Go to www.kewgardensicerink.com or call 0870 166 0423.
• Hampstead Heath Ice Rink at Parliament Hill Fields, from 2 December to 14 January. See www.hampsteadheathicerink.com.
• Warwick Castle Ice Rink, from 2 December until 7 January. Visit www.warwick-castle.co.uk or call 0870 442 2375.
• Cardiff's Winter Wonderland features an ice rink until 7 January. Go to www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com or call 029 2023 0130.
• Times Square Ice Rink in Newcastle, until 11 February. See www.lifesciencecentre.org.uk.
• For a list of seasonal ice rinks in England visit www.enjoyengland.com.