It operated on a membership-only basis and was aimed at the elite of British figure skaters who wished to practise on uncrowded ice.

[1] Prince's was the second large rectangular rink in Britain after Stockport, its ice measuring 210 by 52 feet (64 by 16 metres).

It began playing challenge matches in early 1897, initially against the three existing teams in England: Niagara, Brighton and the Royal Engineers.

The 1908 match with Paris was the first under Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace (international) rules in Britain; it was also notable as Thomas Sopwith played in goal.

In March 1910, the first England-Scotland ice hockey match was held at the rink, but the sport was suspended at the start of World War I.