The word conjures up images of 1950s small town America: in the mind's eye an an ice cream 'parlour' is all candy pinks and blues, with booths and high stools and plenty of shiny chrome.
It's no surprise that these kick-back havens offering all manner of multi-colour treats - from ice cream sundaes and waffles to towering knickbocker glorys topped with syrups and wafers - caught on in the UK where the word parlour was previously the name given back in the day to the stuffy back room you kept tidy for guests to your home.
Now US-style ice cream parlours are hugely popular, as are the growing numbers of their English rivals which basically proves that anywhere you can sit in to linger over the likes of chocolate, vanilla, pistachio and strawberry ripple is onto a winner. Of course ice cream is usually associated with the kind of weather we're currently enjoying but that hasn't stopped families huddling over a takeaway cone on a blustery sea front as it's a treat that can be enjoyed any time and almost anywhere, no matter what the weather whips up outside.
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As summer temperatures rocket again this week, we're bringing you a reminder of some of the hugely popular ice cream parlours we have around Newcastle and the wider North East where you might like to sit in and cool off. The only problem after you've made your pick will be the next big question: which flavour?
Our list includes a mix of venues, from traditional-style parlours to others unique to the North East, all serving a huge range of ices. They include classics such as strawberry and vanilla as well as one-off flavours such as Newcastle Bown Ale and even garlic and balsamic vinegar.
Ciccarelli - Blyth
This Italian gelato specialist at Coastline in Links Road - where visitors can enjoy another seaside favourite, fish and chips - recently received a gold award at the National Ice Cream Championships 2022.
This time it was its vanilla - made from what it proudly says is locally-sourced organic milk, pure ingredients and quality vanilla pods - that impressed the judges and ice cream lovers can taste it for themselves or else pick from a wide variety of other flavours which are all sold in tubs and cones.
In the spirit of traditional-style ice cream parlours, Ciccarelli also offers an expanded range of milkshakes and sundaes. See here.
Morwick Dairy Ice Cream - Morpeth
At Morwick Farm Cottages at Acklington, traditional manufacturing techniques - using milk from the farm’s award-winning dairy herd - have created more than 160 flavours of ice cream and fruit ices.
One favourite is Black Cherry, an ice cream which also incorporates an amarena cherry ripple imported from Italy which contains whole cherries and adds a tart finish.
The farm’s purpose-built parlour is now open from noon until 5pm daily for ice cream and the summer season has 16 flavours available for scooping from its counter. Fresh raw milk is also available from its vending machine between 10am and 5pm. See here.
Spurelli - Amble
In the Northumberland town's Coquet Street, this artisan ice cream and sorbet maker uses milk and cream from Marley Cote Walls farm in Hexham which has a pedigree herd of Ayrshire and Shorthorn cows.
Options on offer from the award-winner include vegan, dairy - and non-diary - plus gluten-free treats and it says: "The parlour is constantly innovating and enhancing our offering by introducing new ice cream flavours and treats that satisfy our customer's evolving appetite for new food experiences." See here.
Vallum Farm - East Wallhouses
More award-winning ice cream is served in the tearoom at this foodie hub on Hadrian’s Wall where milk from the Vallum herd – the only Brown Swiss cows in the area apparently – ensures a well-stocked ice cream counter.
The likes of sundaes, traditional knickerbocker glories and banana splits are hugely popular and Cafe Aroma recently announced it is now stocking Doddington Farm ice cream. Doddington Diary in Wooler makes use of quality local ingredients with full cream milk, double cream, sugar, egg yolks and 'real' flavours resulting in such specialities as Newcastle Brown Ale and Alnwick Rum Truffle flavours. See here.
Wheelbirks - Stocksfield
This parlour on-site at the Northumberland farm also uses milk from its own 120-strong herd of Jersey cows so, yep, this ice cream too is award-wining.
What's more it offers "some truly experimental flavours" such as liquorice and caramel, coffee and croissant and even garlic and balsamic vinegar. Now that's what we call different.
Visitors keen to make a day of it can check out other attractions too as the farm is also open to the public. See here.
Arrighi's - Seaton Delaval
The ice cream shop at Crescent Cafe in Avenue Crescent boasts "the one and only original ice cream since 1925" and its home-made creations have won awards.
The family business says: "We always do our best to source all our ingredients locally, whether it be in our secret ice cream recipe or in all our authentic home cooking; this means that we can help support local small businesses like ours." Find out more about it here.
Di Meo's - Whitley Bay
The Di Meo family has been making ice cream for more than 100 years and there can't be many - even any? - flavours that it hasn't already created.
