Swoon Gelato has won the hearts (and bellies) of ice-cream lovers of southern England with its award-winning gelato at popular stores in Bristol, Bath, Oxford and London. And after previously announcing it was opening its first Welsh location in Cardiff, it's now revealed the shop will open in Duke Street Arcade on Saturday, February 11.
The parlour will offer not only beautifully crafted gelato made with natural ingredients from traditional methods and in an abundance of flavours but speciality desserts and Italian coffee too.
Founded by Bruno Forte in 2016, Swoon is a family affair that is run by Bruno himself - the latest generation in a long line of ice-cream makers (going back 120 years) - his wife Ana Maria, sister Patricia and mother Louise. Speaking previously about this, Bruno said: "My Italian family introduced handmade gelato to the UK over a hundred years ago and Swoon is very much a family business with my wife, mother and sister all involved. That family history and love of gelato drives what we do - it’s why we focus so much on provenance and using only best and purest ingredients in the flavours we craft."
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To celebrate opening a store in Wales, the gelateria will be hosting a limited edition Welsh flavour - although, the flavour itself won't be revealed until St David's Day (of course) - that promises to make its customers Swoon. Joining much-loved foodie venues such as New York Deli, Pettigrew Bakery and Fabulous Welshcakes, which you can find on your tour of the glorious Victorian arcades the city is proud to offer, Swoon is setting up shop at the former STA Travel, which closed down in 2020, at 11 Duke Street.
The Cardiff gelato bar is going to showcase its "innovative" flavours many of which have won awards at the following: The Great Taste Awards, The Ice Cream Alliance, Bristol Life and The Great British Food Awards). What's more is that vegans and dairy-free dieters need not worry as there will be options for you too in its sorbetti.
Now, Swoon isn't any old regular ice cream shop, it seems. It serves up gelato - which isn't just any old ice cream. It is, according to the website, creamier with 50% less fat. It reads: "Gelato typically has 50% less fat than traditional ice cream, but it tastes much creamier. The creamy texture comes from the way it’s made, slow churning instead of rapid beating. With low fat, rich creamy texture, intense flavour you can eat twice as much!"
And it isn't just us excited for this new gelato bar to swing open its doors - just in time for spring.
City dwellers, ice-cream lovers and local businesses have taken to social media to welcome Swoon to Cardiff after it made the announcement that it would be opening its doors this weekend on social media.
User @thecityofarcades wrote: "Cannot wait!!" alongside @laurenjaji_ who commented: "Very exciting! Can't wait to visit".
Another said: "Have been wowed in Bath, know it's going to be delightful" and a fourth added: "Excited to try some of the vegan/milk free!!!!"
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