Major plans to transform the Isle of Wight’s disused ice rink appear to have frozen. Last year, Isle of Wight Distillery unveiled plans to take over the former Planet Ice building on Ryde Esplanade, turning it into a landmark visitor attraction and new distillery hub. The maker of Mermaid Gin applied to the Isle of Wight Council, but the proposals have now been withdrawn. Isle of Wight Distillery was not the owner of Ryde Arena when it lodged its application, at the beginning of October. It had proposed a project similar to Hampshire’s Bombay Sapphire Visitor Centre, and said its ‘Mermaid Centre’ would create jobs. A retail outlet, distillery and bottling area, hospitality and customer experience space, third-party operated restaurant and offices for staff were all included in the plans. Clarification was being sought by council officers about night-time operations, including deliveries and dispatches. In its original plan, Isle of Wight Distillery said its current base, at Nettlestone, was running at maximum capacity and it said there was a pressing need to relocate. Ryde Town Council and Island Roads had not objected and there were no complaints from anyone else. Isle of Wight Distillery has been contacted for comment and the reason for the plan’s withdrawal has not been made public.
ISLE OF WIGHT DISTILLERY WITHDRAWS PLANS TO TRANSFORM DISUSED ICE RINK IN RYDE
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That wont please the present owners. Looks like the building is
going to be on their hands for a while longer, eating into their ill gained profits.
Perhaps now they wish they had not been so driven by greed and left it running
as an icerink ,at least then they would have recieved some income and the property
would not be slowly falling to pieces, further devaluing their asset.
Just for clarification, the mermaid business is sited at the wishing well
which is in Pondwell not Nettlestone.
Re Pondwell or Nettlestone, soon to be all as one as Ryde creeps forward, and the concrete and brick cover green fields streams and woods, to house the mainland’s overspill escaping from areas they had known all their lives, now feeling like the outsiders as the daily flotilla arriving and the wombs contents therein make the local residents ill at ease in their once beloved home towns.
See WHY things are happening it is not just coincidence imo
Interesting point of view, which I suspect I would agree with after further clarification. I too am concerned by this change in our demographics, but it seems our borders are not protected anymore, thinking of the plaque in Seaview maybe we need local militia again 😉
yep – the greedy lot shot theirselves in the foot over it – and are now stuck with a dilapidated building.
i bet the council and owners wanted cash from the distillery and they said – we will have to spend tens of thousands to get it into a good state, so either we get it for next to nothing or we walk.
they walked, as greed by the owners and council seems to be still there
I expect your 100% correct,
Grounded version of the floating bridge. Built too small so international skaters couldn’t use it. Council boob again.
Put Aldi in there , its got car parking and right next to bus station for non drivers !
Yes that would be great with an incessant stream of traffic pouring through the centre of Ryde. What a stupid suggestion!
Ryde is a town its supposed to be busy ,well used to be , it would be good for Ryde and create jobs !!
Your argument is overwhelmingly logical. I accept it fully so go ahead and put an Aldi there. Obviously, you must have the connections to make it happen.
Turn it into a hotel so when Wightlink cancels all their sailings again people have a place to stay till this private company decides to allow people to go on their own way.
Great idea.
Knock it down before it falls down,at the moment it’s just another Ryde eyesore !!!