Callers to its coastal shop in Marine Avenue can sample the likes of its award-winning vanilla and strawberry flavours - or how about sea salt caramel, Biscoff or honeycomb? It has a vegan offering too and it's worth checking with other parlours if you follow a vegan lifestyle as several accommodate various diets.
The same sense of a Di Meo's sunny seaside treat is captured at its other outlet in Newcastle Ouseburn. See here.
Mark Toney - Newcastle
This traditional favourite in Grainger Street - and now in Percy Street and Grainger Arcade too - is another century-old success story (about 120 years to be precise) and successive generations of the Marcantonio family who run it have built upon that to cement its reputation for award-winning dairy ice creams.
Based upon their Italian family’s original recipe, their ice cream sundaes are not to be missed but there's plenty of other choice too on a menu also featuring waffles, coffees and panninis.
It says: "A warm welcome awaits you at Mark Toney cafes. The surroundings are warm and inviting and we guarantee service with a smile." Find out more here.
Creams Cafe - Newcastle
"Big flamboyant desserts" screams this Grainger Street favourite and that 'size matters' ethos naturally includes its ice creams.
Having opened in 2015, the late-night parlour quickly attracted regulars with its range of imported Italian gelato, milkshakes, crepes and coffees.
Gelato specials include Banoffee and Buenot and there are sorbets too, plus crepes and waffles, including a current Easter special - with chocolate shavings, Belgian white chocolate sauce and mango coulis plus Cadbury mini eggs and a Maltesers bunny - which is available until April 18.
For more about its range see here.
Cream Curls - Newcastle
As its name suggests, ice cream here is rolled in curls and it is fascinating to watch it being hand-made.
Having started out as a small shop in Heaton, the company has now expanded to 12 stores - covering the region from Northumberland to County Durham and including one in Newcastle's Percy Street, which opened in 2019, and another at Metrocentre - and it has also extended countrywide, with plans to open eight more shops.
Its rolls come in flavours such as Galaxy Ripple and Hershey's Cookies 'n' Cream and the menu includes other sweet-tooth options such as waffles, milkshakes and 'milk cake'. See here.
Mimi's Ice Cream Emporium - Newcastle
This little family-run business tucked away in Rotary Way, Gosforth, specialises in ice creams and sundaes and is regular thinking up new seasonal flavours and is open to suggestions too.
Think red velvet ice cream embellished with chocolate hearts or Turkish Delight special and you'll get the picture of the range on offer. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available. Find out more here.
Minchella & Co - South Shields
Rivelling Di Meo's in the longevity stakes is the Minchella family which also clocks up more than a century of people-pleasing and award-winning ice creams.
Its parlour here in Ocean Road - there's another in Sea Road as well as kiosks - is, it says, "one of the oldest, if not the oldest, business in South Shields town centre" and it's here that its ices are made on-site.
Expect towering chocolate nut sundaes, knickerbocker glorys, jelly sundaes and triple ice creams and look out for the likes of a rarely-seen double nougat wafer sandwich, the oyster delight, Turkish delight, Sicilian pistachio and Mad About Cookies.
It's open from Monday to Saturday, 10am until 4pm. See here.
John's Cafe - Beamish Museum
A recent addition to the scene - although customers here will feel like they've stepped back in time - is this recently-opened ice cream and coffee parlour in the County Durham museum's 1950s Town.
It's actually a recreation of a period cafe from Wingate, which was run by one Giovanni Baptista Parisella in the 1950s and was a haven for the local community who enjoyed sundaes while listening to its juke box.
The cafe was actually far older, featuring wooden booths which were installed in 1925 and these luckily were included among the part of the cafe's interior which the museum has had in its collection since 2013.
A working jukebox is in situ too, to capture the atmosphere of old, and customers can enjoy music alongside ice cream made in a traditional ice cream maker - a machine which apparently was imported by Italian families who brought ice cream to the North East.
Check out photographs in the cafe's back room which show the original café through the ages.
Lickety Split Creamery - Seaham
Billed as "the original and first dedicated dessert parlour in the North", this 1950s America-theme venue in North Terrace is also a winner at national ice cream awards and its house speciality is a sundae called The Lickety Split which comes with five ice cream scoops of choice on top of its 'large special banana split' - plus sauce and cream.
The ice cream is created on the premises and the company says: "Here at Lickety Split, we believe in giving you excellent service, excellent quality and a nice, clean place to relax and have fun." See here.
Chilled OUT Gelato - Seaham
Another County Durham parlour to note, this time in East Shore Village, is this sit-in venue which describes itself as the number one stop for hand-made gelato, cakes, desserts and beverages.
Out to tempt you are the likes of Lotus biscuit-topped creations and special school holiday extras such as bubblegum milkshake. See here.
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