Bunhill residents will get the chance to try out curling this December. The opening of a pop-up ice rink in Finsbury Square will give visitors a chance to try out the winter sport.
The Curling Club, run by the London-based events company, hasta World, opened on 1 December. It will remain in Finsbury Square, which also hosts a public bowling green, until 19 December.
Described by the Club as “competitive socialising”, the venue features 10 curling rinks and space for 500 curlers.
It’s not all curling, however, as visitors can enjoy the sport alongside “alpine-infused street food” such as oven-baked Camembert and Bratwurst sausages, while also serving winter-themed drinks.
For many participants on opening night, it was their first venture into curling. Antonio Tella, who attended as part of a work event, quickly found it to be a fun and competitive game. He said: “I was sceptical before, but I found it really good fun.”
This year’s opening of The Curling Club contrasts with the Christmas events of 2020, which were hit by Covid restrictions. Ben Bromley, a guest at The Curling Club said he was “really excited for the event season” as “London does the winter wonderland events so well”.
“Everyone just wants to get out,” he said.
Neil Mitchell, another new curler, described the return of more Christmas events this year as “long overdue” and was excited to try out curling after seeing it at the Winter Olympic Games in 2018.
Joell, another guest who had not tried curling before, said: “It’s good to socialise and see the smiles on people’s faces.”
The Finsbury Square pop-up rink is The Curling Club’s second London location, after Great British curler and three-time Olympian Eve Muirhead, MBE opened a rink at The Langham hotel in Marylebone on 24 November.
