Christmas is coming and that means an outdoor ice-skating rink could be heading to Gateshead's Metrocentre.
Pro Marquee Events is behind the plans to treat would-be Torvill or Deans by installing the temporary rink outside a multi-storey car park in the shopping centre's yellow zone.
If the Warrington-based firm's application is successful, installation work will start this Sunday, with the rink being open to the public from November 16 until New Year's Day.
The firm says the rink will be removed by January 7.
A total of 22 people will be needed to staff the rink, made up of 15 part-time and seven full-time roles.
This comes as the Metrocentre revealed it will be home to a huge indoor Arctic Experience but the two plans aren't connected.
As well as getting some lavish new Christmas decorations this year, the Gateshead shopping centre will transform the space outside of House of Fraser into a veritable winter wonderland in time for the festive season.
The wonderland which opens this month, will feature a synthetic ice rink, bar, snow ball pool, Santa's Grotto and half-hourly indoor snowfall.
A spokeswoman for Metrocentre owners Intu said the two rinks on offer are very different and would appeal to different customers.
She added: "We always welcome new leisure attractions to the centre and think this will complement what we are doing internally.
"Our indoor rink is synthetic and much smaller and the outdoor rink is full size and real ice. They are very different propositions and we feel there is an audience for both so we don’t envisage any conflict."
