I basically grew up at the Stafford Skate Centre…read more It's "Skate 'N' Blade" signage at the front of the building always made me feel tough, even if I was nine, wearing a helmet, sweat bands around my wrists and pads around my knees. I'm still not crash hot at skating, but boy, do I love being out there on the rink. Armour and all. More than 15 years on, I'm glad to see that nothing has changed. The candy bar is still in the business of keeping kids bouncing off the walls, and the whole place seems to be run by 15 year olds. They've added in a few additions like 'learning how to skate 'n' blade' classes which are held on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights which are only $10 for an hour lesson. Score! Skate hire is $2.50 and blade hire is $3.50. It's cheap, and it's unabashedly old school. There is no doubt in my mind that they still put the strobe lights on of a night time and play classics like "I will survive". Lets' not forget the overexcited announcer directing everyone on the rink with shout outs like "Ok! Now, everyone, when the music stops, we're going to reverse! ONE....TWO.....THREE...REVERSE!!". The young and agile glide in the opposite direction, and the crusty and rigid like myself just continue to slowly roll along and squat until they can stop themselves with their hands. Despite my obvious lack of skill, skating is one of my favourite past times. There's nothing quite like going back to your childhood haunt after 15 years and still finding yourself doing the same things you did back then. Yes, I left there today with a packet of clinkers, just like I did when I was 9.

Yep, this place is dripping in my childhood from when I was a little'un unable to stand up straight…read morein a pair of skates to when I thought I was a really cool rollerblading aficionado. I remember getting so angsty about the group activities/competitions like red rover because I so desperately wanted to win or at least, be as cool as my brother who was already miles ahead of me. Alas, I always fell behind but enjoyed myself regardless. My favourite times in this skating ring were freetime where they would play some awesomely relevant song like Hit Me Baby One More Time or Backstreet's Back and I would jive a little as I skirted the edge of the rink, careful to avoid falling and bringing down three other people with me. My high school used to love including this place in a list of appropriate venues for sports activities, and even then I was overly enthusiastic to go. Such fond memories. And then my friends and I would sneak off to get snacks and drinks and then gaze in wonder at the professional rollerblades and skates inside glass cabinets, signed by people we had never heard of. Stafford Skate Centre is the perfect venue for group activities because there's room for hours of endless fun. Who's have thought that skating in a circle for hours could be so entertaining? But there you go. You can hire skates and blades or bring your own. This place has a massive car park to accommodate the influx of visitors - particularly during school holidays - but it's probably in your best interest to get in early to avoid huge crowds. I think every parent should bring their kids here or to some other skating rink because it's the best place to spend time as a kid and it gives you some really cherished memories. Sigh.

Great fun for adult and child alike and great upon a warm summers day. Popular and well managed…read morewith ample parking. The ice rink is run in sessions so check the bochure photographed to ensure arrival at the correct time. It is also worthy to mention that games with prizes happen during sessions which ads to the fun!

By Rebecca's husband. I've always loved rollerblading and…read morehave got the wife into it too now at our local. So I decided to take her for an afternoon at my old childhood hangout, Digi. What. A. Mistake. Back in the day sure, it was busy and full of kids. Sunday afternoons were always a bit quieter and more of a family affair so I thought it would be fine for a relative beginner. I should've realised the minute we walked in and saw 6 separate birthday parties on the go and the place absolutely crawling with five times the crowd I remembered. It was hard enough getting from the front to the rink, at that was with shoes on. Nevertheless, we strapped our skates on and entered the warzone, only slightly perturbed at the fact that none of the "staff" appeared to have reached high school yet. At first I was overjoyed by no rules and no speed limits, allowing me the kind of freedom we just don't get at our local, what with its safety and welfare concerns. But it soon became obvious this was quite the hazard. Everyone trying to show off their mad skills were weaving in and out of kids trying desperately to stay on their feet for more than 10 minutes, some hadn't seemed to grasp the one-way system, and if you manage to avoid all that, rest assured someone's about to cut you off. You may be thinking "But that's just general skating. At least they split up the beginner and advanced riders for the games." Nope. They don't even make sure the kids who are obviously not participating in Red Rover are out of the rink before the wall of rollerbladers come hurtling toward them. If you decide to take a break from the warfare and sit on the sidelines make sure you stay far away from any speaker. I understand they need all the kids to be able to hear Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Lil Jon over the screams but they could at least bleep out the swearing.

Not friendly to young beginners. Very rude staff. The small rink was blocked off for a game…read moresuitable only for those who skate well and then I was prevented from helping my young daughter on the big rink.