Billingham Forum Ice Arena is found within Billingham Forum, located in the heart of Billingham Town Centre. Originally opened in 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II, Billingham Forum closed in 2009 for redevelopment before reopening in 2011, boasting state of the art facilities for customers to enjoy.
The Ice Arena welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, a number which is rapidly growing each year. Customers have access to a variety of ice sessions to suit their skating needs. From competent skaters to Bambi on ice, Billingham Forum Ice Arena encourages and welcomes all. We offer skating lessons for those who require that little extra support or for those looking to become the next Torvill and Dean. As well as your skating sessions, the Ice Arena hosts some spectacular Under 18 ‘club-style’ nights such as our popular UV and Pulse Vs. nights. Spectators can view from the seated gallery and also cheer on the likes of Billingham Stars and Cleveland Comets in some enthralling Ice Hockey matches, or be entertained by the Billingham Ice Skating Club at the annual ice pantomime. The Ice Arena can be privately hired for your own personal use. We also throw a pretty cool birthday party!
Billingham Forum Ice Arena is owned by Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council and is managed by Tees Active Limited. Tees Active is a leading charitable trust providing sport, leisure and wellbeing services to communities in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. We are passionate about the power of physical activity and believe that everyone should have equal opportunities to enjoy the abundance of health benefits associated with leading an active and healthy lifestyle. As a non-profit-distributing social enterprise, we combine the principled ethos of the public sector with the commercial agility of the private sector to provide a supportive, successful and sustainable service for future generations.
Tees Active’s Mission
Tees Active is a leading charitable trust providing sport, leisure, and wellbeing services to communities in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. They are passionate about the power of physical activity and believe that everyone should have equal opportunities to enjoy the abundance of health benefits associated with leading an active and healthy lifestyle. As a non-profit-distributing social enterprise, they combine the principled ethos of the public sector with the commercial agility of the private sector to provide a supportive, successful, and sustainable service for future generations.
Tees Active manages Billingham Forum, Stockton Splash, Thornaby Pavilion, Thornaby Pool, IB Leisure, Tees Barrage International White Water Centre, and Air Trail at Tees Barrage on behalf of the local authority. They are committed to providing affordable and easily accessible leisure opportunities to the whole community, including ice skating at Billingham Forum Ice Arena.
Construction on the Billingham Forum began in 1960, ushering in a new era to Billingham. The Forum was a revolutionary leisure complex and the West Precinct was an architectural and engineering milestone for the time.
Billingham Forum was officially opened in October 1967 by HM Queen Elizabeth II heralding an exciting new era for the town. During her visit to open The Forum, HM Queen Elizabeth II also unveiled ‘Family Group’, a statue by Edward Bainbridge Copnall, which reflected the strong family focus of the town centre and new leisure complex. In its initial year of operating the complex was visited by 20,000-25,000 visitors per week.
The Billingham Bombers were founded in 1971 as members of the Northern League. In 1982 they became a founder member of the British Hockey League and changed their name to the Cleveland Bombers. Between 1991 and 1995 the team played under the name of the Teesside Bombers before reverting to their original name. Between 1982 and 1986 and again between 1990 and 1994, the Bombers played in the Premier League, the top flight division of British ice hockey at the time.
Billingham Forum closed in 2009 for redevelopment before reopening in 2011, boasting state of the art facilities for customers to enjoy, with an £18.5m investment. The redevelopment saw upgrades to the ice rink, a new swimming pool, gym extension, new adventure play area, new dance studio and the exterior of the building. An estimated 200 people went ice skating in the first hour of opening!
In the 2011/12 seasons ice hockey returned to the forum. The new club was renamed Billingham Stars, sponsored by Billingham Town Council. The Billingham Stars have gone on to lead an impressive career, winning the NIHL Division 1 North regular season title in both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons. Additionally, they clinched the playoff championship in the 2024/2025 season.
Today the Forum is still at the heart of Billingham Town Centre and its sense of community is stronger than ever. It is a popular and valued destination, leading the way for ice skating within the North East.
Find out more about how Billingham Forum Ice Arena and Tees Active are working with partners to drive positive change in the community.
