Gabriella Davis scours the county in search of the most delicious scoops this summer
Now the sun is on the horizon and is gracing us with its presence, it’s hard to resist the lure of an ice cream. I’m not talking Mr Whippy here – the McDonald’s of the cone world – but about artisanal ice creams and gelatos made with love (and served) by local independent stores and the rise of dessert parlours to enjoy all year around. We may not have lots of beaches but Surrey and its surrounding area do offer picturesque rivers and parks to chill out and cool off in. Here are some of my top picks as I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
Have we missed any out? Let us know your favourite place by commenting below
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Dylans Ice Cream
Dylan’s Ice Cream founder Ben Govier has been making ice cream since he was a boy, so it’s no surprise he’s now rather good at it. The company is named after his much-missed black Labrador. Besides having a heartfelt story behind the name of the parlour, his mission is to make the best ice cream possible. Dylan's has an ever-changing menu as they chase the freshest ingredients in season all year round.
Pick ’n’ lick: Weird and wonderful flavours, like striped honeycomb Bumblebee, succulent Carrot Cake or the unique amazing flavour of tastebud-tickling Tayberry (only in season for two weeks every summer)
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St Joan's Farm
Possibly Surrey’s most famous independent ice cream maker, St Joan’s is the real deal. It’s a family-run business, and the farm’s 15 British Friesian, Dairy Shorthorn and Guernsey cows are farmed using low intensive methods free of growth promoters, artificial hormones and stimulants. The ice cream is as fresh as fresh can be: ‘From cow to freezer in less than an hour’.
You’ll find St Joan’s ice creams at the onsite farm shop near Reigate, but you can also get them at the Farnham Farmers’ Market on the fourth Sunday of the month.
Pick ’n’ lick: Try the coconut flavour for a summertime treat, or at Christmas try the Christmas Pudding ice cream. But remember: the full set of flavours can only be found at the Reigate farm’s own shop.
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Cafe Rialto
Café Rialto in Dorking makes fantastic authentic Italian gelato that has been awarded many accolades and can be purchased in tubs online. Whilst visiting this cosy and endearing restaurant you can try their wonderful Italian food too.
Pick 'n' Lick: Mojito flavour is both tantalising and tasty. Cafe Rialto has also won Great Taste awards for their Italian Passion and Pistachio Naturale so it would be rude not to try these flavours.
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Shere Delights
If you ever visit the picturesque village of Shere, then you must pop along to Shere Delights for an ice cream. The retro sweet shop and ice cream parlour is proving such a hit that, on (rare) sunny days, queues go out of the door! Shere Delights’ scrumptious scoops are handmade by a London artisan supplier.
Pick ’n’ lick: Where to start? Well, the popcorn flavour will delight the adventurous. Traditionalists should go for the Mint Chocolate Chip – dotted with dark Valrhona chocolate.
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Amore Gelato
This gem is located just outside the front of Longacres Garden Centre. A perfect stop after a visit to the garden centre with the kids! All the gelato is freshly made in-house by Caffe Amore's very own gelato innovator - Marcello.
Pick 'n' Lick: Fresh strawberry gelato is hard to resist or try one of Marcello's ever changing new creations.
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Gelateria Danieli
Shoppers in Kingston will be familiar with the Gelateria Danieli concession in Bentalls, but this excellent ice cream parlour has also become a seasonal fixture at the Crockford Bridge Farm Shop in Addlestone where they sell 24 flavours. They also have shops in Richmond, for those headed a little deeper into London.
The ice cream is made with milk from the Cowdray Estate in West Sussex and typically contains only 5-7% fat (many high street brands contain up to 15%). If you are looking for an alternative birthday cake, the ice cream cakes are divine and available to order online. There are 25 sorbet flavours and an even more impressive 66 ice cream flavours.
Pick ’n’ lick: There are some interesting picks, so if you want to try something new why not try Elderflower & Honey or Lime, Ginger & Lemongrass. However, for the less adventurous there are all the classics such as chocolate and salted caramel.
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Sblended
89A Clarence Street, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 1QYControversial I know but you will be making a Sblended choice! It might not be strictly ice cream but these milkshakes are so thick and creamy that you can almost class them as ice cream. There is a flavour for absolutely every taste bud and the possibilities are endless: you can mix different flavours together to make creative new milkshakes; Daim, Snickers, Lime, Banana, Peach, Aero mint, Malteaser, Crunchie ... you name it they have it.
