Bristol Ice Rink opened in 2021 and is Planet Ice’s newest rink. It is a 20-minute drive north of the city centre, just a few minutes off junction 17 of the M5, located at the Cribbs Causeway leisure and retail centre.
Planet Ice Bristol is home to several ice hockey teams, including the Bristol Pitbulls of the NIHL National League and the Bristol Pitbulls 2 of the NIHL 2 South division. The teams returned to Bristol in 2021 after a break of almost ten years. It is just one of 41 ice rinks in the UK that are home to competitive ice hockey teams.
Information For Planet Ice Bristol
Transportation To Bristol Ice Rink
- Road – If you travel by car, you will most likely approach the rink from Junction 17 of the M5. Planet Ice Bristol is just a 2-minute drive from the junction; as you leave the motorway, initially head towards the Cribbs Causeway Retail Park.
- Rail – The closest railway station to Bristol Ice Rink is Bristol Parkway. The station lies between London and Swansea on the South Wales Main Line. However, it is a 10-minute drive from the rink, so you must take a bus or a taxi from the station.
Bristol Ice Rink Parking
Bristol Ice Rink has a large free car park next to the arena.
Ice Hockey Team Bristol Pitbulls
Bristol Pitbulls is an ice hockey team playing in the UK’s NIHL National League and based at Planet Ice Bristol.
The NIHL National is a semi-professional league with eleven teams, ten based in England and one in Scotland. This league is the second highest in the UK, with only the EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League) playing at a higher level.
NIHL National Teams
| Bees Ice Hockey Club | Raiders Ice Hockey Club |
| Bristol Pitbulls | Sheffield Steeldogs |
| Hull Seahawks | Solway Sharks |
| Leeds Knights | Swindon Wildcats |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | Telford Tigers |
| Peterborough Phantoms |
Usually, the Basingstoke Bison would play in this league, but the team has pulled out of the 2023-2024 season due to rink refurbishments.
The season runs from September to March/April, and the teams will play two (sometimes three) games a week, one home and one away. The most common days for games are Saturday and Sunday, but the team will play some on Fridays or mid-week.
These games include those played in the league and for the Autumn Cup. Most of the cup games are played early in the season.
The league season typically finishes in early April with a playoff weekend where the top 4 teams fight for the league championship.
Bristol Pitbulls Ice Hockey Team Contacts
| Bristol Pitbulls | Contacts & Social Media |
|---|---|
| Website | https://bristolpitbulls.co.uk/ |
| INFO@BRISTOLPITBULLS.CO.UK | |
| Phone | — |
| The Bristol Pitbulls | |
| @bristolpitbulls | |
| @bristolpitbulls | |
| You Tube | BristolPitbulls |
| HOME GAME TICKETS | Buy Tickets |
Ice Hockey Team Bristol Pitbulls 2
Bristol Pitbulls 2 is an ice hockey team in the UK’s NIHL 2 South (Wilkinson) division. The team is based at Planet Ice Bristol.
The amateur NIHL 2 league is the fourth-highest in the UK, behind the EIHL, NIHL National and NIHL 1 leagues. Thirteen teams compete in the southern division (see below), and nine teams compete in the northern division.
NIHL 2 South (Wilkinson) Teams
The teams charge for entry to games, generally £5-£10 for a non-concessionary adult and reduced rates for children and OAPs.
NIHL 2 South teams compete for the regular season title, the playoff title, and the Wilkinson Cup. The regular season runs from September to late March, and the season concludes in early April with a playoff weekend for the semi-final and final games.
Bristol Ice Rink Seating & Away Fan Blocks
Bristol Pitbull tickets give assigned seating, and the away fans’ block at Planet Ice Bristol is block 1. If you aren’t tied to the away fan block, we recommend sitting as close to the centre ice as possible.
Temperature Of Bristol Ice Rink
If you haven’t been to a hockey game before, you must know that ice rinks are cold places (not a surprise!). And the closer you are to the ice, the colder you will be.
