Ice skating first, drinks second and dinner afterwards: that is the plan for an evening at Broadgate with Chloe. I start beside Liverpool Street station, walk through Broadgate Circle and head to the seasonal ice rink in Exchange Square before returning for Spanish tapas at José Pizarro.
This article revisits my video published on 11 December 2015. It records that winter’s rink, bars and food, rather than current opening times or a guide to this year’s skating season.
Watch the Broadgate evening
Broadgate Circle, not Broadgate Circus
I keep calling it Broadgate Circus in the video, perhaps because the name rolls off the tongue like Piccadilly Circus. It is Broadgate Circle, and the circular space, ringed by bars and restaurants, feels like a modern amphitheatre.
On this December evening, a Christmas tree stands in the centre and lights hang above the surrounding terraces. It is close to Liverpool Street station and Spitalfields, yet feels tucked away from the busier routes through London. We will return here for dinner later.
Skating in Exchange Square
The ice rink itself is in Exchange Square, reached along the walkway from Broadgate Circle beside Liverpool Street station. The station’s roof and the surrounding office buildings give the setting a distinctly City of London character.
When we arrive, the resurfacing machine is out preparing the ice. We collect our skates, get our boots on and join the session beneath the lights. It has been a while since I last skated, so the barrier proves useful for the first lap.
Chloe quickly looks more comfortable than I do. After a few practice laps, I announce a “hot lap” and hand over the filming. Confidence builds as the session goes on, though after nearly fifty minutes I decide to stop before getting too ambitious.
What I like about this rink on the night is the relaxed mix of abilities. Some people are holding on to the edge; others are practising confidently in the middle. In the video, I compare it with visits to Somerset House and the Natural History Museum: those settings have spectacular backdrops, while this more enclosed spot suits our actual skating outing.
The Tasting Room overlooking the ice
After returning the skates, we head to The Tasting Room for a drink and a few snacks. I choose warm mulled cider and Chloe has mulled wine. From the terrace, we can watch the rink while taking a break.
There are people out in their work clothes, groups enjoying the evening and skaters being pushed around on plastic seals. The rink gives us plenty to watch while we settle into the warmer, less strenuous part of the night.
Our assortment of bar snacks includes almonds and other nuts, pork scratchings, a Scotch egg and a sausage roll. It is a satisfying pause after skating, although we still have room for dinner.
Tapas at José Pizarro in Broadgate Circle
We walk back towards Broadgate Circle and find ourselves at José Pizarro. The restaurant is lively enough that I step outside briefly to explain where we are, away from the noise, before returning to the table.
We order wine and a few small dishes to share. Padrón peppers and sourdough bread with olive oil arrive first, followed by a plate of Ibérico ham. The ham is one of my favourites, though the next dish makes that an increasingly difficult choice.
Patatas bravas and a final plate to share
The patatas bravas are another highlight. I particularly like the combination of the tomato sauce and the white mayonnaise on the same potatoes: the two work very well together.
We finish the savoury dishes shown in the video with sausages and tomato bread. After the ice, the mulled drinks and the snacks, sharing a few plates in a busy restaurant makes a good end to the evening.
Outside again, Broadgate’s Christmas lights provide the final backdrop before I say goodnight. It is an evening built around two neighbouring spaces: skating and rink-side drinks in Exchange Square, then dinner back in Broadgate Circle.
Archive visit: 11 December 2015. All photographs are original stills from the Roberts London video. The seasonal rink, menus and venues are described as they appeared during this visit.
