Vindico Arena Reviews Summary

Customer Service

Pros:

• "Skate assistants / marshals are very attentive and helpful."
• "Always greeted by warm and friendly smiles."
• "The staff found us seats away from the drummer and they got him ear defenders. Excellent customer service."
• "We found the staff to be very welcoming, polite and helpful."
• "Staff on the rink helped those struggling."
• "Very helpful and friendly staff located on the main entrance desk to assist with any enquiries."
• "Big shoutout to the super friendly staff especially Emma at the front desk who came to my aid following a nasty backward fall and head knock."

Cons:

• "Nice arena but management of Cardiff devils (Todd Kellmen) and security staff are horrible to paying customers."
• "An aggressive looking security guard came up to me full red and frowning at us."
• "Every time since she just giving us attitude make us feel not welcomed at all."
• "The downsides are that every time we go the staff seem to be absorbed in talking to each other rather than to the customers."
• "Very disappointed with how there is no reply to my email! Poor customer service!"
• "Pretty much every time we have an awful experience with the front desk..there is no customer service at all."
• "Oh and I wouldn't use the skate shop in there again, rude guy."

Facilities & Amenities

Pros:

• "Good facilities experiencing when seeing Cardiff Devils ice hockey."
• "This ice arena is 2 years old and is home to the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team 2016-17 triple champions."
• "Plenty of parking nearby."
• "The Grazing Shed franchise insides' burgers are excellent."
• "It has ice hockey store, good parking, easy to get to."
• "There are some vending machines if you want to get a snack and drink, they also have a little cafe area you can buy hot dogs and chips etc."
• "Excellent club shop and plenty of places inside to grab some food and drinks."

Cons:

• "The only issue I have is when all the sudden they will close a big chunk of a ring off for people to have private lessons/parties."
• "There is very little information available online or in the rink itself regarding membership or what is on offer."
• "The presence of English only signs inside the building just amazes one in 2016 - yes, and in Wales."
• "Drink prices are expensive but on a par for a venue like this."
• "You cannot bring your own food and drinks as they expect you to buy from their extortionate cafe or vending machines."
• "The staff and the unhealthy selection of foods is just shocking."
• "The cafe is atrocious. No healthy selection and the options that are available are disgusting."

Skating Experience

Pros:

• "Family friendly atmosphere with awesome action on the ice and spirited crowd without any nastiness or violence."
• "Very accommodating as we had a wheelchair users first time on ice."
• "I learnt to glide after lessons, on my own."
• "Really great place to skate at really great prices."
• "Great temperature inside, not freezing like other ice rinks."
• "Ice itself very good, price ok although sessions bit short."
• "Ice Arena Wales is one of the best places you can ice-skate, with prices that don't break the bank and skates which don't try to pull your feet off."

Cons:

• "The skates for hire are in poor condition, but they generally are at these types of places."
• "Rental skates are a bit old. Most are missing ratchet straps."
• "The ice was extremely rough and hard to skate on, there were no skate marshals."
• "No atmosphere, they have facilities to play music but don't, only ice rink I've been too with no music."
• "The skates are utter rubbish really."
• "Skates weren't sharp, as I was sliding all over the place."
• "Over crowded and poorly managed."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "Very reasonably priced for a family for four to go I've skating."
• "Really great place to skate at really great prices."
• "It’s all great value for money."
• "Good value for money."
• "The family ticket was cheaper as the skate hire was therefore free effectively."
• "The public session is affordable and, if you get there early enough, you can spend long enough on the ice."
• "Great venue with ample and reasonably priced parking."

Cons:

• "Tasty food but really expensive."
• "It is going to cost you to take the family if you do not have any discount available."
• "Ice skating is on the expensive side especially with a family. (Around £50 for 2 hours, Well in my opinion)"
• "Tiny 1 hour sessions for £12.70 no student deals / memberships for regulars to save on going often its a real shame as its only place to go in Cardiff."
• "Very, very overpriced, especially considering that you don't even get to skate on the whole rink as 20% is cordoned off for private lessons and parties."
• "It's hugely expensive & it's not like they're paying amazing, helpful people to properly monitor the folk on the ice."
• "DONT eat here though, unless you want to spend £14 each for a burger fries and a drink. Not much choice in food and it's not that tasty."

Accessibility

Pros:

• "Plenty of parking nearby."
• "Parking is free at the rear of the building."
• "Oh yea, there is plenty of parking with easy access to the entrance of the rink!"
• "Its easy to get around to the merchandise stands and concessions and toilets as well."
• "Its not a huge arena so realistically anywhere you sit you have a really great view."
• "Easy parking, nice, friendly staff, good equipment and amazing value for money."
• "Great big rink with good facilities but going around in circles can get quite tedious for the experienced skater."