Douglas Town Centre Management is urging people to keep a space in their diary on Saturday December 7 for the launch of a galactically spectacular ice sculpture in the town centre.

Left to right: Stephanie Quayle and Darren Jackson, Hubb chief executive Jason Scales, Douglas town centre manager Oliver Cheshire and Gary Kewin and James Martin of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society at the society’s observatory in Foxdale

Sponsored this year by blockchain and digital business incubator, Hubb, situated in Victoria Street, Douglas, the sculpture will be carved live from around 10am on the corner of Regent Street and Strand Street by celebrated local artists Stephanie Quayle and Darren Jackson who, last year, created an aircraft out of ice and a train the year before.

Douglas Town Centre Manager Oliver Cheshire said: ‘I’m delighted that this year’s ice carving has been generously sponsored by Hubb. This is a new enterprise in Douglas that’s providing companies with a launch pad so their businesses can take off, so it’s a good fit with this year’s theme.

‘I’m also very grateful to Gary Kewin and James Martin of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society for allowing us to come up to Foxdale and use the society’s observatory as the back drop for our photo to promote the ice carving event.

‘At this stage I don’t want to reveal too much about what form the sculpture will take but what I can say is that during the course of the afternoon, thanks to The Hubb and Stephanie and Darren, we’ll have lift-off and the finished carving will look out of this world.’

Hubb’s chief executive Jason Scales said: ‘We’re very pleased to be sponsoring this year’s Christmas ice sculpture. I’m sure it’ll be a great crowd pleaser and for all of us at Hubb it’s really exciting to be in Douglas Town Centre Management’s “orbit” for this eagerly awaited event.’