THE team behind Brewery Square’s skating rink say they will ‘definitely’ be back next year after thousands of people enjoyed the experience.

Last weekend marked the end of Skating in the Square’s first season after more than 6,000 people had got their skates on and sampled the synthetic ice rink.

The rink will now be packed away until next winter and the square’s fountains will make a return.

Skating in the Square was run by Peter Hyde, who owns Trinity Street Christmas Trees, and his wife Tamzin.

Peter’s input meant that people enjoying the skating were able to do so with a backdrop of more than 30,000 lights and two giant 27-foot Christmas trees.

The couple said they had received an ‘incredible amount’ of positive feedback. They said people enjoyed the fact there was something new to do in Dorchester and that youngsters absolutely loved it with some coming as many as six times.

The attraction started its existence in style with a launch event that combined with the big Christmas switch on for Brewery Square that was attended by over 3,000 people and included a human snow globe, stilt walkers and fire throwers.

The rink was designed to be as close as possible to real ice and Tamzin and Peter say another reason for its success was the fact that their team meticulously sharpened the skates after every session to maintain the quality of the skating experience.

The couple added: “For Brewery Square it was very successful and the restaurants and shops benefitted from the buzzy atmosphere in the square.

“We will definitely return next year and look forward to expanding on our success this year... watch this space.”

The Skating in the Square season had been due to end before last weekend but Tamzin and Peter decided to extend it to allow people who had missed out due to bad weather another chance to have a go. Brewery Square co-director Andrew Wadsworth was full of praise for what Skating in the Square had brought to the development.

He said: “We are delighted with how successful it’s been.

“Tamzin and Peter have done a terrific job, “The skating rink is all part of the transformation of Dorchester which Brewery Square has always and continues to aspire to.”