Snowdome

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SnowDome
Tamworth SnowDome logo.png
Snowdome
General information
Type Indoor ski slope
Location Tamworth
CompletedMay 1994
Design and construction
Other designersTamworth council
Main contractorEuropeople
The slope Snowdome.jpg
The slope

The Snowdome is an indoor ski slope just off the A5 road in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. It opened in May 1994 and was the first full-sized recreational indoor ski slope in the UK. [1]

Contents

Facilities

The slope is 170 metres (560 ft) long by 30 metres (98 ft) wide with an incline of around 1:7. There are also 2 serial 'travelator' lifts for access back to the top and two rope-tows.

The Snowdome has a learner slope underneath the main slope. The main slope also holds regular 'ramp nights' in which several objects are added, including a gas pipe, mini rail and a quarter pipe.

There is also one ice rink and one ice track - the UK’s only - which circles the real Snow Fun Park and the ice rink with a number of other things.

The complex also contains a 25 metres (82 ft) swimming pool and gym—formerly known as Peaks Leisure Centre, but now owned and managed by the Snowdome as 'Snowdome Swim' and 'Snowdome Fitness' respectively. There is also a bar (aspens), a shop Ellis Brigham, and a coffee shop on site.

Events

The New Holiday Inn At Night HolidayInnTam.jpg
The New Holiday Inn At Night

Construction work started in early 2009 for Sawley Cross properties to build a 120-bed, £7M hotel on land adjacent to the snowdome. The Holiday Inn Hotel opened in late November 2009.

Incidents

On 24 September 2021, a twelve-year-old boy died at the Snowdome after a collision with a member of staff at a tobogganing party. [2] In September 2024, the operating company, Snowdome Limited, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations during a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive at Telford Magistrates’ Court. [3] In February 2025, the company was fined £100,000. [4] [5]

In August 2024, the adjoining Holiday Inn hotel was damaged as part of the 2024 United Kingdom riots. Windows were smashed and three Molotov cocktails were thrown. One police officer and three police dogs were injured. [6] [7] [8]

References

  1. ↑ Snowboard Club UK :: The Riders' Network
  2. ↑ "Louis Watkiss: Parents held son as he died after SnowDome crash". BBC News. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "HSE to prosecute Snowdome Limited" (Press release). Health and Safety Executive. 13 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "Tamworth SnowDome fined £100k over Louis Watkiss death". BBC News. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Skiing company fined after boy was killed at friend's birthday party" (Press release). Health and Safety Executive. 25 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "Police officer injured after second hotel targeted in Tamworth". BBC News . 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Rioters celebrate as fire blazes at Tamworth hotel". BBC News . 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ↑ McIntyre, Alex (6 August 2024). "Police dog injured by brick during disorder". BBC News . Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.

52°37′45″N1°41′31″W / 52.62917°N 1.69187°W / 52.62917; -1.69187

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