Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 23, 2017 6:17:23 GMT
It's our first year as Panthers season ticket holders and we're loving it. For the first time in living memory, we've got a decent respite package for our son and we can actually go places at weekends! So... to celebrate this freedom, we'd like to do an away game in each of the EIHL venues this season. And we're pretty excited about it! We live in York, so we're pretty well placed for coverage and have Nottingham (obviously) and Sheffield (boo!) ticked off the bucket list already. Belfast is booked. What do we need to know about each arena or rink? Where's good to sit/park/eat/stay/do? Any recommendations or things to avoid? All advice very welcome  |
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BigLad
David Clarke
Threads: @AntMJ11
Posts: 3,593
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Post by BigLad on Sept 23, 2017 9:52:41 GMT
Belfast
The arena is part of an entertainment complex. A few eateries and the magnificent Rockies Sports Bar are all part of the complex.
Most people tend to stay at the Premier Inn Titanic Quarter as it's next to the arena, but just across the bridge is the Cathedral Quarter which is ideal if you want to see more of Belfast than just Rockies!
Braehead
It's part of a shopping centre. Parking generally not a problem. It has Xscape and a Weatherspoons on it's doorstep. Two close hotels too, the Campenile and the Travelodge which has been done up.
Decent arena although only one way in and out so can take time to leave at the end of the game, especially as away fans are at the opposite side!
Coventry
Right next to IKEA, but also has a Weatherspoons a couple of minutes walk away. There are two carparks, a multi-story behind the rink or an outdoor one in front.
Dundee
The rink is part of a retail park that houses a cinema, a curry house, McDonalds and KFC. There is a Premier Inn onsite too with the Weavers Mill pub attached to it. This Premier Inn no longer does breakfasts though.
In Dundee you can pre-order drinks for period breaks. Order and pay for them before the game and they'll be waiting for you in the bar!
Edinburgh
Wrap up warm!! The ice rink is situated right next door to Murrayfield Rugby ground. Plenty of parking out front and around the side of the rink. Across the road is a hotel with a bar that a lot of fans use. There is also the Murrayfield Sports Bar just down the road (about a 10 minute walk). Being a capital city, Edinburgh tends to be expensive for hotels but there are regular buses and trams to get around.
Fife
Limited parking out front. Can't say I've explored much of Kirkcaldy...but there's a cracking boozer right next to the rink that has a lot of old school hockey memorabilia. I tend to stay in Edinburgh and make the drive - it's about 45 minutes.
Manchester
The rinks actually in Altrincham. Parking is in front of the rink. I've only been once since the Storm returned but there used to be a decent pub just up the road. Decent priced food and drink inside the rink though.
Sheffield
Expensive! If you're driving, pre-book your parking as you will save yourself a couple of quid. Alternatively, you can risk parking on the streets around the arena - be warned though that there have been instances of people getting their car windows smashed. Across the road is a retail park with loads of eateries and a cinema. There's also a decent pub around the corner from the arena that gets busy with hockey fans before and after.
Cardiff, Guildford, Milton Keynes
Not been to the new Cardiff rink yet, but I understand parking is limited. Plenty of eateries and pubs around, especially if you cross the bridge!
Heading to Guildford tomorrow. All I know is the rink is inside a sports centre.
Milton Keynes seems to have plenty to offer aside from concrete cows and roundabouts. There's an Xscape and plenty of Premier Inns. Again I'll find out more when I head there in November.
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Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 23, 2017 10:14:42 GMT
That's superb - thank you so much! Incredibly helpful.
Kirkcaldy we know pretty well (our friend who got us into hockey in the first place is a Flyers fan - and I have a real soft spot for them. Lovely people!)
Think we have Cardiff as our next away in October. Hoping to meet up with friends & coax them to their first game. Might be able to squeeze in another before then!
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Post by spik on Sept 23, 2017 16:56:58 GMT
Mac
Glad your able to get out and about.Enjoy.
Travelling from York to home games, wow.