Challenge your taste buds with millions of magical milkshake moments.If you don’t fancy shakin’ it up why not mix it up with one of the indulgent Sblended flurries or the healthier frozen yoghurt treats.
Pick 'n' Lick: Kinder Bueno is my favourite.
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Frenchies dessert parlour
Frenchies is a fun and bright 1950's themed American diner for ice cream and dessert lovers alike. On offer is a wide selection of scrumptious scoops of fresh and high quality gelato including Raspberry ripple, Cookies and Cream and Vanilla.
Pick 'n' Lick: Knickerbocker Glory - strawberries, melon and grapes. Scoops of chocolate and strawberry ice cream topped with soft serve ice cream, fresh cream. strawberry sauce and a cherry on the top!
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Afters original
You will only have one problem with Afters original…choosing what to have. Gelato flavours available include toffee crunch, blueberry muffin, vanilla, pistachio, strawberry shortcake, mango, Ferrero Rocher, white chocolate… and that’s just a few! In case you’re wondering, the blue one is bubblegum flavour, ideal for all you hubba bubba addicts out there.
Pick 'n' Lick: Fruit of the forest sorbet for all the dairy-free ice cream lovers who crave a tasty treat too.
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Creams Café
Some of you might disagree with my decision to include Creams Café in this list but I had to for the fun factor if nothing else, and there’s also branches in Woking, Guildford, Windsor, Camberley, Staines and Crawley. Creams is styled loosely on the 1950s American diner and the menu is stuffed with every cliched ice cream dish you can imagine: think knickerbocker glories and Sundae splits. You can also have your ice cream in crepes and on giant American waffles. Have fun and get stuck in – just watch out for the sugar rush.
Pick ’n’ lick: The classic banana split...surely.
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Fresco Delikafessen
Fresco Delikafessen is an independent coffee shop owned by two young Greek graduates of the University of Surrey who have decided to follow their passion for food and coffee and introduce something new in the heart of the busy Guildford town centre. With the weather heating up, we need to take a step back and cool off for a bit. Hide away in this sweet little cafe and enjoy a classic cone of ice cream accompanied by a traditional Greek sweet pastry.
Pick 'n' Lick: Chocolate or Vanilla the two faithful flavours that never fail to refresh!
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Kaspa's Desserts
Decked out with a shiny black & pink interior, you can choose from a plethora of sweet and tasty goodies. Sit in one of the many booths and enjoy the delicious ice-cream, gelatos and sundaes with all your favourite flavours. Alternatively, with the lighter evenings and longer days dawning, take your ice cream to go and although not the beach, stroll through the lovely surroundings of Runnymede.
Pick 'n' Lick: Passion Fruit sorbet or Hazlenut ice cream
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Treatz Dessert
Treatz dessert has parlours in Slough, High Wycombe, Reading and of course Woking. They also go by the name of The Ultimate Dessert Parlour Co. All the classics are on the menu, along with some intriguing and mouthwatering flavours such as the Nobbly Bobbly. If you've got a big appetite and a helpful friend (or five) at hand, keep an eye out for The Don! (Of All Dons!) 10 scoops of fresh gelato ice cream on a bed of waffles, mixed fruits, variety of sauces, a Treatz wafer and biscuit curls, topped with whipped cream.
Pick 'n' lick: Mango Crush - Mango & vanilla ice cream with chopped mango slices, finished with luxury mango & strawberry sauce & a Treatz wafer
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Crockford Bridge Farm Shop Ice Cream Parlour
You know it's summer when the Crockford Bridge Farm Ice Cream Parlour opens ...
Crockford Bridge Farm supply Gelateria Danieli with strawberries, raspberries and rhubarb for their superb hand made Italian ice cream, so they decided they would like to sell it directly to the public right from 'Christmas tree cabin' where there are 24 unique flavours to pick and choose from.
Pick 'n' Lick: Any of the sorbets are totally fat free and just as delicious as the ice cream so you must try one of them, made with fresh fruits and sweetened with fructose. However, how could you not try the limited edition Crockford Bridge Fruit whilst you sit under the parasols in the idyllic seating area outside.
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Comments (4)
Comment FeedDi Paulos
Fred Alcroft more than 8 years ago
Surrey ice cream
Paul langtry more than 9 years ago
Ice Cream
Steve, Dorking more than 10 years ago
Ice Cream
Pat more than 10 years ago