Ice, made in London since 1993
The Ice Box has made ice sculptures in London since 1993. It was started by Philip Hughes, known in the trade as the King of Ice, and is led today by managing director Greg Pittard, who joined as an ice bagger in 2003, with Richard Elmer as chief executive. The team works from New Covent Garden Market.
At the reception
For weddings the work centres on the reception. The studio carves entwined hearts, swans that frame a seating plan, three-tier ice cakes with flowers frozen inside, and champagne displays that hold bottles on ice. Ice bars run from 2m to 20m and can be engraved with a couple’s monogram.
Flowers in ice
Flowers are a particular strength. The team freezes roses, orchids, hydrangeas and lilies into clear blocks, cubes and vases, with fresh stems from the flower market next door. Table centres range from a single rose in an ice cube to long troughs of spring flowers along a banquet table.
The carving
Designs are drawn up by the sales team to the couple’s or planner’s brief, carved by the production sculptors, and delivered and installed by the operations crew on the day. The Ice Box also builds large installations for corporate and brand clients, and is open about that range, with weddings in Delhi and Calgary among its work. Fees are quoted to each brief.
