Channel is Somerset House’s new curated online space for art, ideas and the artistic process.
15 November 2023 – 14 January 2024
Skate returns to Somerset House this winter, welcoming visitors for an unparalleled skating experience in the heart of the capital. A beloved staple of London’s winter season, Somerset House’s spectacular courtyard will be transformed this year into a glorious festive destination with new headline partner, Switzerland Tourism.
Bringing a uniquely Swiss seasonal vibe to Somerset House, Switzerland Tourism provides the backdrop for the ultimate experience for both thrill seekers and traditional winter lovers alike. Upon entering the courtyard, visitors will be greeted by a glorious, picture perfect 40ft Christmas Tree, activated by Swiss International Air Lines. Across the season, visitors can enjoy specially curated sessions inspired by the Swiss regions of Bern, Lucerne and Valais on Sunday 19 November, 26 November and 3 December.
A host of festive experiences for all ages will be available to enjoy on and off the ice across the season, including the ever-popular daytime coaching sessions with National Ice Skate Association (NISA) instructors, Skate School. There will also be dedicated Kids Club sessions for children aged 6-10, allowing children to take their first glide on the ice in a safe, fun, friendly environment supported by skate stabilisers and experienced ice marshals. Stabilisers will be available to children throughout all Skate sessions on a first come, first served basis. Groups from 4 to 15 people can also book sessions with a Skate Mate, a dedicated ice marshal who can provide support and guidance on the ice.
The rink is open to wheelchair users across all skating sessions, the season will also host two dedicated skate sessions for wheelchair users on Friday 1 December at 10am, and Sunday 7 January at 3pm. On 1 and 2 December and 7 January, Somerset House will be working with Revoloo to provide a Changing Places toilet which features an accessible toilet and changing room space with an electric hoist, changing bench, and friendly attendant on-hand for any assistance required. Wheelchair accessible facilities are available throughout the run.
The season will see the return of Chilled Out Skate sessions, which take place on selected weekday mornings and run at a reduced capacity, designed for skaters who benefit from skating in a quieter and more spacious environment, or are looking to take their first steps on the ice in a relaxed setting.
2023 will see a new series of rink-side deck takeovers as part of Skate Lates with Rock Angel (of Chateau d’Esclans, home of Whispering Angel). Celebrating exceptional moments of culture and creativity, Rock Angel presents a curated line-up of contemporary DJs, artists and collectives, bringing full energy to the rink. Opening the series on 16 November, Pxssy Palace, celebrated for their events providing intentional spaces for black, indigenous and people of colour who are women, queer, intersex, trans* or non-binary, will treat skaters to a night of high femme anthems and genre-bending clubs banger. On 17 November, Cousins, whose resident DJs Basmati, Zaleel, A.G. and Manara host a bi-monthly show on NTS, will host a night celebrating the group’s love of shisha bar bangers, desi classics, baseline and garage. Raf Rundell (one half of The 2 Bears) brings the sounds of classic house, party disco and garage to the rink on 22 November, whilst broadcaster, DJ and writer Haseeb Iqbal (Worldwide FM) presents an energetic mix of jazz, punk, dub, drum and bass, garage, hip-hop and more to get skaters moving on 1 December. Bringing a taste of the dance-floor freedom they’d experienced whilst living in Melbourne, RAW SILK (best friends Grace and Steph) take to the decks on 6 December, for a set filled with pumping house, stomping EBM, balearic synths, breaks, drums and pop. South-London based DJs and label Deptford Northern Soul Club close the series on 12 January with the infectious sounds of Northern Soul.
Those looking to unwind off the ice can do so in the style and comfort of the Skate Lounge, which this year will be transformed by Whispering Angel into a wash of pink, offering the perfect spot to raise a glass of Provence Rosé as you watch the skaters. In the Lounge, visitors can enjoy a warming glass of Mulled Angel Rosé, as well as new twists on classic cocktails, including Angels Margarita and Rosé Negroni.
Visitors in search of the finest, alpine influenced, festive food and tipples need look no further than Skate this season. Set away from the ice, nestled in Somerset House’s West Wing, Chalet Suisse from pop-up legend Jimmy Garcia, in partnership with Switzerland Tourism, brings the tastes of the Swiss mountains to Skate. The cosy, chalet-themed restaurant invites visitors to indulge in a seasonal menu of winter favourites and warming drinks. Jimmy's take on a classic Swiss fondue (using a secret blend of amazing Swiss cheeses) is at the heart of delicious sharing mains, with vegan options available. Non-sharers will relish the likes of a confit duck bun and a classic Swiss Älpermagronen. Sweet treats also await, including ‘The Swiss Waffle’ (fresh waffle, salted caramel sauce, vanilla cream, kirsch-soaked cherries and cherry ice cream) and a warming croissant bread and butter pudding. Two private dining rooms will also be available for those in search of the perfect setting for a festive get-together with friends, family or colleagues for groups of up to 28 who want to take their private parties to après ski heights this winter.
For those in search of a gift, or a treat for themselves, Shelter Boutique brought to you by HSBC UK, will be hosting a pop-up store on-site from 15 November – 23 December. Visitors can browse a handpicked selection of pre-loved vintage, designer, and quality high-street clothing and gifts all at a fraction of the original price. All profits will support Shelter's work to build a fairer housing system.
