'Nottingham's Winter Wonderland is one of the best - but we want to make it even better'

One of the bosses of Nottingham's Winter Wonderland says the city's festive event is "one of the best" the country has to offer - and there are plans to make it even better. "This is an amazing winter experience," says Edwards Mellors, standing in the middle of this year's Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square.

"It is very unique. I think for the city of Nottingham, it's up there. It's better than a lot of what you should expect to be the higher performing cities."

Mr Mellors, a director of the family-run business that stages the annual Christmas event, said the quality of the bars, the ice skating, food and drink, and stalls for shopping make it one of the best in the country.

One of the highlights this year is a new and improved observation wheel. At 147ft (45m) tall it's 50 per cent bigger than last year's wheel. "This beautiful big wheel, any major city throughout Europe would be absolutely impressed with that," he said. There's also three skating options now with the main rink, a separate children's rink and aerial Sky Skate.

Asked if the Mellors Group had plans to reinvent the six-week event, Mr Mellors said there were limitations because of the size and layout of Old Market Square. "A few years ago we dramatically changed it with the Sky Skate. Every year the Ice Bar has a new theme.

"It's very difficult because of the constraints of the Square. We are as pretty much far out as we can go and without going up - it's challenging.

"That being said we are starting to have a few ideas of how we might mix it up again next year. We are always looking at how we can make it better. There are natural constraints - the tram, the Council House and Debenhams aren't moving."

While thousands love the annual event, it also comes in for a lot of flack with negativity and criticism about "tat" and "extortionate" prices from a certain percentage of the population. Mr Mellors said: "I do find it hurtful but I think there's a lot of misconception that it costs the council money. It doesn't, we pay money to be here.

"If we damage anything we repair it, there's an obligation. Can you please everyone in life? No. Would it be nice? Yes, but I think the people who are complaining about it aren't the two million people who come and enjoy it.

"People are coming from Birmingham now. I would like to think the benefit for the city far outweighs those negative comments we get. It's a shame that we can't please all but I guess that's one of the beauties of life. We all have a difference of opinion.

"I'd emphasise when people talk about cost, we do off-peak and super off-peak times for skating. Midweek we don't run timed sessions on the skating, we still sell it as a session but we don't actually ask people to leave, so come at 4 o'clock and skate till 10 o'clock if you want. The only point we would say, we do need to respect the sessions that are sold out all day, like a Saturday."