What is GGIFT? Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust is an independent community group. It was set up as a result of public meetings organised by Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Civic Society. Great GIFT was created for those people who believe the Ice Factory has a sustainable future.

Why is the Ice Factory so special? Grimsby Ice Factory is a Grade II* Listed Building. The Grade II* listing puts it in the top 7% of buildings within the UK. It is significant because it is the sole surviving example of a type of industrial ice-making equipment which remains in its original surroundings. The combination of the building, the machinery and the location near the Kasbah area of Grimsby Docks makes it special.

Can’t we remove the machinery to a museum? No. The building is effectively a shell for the machinery. English Heritage will agree to some of the machinery being removed, but a representative sample must remain in place. There are other empty Ice Factories in the UK. It is the combination of building, machinery and location which makes the Ice Factory unique. It would also be difficult to remove the machinery without damaging it – even if a large enough home could be found to house the restored equipment.

Who owns the Ice Factory? The Ice Factory is owned by Associated British Ports which operates Grimsby Docks.

If you don’t own the Ice Factory how can you preserve it? Great GIFT’s intention is to inspire a partnership between private and public bodies which will regenerate the building, giving it a new ongoing life.

Are you asking for Council Taxpayers to pay for the building? No. We hope to attract grant money from national bodies, but we intend to follow the example of other projects which have seen commercial investment in regenerated buildings. We do not foresee the Local Authority taking ownership.

If the Ice Factory is on the docks, how can it be a commercial proposition? The Ice Factory is on the edge of the docks, very close to Riby Square. It would be possible to create access which does not interfere with dock activities.

How can you ensure this “regeneration” won’t result in another derelict “white elephant”? The management of the building will be charged with finding “sustainable” commercial tenants for the building. If one tenant fails, the management will ensure that the space is filled until another appropriate tenant can be found.

What sort of uses are you talking about? As an example, GGIFT suggests an international arts venue, renewable energy hub, refrigeration museum, climbing wall, performance venue and microbrewery. These are just examples – we have researched them to prove they could be viable but there could be others. Any use would depend on our tenants and be subject to the usual pre-planning and feasibility tests.

How are you financed? The Trust currently consists of a small management team, supported by private donations. It aims to keep costs to a minimum. We envisage that Great GIFT will move to the structure of a company limited by guarantee when it is in a position to secure the future of the Ice Factory.

Our President is David Ross. The current management of the Trust is - Chair; Victoria Hartung, Treasurer: Lee Beckett, Secretary: Graeme Bassett, Publicity and Public Relations: Roy Horobin, Sue Stone.

Briefly, we believe that community and business interests can come together to sustain the future of the Ice Factory. We believe that a working dock can accommodate both the past and the future. We believe that the regeneration of the East Marsh is vital to, and dependent on the future of the docks and the Ice Factory.