Harvest’s Courthouse Hotel in Tamworth is inviting guests to come and chill, out, with a resplendent Winter Wonderland promotion that includes ice skating.
The Courthouse has been a Tamworth institution since 1876, and Harvest Hotels is ushering in its first ever themed event to welcome winter in the New England north-west.
A seven- by ten-metre ice skating rink has been installed in the upper level of the pub’s outdoor beer garden, open every day from Friday, 4 July, to Monday, 28 July, 11am – 8pm.
The activation coincides with school holidays and Tamworth’s Hats Off to Country festival, pitched to both locals and to visitors looking for a reason to visit, or to extend their stay.
“Winter tends to be a quieter time of year, and the community goes into a bit of hibernation,” says Harvest NSW operations manager Luke Rosie.
Thirty-minute sessions on the ice cost $10 per person, and skates are provided – along with stable-footed ‘penguin assistants’ to help new skaters find their balance. Up to 15 skaters can be accommodated per session.
The rink is synthetic but intended to replicate the feeling of ice skating, aiming to give children and first-timers a chance to experience the sport. Skates are still required, while it is “a little less upkeep” for the venue. Courthouse staff will supervise.
Harvest relays it “didn’t spare expense” and expects the special installation to be “a great thing for the community” in Tamworth.
The Winter Wonderland has a line-up of celebrations for coming weeks – beyond the all-ages ice skating adventures and liberal use of an artificial snow machine.
Over the weekend there was free kids’ face painting on Saturday (5 July), there will be family-friendly outdoor movie nights every Wednesday, screening winter-themed classics, and on Saturday 12 July Viper Creek Band will hit the stage as part of Hats Off To Country.
And topping off the winter-inspired food and drinks, offering a range of options that includes snow cones, mulled wine and rich, warming meals, on Saturday (19 July) the Hotel will rock to the tunes of a Winter Retro (dance) Party.
“We wanted to celebrate the season and create a reason for locals and visitors to get out, rug up, and enjoy something fun, fresh, and a little different,” explains Rosie.