Skate ticket prices range from £10 - £25 for adults / £8 - £13 for children including skate hire (a booking fee will apply). Prices may vary throughout the run and we advise early booking to secure the lowest price. Groups of four (two adults and two children or one adult and three children) can enjoy a family discount offering 10% off tickets. Skate Lates tickets range from £15 - £25 (plus booking fee) and include skate hire.
Sessions sell out quickly, so it is advised that visitors book tickets in advance. A small number of walk-up tickets will be available on the day.
American Express partners with Skate for its third year as its Preferred Payment Partner. In addition, American Express® Cardmembers get early ticket access on 27 September and can enjoy exclusive benefits during the Skate season.
This season, for those who want to make a fabulous night of it, Somerset House has once again teamed up with Covent Garden’s luxury hotel One Aldwych to offer an exclusive Skate experience which includes tickets to Skate, overnight accommodation and a delicious breakfast the following morning. The Skate experience will be available to book from Friday 29 September. For more information and to make a reservation visit: onealdwych.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Dates: 15 November 2023 – 14 January 2024
Ticket prices range from £10 - £25 for adults / £8 - £13 for children
Website: somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/skate-somerset-house
Press enquiries, please contact: press@somersethouse.org.uk, (+44) (0)2078454624
Address: Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Transport: Underground: Temple, Embankment / Rail: Charing Cross, Waterloo, Blackfriars
Website: www.somersethouse.org.uk
Somerset House Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomersetHouse
Somerset House Twitter: @SomersetHouse
Somerset House Instagram: @SomersetHouse
ABOUT SOMERSET HOUSE
Step Inside, Think Outside
As the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House is a site of origination, with a cultural programme offering alternative perspectives on the biggest issues of our time. We are a place of joy and discovery, where everyone is invited to Step Inside and Think Outside.
From our historic site in the heart of London, we work globally across art, creativity, business, and non-profit, nurturing new talent, methods and technologies. Our resident community of creative enterprises, arts organisations, artists and makers, makes us a centre of ideas, with most of our programme home-grown.
We sit at the meeting point of artistic and social innovation, bringing worlds and minds together to create surprising and often magical results. Our spirit of constant curiosity and counter perspective is integral to our history and key to our future.
ABOUT SWITZERLAND TOURISM
Switzerland Tourism is the official Swiss National Tourist Office, with the mission to promote Switzerland as a holiday, travel and conference destination.
In partnership with Swiss International Air Lines, Switzerland Tourism presents visitors to Skate with a snapshot of the authentic Swiss winter wonderland experience, not least in our partner regions of Bern, Lucerne and Valais. The Swiss winter offers a multitude of snow sports and fun activities in cosy Alpine villages, Christmas markets and seasonal delicacies in the cities, connected via scenic train rides through the snow-covered landscape. Switzerland is the ultimate and original winter paradise.
Please visit MySwitzerland.com to discover more about winter in Switzerland and connect with us on @MySwitzerland on X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube. #IneedSwitzerland #inLOVEwithSwitzerland
ABOUT CHÂTEAU D’ESCLANS, HOME OF WHISPERING ANGEL AND ROCK ANGEL
Château d’Esclans is situated in the heart of Provence, northeast of St. Tropez overlooking the Esclans Valley with the Mediterranean coast in the faint distance. The vision of Founder Sacha Lichine, following his acquisition of the Château in 2006, was to create the greatest rosés in the world igniting the “Rosé Renaissance”. This led to conceiving and crafting a world class rosé portfolio including The Pale, Whispering Angel, Rock Angel, Château d’Esclans, Les Clans, and Garrus: a new generation of rosés characterised by elegance, depth, richness and complexity.
ABOUT JIMMY GARCIA CATERING
What started 12 years ago in Jimmy’s living room in Balham, borrowing tables and chairs from the local church to create a pop-up restaurant, has evolved into what is now widely recognised as being the UK’s leading owner-operated, luxury creative caterer delivering unparalleled food experiences at outstanding private parties, corporate events and weddings. The three pillars to their approach are seasonal, local provenance and zero waste. By adapting these pillars to all their menus, they are able to offer the most sustainably thought-led approach to all the events they cater for. Hailed by The Sunday Times, Tatler, TimeOut and the Evening Standard as the best creative caterers, their distinctive style and approach has won much acclaim.
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
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ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS® EXPERIENCES
Through Amex Experiences, Cardmembers have access to presale tickets, as well as the best seats and exclusive offers at some of the UK’s most sought-after entertainment events via partnerships with a range of institutions, including AELTC, AEG, Somerset House, The British Film Institute and the National Theatre. Amex Experiences is just one example of the powerful backing that American Express provides its Cardmembers.
ABOUT SHELTER
Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home and fight the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and society. Shelter believes that home is everything. Learn more at www.shelter.org.uk
ABOUT HSBC UK
HSBC UK serves over 14.75 million customers across the UK, supported by 24,000 colleagues. HSBC UK offers a complete range of retail banking and wealth management to personal and private banking customers, as well as commercial banking for small to medium businesses and large corporates. HSBC UK is a ring fenced bank and wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc.
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of HSBC, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 62 countries and territories. With assets of US$3,041bn at 30 June 2023, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.