Following news that a Northumberland ice cream parlour has just won double gold at a national competition, a trip out to try it for myself seemed as good a way as any to start off the long Easter weekend.
The typical Bank Holiday weather was ou t to spoil things, however, with overcast skies and an Arctic-like chill in the air adding to an overall grey atmosphere as I arrived in Blyth. Images of basking in the sun, cone in hand, went out the window as fast as my extra jumper went on.
But first sight of my destination, Ciccarelli Italian Gelato at South Beach - all ice cream pinks, fresh and cheery - lifted my spirits and here, bringing a ray of sunshine all his own, I find Domenico Gregorio who this week picked up two gold medals at the National Ice Cream Competition for his new white chocolate gelato and a blackcurrant sorbet. The boss of Ciccarelli Italian Gelato (gelato, not ice cream, and yes there's a difference - quite a big one as it turns out) also runs Coastline Fish & Chips next door which on my Good Friday visit was preparing to shift a whopping three-quarters of a ton of fish.
