Starting 1 June 2026, all children under the age of 12 will be required to wear protective gloves while skating at the Planet Ice Basingstoke rink in Hampshire. This new safety policy, introduced by Planet Ice, will apply to all public skating sessions, ice skating lessons, and birthday parties.
Parents and guardians will be responsible for providing suitable gloves for their children before they go onto the ice. The rule change is designed to help prevent minor hand injuries, such as cuts from skate blades, and to improve hygiene for younger skaters.
The update follows the successful reopening of the facility on 1 September 2025 after it was closed for nearly a year for essential refurbishments. Since the rink reopened, the Basingstoke Bison ice hockey team has returned to play at the venue.
The long-term future of the site was recently secured through a 15-year lease agreement between the building operator and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The mandatory glove rule will be enforced at all 14 Planet Ice venues across the country from the June deadline.