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Post by winstanley on Sept 24, 2017 6:50:54 GMT
That's superb - thank you so much! Incredibly helpful. Kirkcaldy we know pretty well (our friend who got us into hockey in the first place is a Flyers fan - and I have a real soft spot for them. Lovely people!) Think we have Cardiff as our next away in October. Hoping to meet up with friends & coax them to their first game. Might be able to squeeze in another before then! Hope this helps a bit about Cardiff: Wales play the All Blacks on Oct 25 so book a hotel now. They will get busy. Less so if you are staying on the sunday night. Plenty of free car park spaces on a sunday but don't park in toys r us. They lock their car park. You can park in Morrisons, the supermarket, after 4pm. Enforcement cameras in place before 4pm. Other free parking behind the rink in swimming pool car park and some spaces in the yacht club. You won't really want to arrive before 5pm because there's not much in the area, so you'll be able to follow other people's lead. There's a Harvester restaurant 5 minutes walk from the rink, a Frankie and Benny's and a couple of pubs that serve food but a lot more choice 5 minutes drive away in Cardiff Bay. If arriving before 4pm, park in the swimming pool car park and walk. |
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Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 24, 2017 15:36:29 GMT
Mac Glad your able to get out and about.Enjoy. Travelling from York to home games, wow. It's not so bad from York - between 1 hour 15 and 1 hour 30 depending on traffic. We met in Nottingham and love the place - lots and lots of happy memories, so there was no real choice for us... Besides, we get to drive past Sheffield every week  The respite is just great. Love our boy to bits, but he's 17 now and it's good to be going places again - and we definitely will be this year! SaveSave |
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Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 24, 2017 15:43:51 GMT
Hope this helps a bit about Cardiff: Wales play the All Blacks on Oct 25 so book a hotel now. They will get busy. Less so if you are staying on the sunday night. Plenty of free car park spaces on a sunday but don't park in toys r us. They lock their car park. You can park in Morrisons, the supermarket, after 4pm. Enforcement cameras in place before 4pm. Other free parking behind the rink in swimming pool car park and some spaces in the yacht club. You won't really want to arrive before 5pm because there's not much in the area, so you'll be able to follow other people's lead. There's a Harvester restaurant 5 minutes walk from the rink, a Frankie and Benny's and a couple of pubs that serve food but a lot more choice 5 minutes drive away in Cardiff Bay. If arriving before 4pm, park in the swimming pool car park and walk. That's good to know. I think we're going to catch the game in Nottingham on the Saturday night (Edinburgh, I think) and then (rather than heading north again) head towards Cardiff and grab a Travelodge on the way somewhere. We'll have to belt straight back after the Cardiff game, but we've done worse! Really useful advice about the parking - thank you very much for that. SaveSave |
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Post by rhino1971 on Sept 25, 2017 6:47:46 GMT
If your ever up in Dundee let me know can point you in direction for anything you need,hotels, bars etc. Usually the Red Army have a doubke/triple header trip to scotland and it's always a great atmosphere and great friendly banter.
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Post by messier1851 on Sept 25, 2017 9:21:06 GMT
Manchester's rink is easily accessible by tram, it takes about half an hour and they run every 12 minutes or so at the weekend if you planned to be in town the night before.
In Alty itself there are plenty of bars and restaurants within 5 minutes walk of the rink. Tavern on the Green do nice beer and pies, so that should cover off everything you need!
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Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 25, 2017 9:27:55 GMT
If your ever up in Dundee let me know can point you in direction for anything you need,hotels, bars etc. Usually the Red Army have a doubke/triple header trip to scotland and it's always a great atmosphere and great friendly banter. Very kind! Thank you! Yes, we're definitely going to Dundee (not visited before, so we're looking forward to an explore as well as the hockey) It's right at the end of the season - the triple header with Braehead, Dundee, then Edinburgh. It's going to be a great weekend! |
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Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 25, 2017 9:32:01 GMT
Manchester's rink is easily accessible by tram, it takes about half an hour and they run every 12 minutes or so at the weekend if you planned to be in town the night before. In Alty itself there are plenty of bars and restaurants within 5 minutes walk of the rink. Tavern on the Green do nice beer and pies, so that should cover off everything you need! The tram is great info - are they still running after the game too? Means we can catch the train over and both have a drink or three! Much more sociable than one of us driving. Tavern on the Green is now on the 'to do' list  Thank you! |
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Post by brodeurfan1993 on Sept 25, 2017 10:25:39 GMT
Having spent 3 years at University in the area, if you are going to have a weekend in Coventry I would advise staying in Leamington Spa as it is a much nicer town (Coventry is a dump) and just travel into Cov for the games. The arena is pretty accessible via bus or car.
There is a nice Premier Inn on the Parade in Leamington. Leam also has very nice restaurants for an evening out.
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Post by messier1851 on Sept 25, 2017 10:26:08 GMT
Manchester's rink is easily accessible by tram, it takes about half an hour and they run every 12 minutes or so at the weekend if you planned to be in town the night before. In Alty itself there are plenty of bars and restaurants within 5 minutes walk of the rink. Tavern on the Green do nice beer and pies, so that should cover off everything you need! The tram is great info - are they still running after the game too? Means we can catch the train over and both have a drink or three! Much more sociable than one of us driving. Tavern on the Green is now on the 'to do' list Thank you! No worries, the trams run until well after midnight on a Saturday so you shouldn't have any problems getting back to Piccadilly. |
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Mac
Jade Galbraith
Posts: 14
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Post by Mac on Sept 25, 2017 19:06:26 GMT
Having spent 3 years at University in the area, if you are going to have a weekend in Coventry I would advise staying in Leamington Spa as it is a much nicer town (Coventry is a dump) and just travel into Cov for the games. The arena is pretty accessible via bus or car. There is a nice Premier Inn on the Parade in Leamington. Leam also has very nice restaurants for an evening out. Coventry's one of the ones we're just going to have to squeeze in somehow. We know Leamington Spa a little - my sister-in-law used to live there - but I think Coventry is just on the cusp of what can be done as a day trip. I'm having immense fun planning the trips away SaveSave |
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Thank you!