A SWINDON businessman is feeling cool after enjoying success with his new ice sculpture business.

Robert Chequer, 70, started Ice Promotions after being inspired by the stunning ice sculptures at his son’s Ice Hotel wedding in Sweden.

Now he’s working with talented Welsh ice sculptors Gareth and Laura Giles to create the stunning pieces for parties and events across the South of England.

“Laura is a very classy sculptress. She knows what to do with ice,” the businessman said.

The company makes ice sculptures for weddings, stag-dos and hen parties and they have also been booked for corporate events.

Its vodka luge, which gives partygoers the chance to drink the alcohol directly from the ice sculpture, is a particular favourite for hen and stag parties.

But for more traditional events the ice swans are popular, Robert said.

At a recent wedding he was searching for a drain to leave the swans to melt into but the bride’s father had other ideas.

“He decided to take them to the river,” he said. The swans were thrown into the river and left to swim sedately downstream.

“Anyone sitting on the bank further down would have seen the pair of ice swans going past. I chuckle about it now.”

Robert, who also runs telecommunications business Prestige Communications, says that the beautiful ice creations have won him fans at parties.

“Everybody loves it. I haven’t come across anybody who isn’t impressed,” he said.

The grandfather of two is now branching out into making... ice cubes.

“Last Christmas everybody ran out. We’ve now geared up to produce and sell ice cubes to pubs and clubs here,” he said.

Throughout June, Ice Promotions is giving Swindon residents the chance to win an ice sculpture for their wedding.

The deadline for entries is June 30. For more details, visit: www.ice-promotions.com