You don’t need to skate on ice to enjoy the bar and restaurant at the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink.

That’s the message from Dean Harding of Hardings whose team will serve the mulled wine and mince pies this year.

“We’re doing lots of things that have never been done before in terms of entertainment,” he says.

“From the end of November, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, there will be singers, DJs and for the first time we will have Christmas comedy nights.

“Our aim is to create a standalone destination bar restaurant.”

Some evenings Gordon Graham will sing crooner classics while on other nights Worthing singer- songwriter Tyler will play an acoustic set.

As for the comedy, Harding compares the evenings to the much-loved comedy nights at Komedia.

“There will be a dinner and comedy package. People can skate at 5.30pm or 6pm should they want to and then come in for a glass of mulled wine at 7pm, before having a three-course meal with comedy on stage at the back of the restaurant (from £24.50).”

Young observational-style comic Jonathan Elston will emcee for the opening night on November 29, with News Revue contributor and sometime support for Micky Flanagan, Jessica Fostekew, and Aussie Colin Cole also on the bill.

A week later, 2008 Magners Comedy Awards finalist Ryan McDonnell emcees with Gerry K, who has hosted the football forum with Jeff Stelling and Rodney Marsh for Zoo Magazine, with Colin Cole on the bill again.

Hardings took over from Jamie Oliver’s catering team for two weeks when the ice rink was extended last winter.

Dean realised then the punters did not want to pay premium prices for drinks in plastic glasses and food in cardboard boxes.

“That is more of a takeaway style. We want people to spend a good evening there or pop in for a glass of wine and savour it. We have 12 wines by the glass (£3.75).”

Harding is proud of quirky additions such as Blake’s butchers Brighton bratwurst specially created for the bar and restaurant.

The 12in sausage in crusty bread with caramelised onions will be on offer with a pint of Brighton Best for £9.50.

Other new drinks include specialist Belgian beer by Affligem (£4) served in gold-rim goblets and festive beers by Horsham brewery WJ King, including the King’s Festive, a seasonal, cinnamon-flavoured brew, priced £3.80.

Expect mulled wine and mulled cider (£3.80) and hot chocolate with marshmallows.

There is a breakfast menu for early skaters who make the 9.30am opening and inside the venue there are new furnishings, including Chesterfield sofas.

Harding has done the catering at Brighton racecourse for 15 years, created pop-up restaurants and used to do the catering at the cricket ground, at Withdean Stadium, at Stammer House and at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.

“I am Brighton born and bred and I have the required local knowledge,” explains Harding.

“I cannot go on enough about value for money. As long as people feel we have given them value for money they will leave happy.”

Hardings is at the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton.

Open 9.30am to 12.30am. Call 01273 675756.