Also, hockey rinks in the UK aren’t heated, so temperatures in the arena drop in line with outside temperatures. We would rank the temperature of the Bristol Ice Rink as average for the UK.
Food And Drink At Bristol Ice Rink
Bristol Ice Rink doesn’t allow you to bring your own food and drink into the arena. However, you do have some options for buying refreshments.
The cafe serves the usual rink fare of burgers, hotdogs, chips and hot and cold soft drinks. (Note that this rink DOESN’T have Papa John’s Pizza, unlike some of the other Planet Ice facilities).
There is also a bar serving alcoholic drinks. However, I have heard many complaints of slow service at both the cafe and the bar, so make sure you allow plenty of time if you want refreshments before the start of a game.
12 Best Ice Rink Activities To Do At Bristol Ice Rink
Watching an ice hockey game is just one of many things to do at Bristol Ice Rink. There is a wide range of ice rink activities on offer, including:
- Public ice skating sessions
- Ice skating lessons
- Show and skate lessons
- Ice hockey lessons
- Join a recreational ice hockey team.
- Join a women’s ice hockey team.
- Ice dancing or figure skating
- Speed skating
- Synchronized Ice Skating
- Ice skating birthday parties
- Try an ice disco with music, a DJ and disco lights.
- Watch an ice show.
Ice skating at Bristol Ice Rink is particularly popular, and has many public skating sessions throughout the week.
Private skating instructors provide skating lessons at Bristol Ice Rinks at various times throughout the week.
Skate Shop At Bristol Ice Rink
All-Star Sports is based at Planet Ice Bristol and has a good range of ice skating equipment for hockey and figure skating. They also sharpen skates and offer repair services. If you can’t reach the shop, you can shop online at allstarskates.uk.
If you are interested in Bristol Pitbulls merchandise, you can visit the Bristol Pitbulls website or check out their stand on game night.
Hotels Near Bristol Ice Rink
There are three hotels within walking distance of Bristol Ice Rink. The Travelodge and the Premier Inn are generally the cheaper options.
- Travelodge Bristol Cribbs Causeway
- Premier Inn Bristol Cribbs Causeway
- MoMollie’sotel & Diner Bristol
All three are located in the same area and are a similar distance from Cribbs Causeway. It will take around 20 minutes to walk to the rink and just a few minutes to drive there.
Eating Out Near Bristol Ice Rink
There is a good range of dining options close to the arena, from fast food outlets to restaurants. But most are closed by 10 p.m., so they are winding down by the time you leave an evening game. However, there are a few late-night options:
- TGI Fridays – Closes 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. – American dining close to the ice rink
- Miller & Carter Cribbs Causeway – Closes 11 pm – Steakhouse close to the above hotels
- Burger King – Closes 11 pm – For a takeout option
FAQ – Bristol Ice Rink
Is Cribb’s Ice Rink Planet Ice Cribbs Causeway
Cribb’s Ice Rink is the same as Planet Ice Cribbs Causeway. It has also been called Cribb’s Causeway Ice Rink and Bristol Ice Rink.
What is the capacity of Planet Ice Bristol Ice Rink?
Planet Ice Bristol Ice Rink has a total seating capacity of 1300.
How Many Planet Ice Rinks Are There?
Planet Ice has 14 ice rinks, all located in England. The newest rink is Planet Ice Bristol, which opened in October 2021. All rinks offer a range of ice skating activities and the opportunity to watch competitive ice hockey games.
Does Planet Ice Give You Skates?
You can rent skates if you attend a public ice skating session at one of the Planet Ice rinks. These are available in various sizes for young children and juniors to adults.
How Long is an Ice Hockey Game in the UK?
Ice hockey games have three 20-minute periods, generally with breaks of 15 minutes between periods. The clock is stopped at regular intervals during the game, so the total time for a game is usually around 2.5 hours.
