Through the centuries, ice cream has continued to evolve since first arriving on English soil in the 17th century, when it was considered an indulgence reserved exclusively for the royals. From Penny Licks to edible cones and the popularised ice cream vans, the dessert continues to adapt.

Today, ice cream has become a beloved staple of summer. With growing experimentation and artisan specialities taking over across the country, the dessert has continued to transform into a cultural favourite, and there is never a more fitting time to indulge than during National Ice Cream Month.

With warmer weather enticing tourists and locals out and about across Kent, ice cream season is officially underway. With the county boasting a wealth of classic favourites and farm-to-tub artisan specials, it is the ideal time to get adventurous and discover nine of Kent’s coolest ice cream spots, one scoop at a time.

Simply Ice Cream

The natural artisan, Simply Ice Cream, ensures their luxury ice cream is crafted using natural, locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. You can find their ice cream across the county in farm shops, delis and supermarkets; with over 20 years of experience, each batch is made in small quantities with award-winning flavours. Their summer range offers a number of delicious flavours, including coconut, with a refreshing, exotic taste, and heavenly honeycomb, blending crunchy, golden honeycomb pieces with their signature creamy base. Alongside lemon curd, with a zingy lemon curd from The Wooden Spoon Co., based in Ashford, and raspberry, made from whole, plump raspberries.

Lulu’s Gelato

A seaside gem, Lulu’s Gelato specialises in traditional Italian gelato in the heart of Margate town, crafted on the premises in small batches. By making their gelato with more milk than cream, each scoop has a smoother texture and lower fat content, not to mention the intense natural flavour. A number of their ingredients are sourced locally and from Italy, with summer flavours ranging from a classic raspberry ripple, made from their signature Guernsey milk gelato blended with Madagascan vanilla and raspberry ripple, to their popular Cocco Nero, back for the summer, the vegan gelato is made from cocoa beans, sweet coconut and activated charcoal.

Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium

Injecting creativity into every scoop, award-winning ice cream with a farm-to-tub philosophy is at the heart of Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium. With a permanent parlour in Whitstable and a pop-up called Bears Scooptopia in Macknade Food Village, attracting tourists and locals alike. With co-founder and chef Philip Harrison crafting over 70 unique flavours, there is a weekly changing scoop menu with both dairy and plant-based options; each ice cream is made using the freshest ingredients sourced from local producers, enhancing the taste and quality of each scoop. There are a number of must-try favourites, including ice cream sandwiches and ‘Glacier’, where customers can choose three toppings from over 30 items; this includes sauces, home-baked goods, fresh fruit and sprinkles for a personalised experience.

Solley’s Ice Cream

A Kentish favourite, Solley’s Ice Cream is a family-run farm located in Ripple, near Deal, and the largest independent ice cream maker in the South East. Bringing the finest ingredients to their ice cream, with most of their ingredients sourced from local producers in Kent and their famous Channel Island milk, which is delivered twice a week from neighbouring farm herds in Jersey and Guernsey. You can visit Solley’s ice cream parlour located on their farm, Offering a range of over 15 flavours, from raspberry eton mess and salted caramel to a classic Knickerbocker Glory, serving traditional vanilla and smooth strawberry ice cream with cream, strawberry sauce and topped with a glace cherry. 

Morelli’s Gelato 

©SusanCaripa

Steeped in tradition, Morelli’s Gelato set the standard for modern-day ice cream, making their gelato from scratch every morning, with their very first parlour opening in 1932, overlooking the stretching coastline of Broadstairs and stores later opening in Whitstable and Margate. Morelli’s offers gelato with entirely natural ingredients, from pure pistachios and Kilimanjaro coffee to Alphonso mango from the southern garden states of India. Each scoop is crafted to create a delicate balance of smooth texture, rich flavour and ingredients sourced with care, ready to enjoy while taking in the beauty of Kent’s spectacular coastline.

Taywell Ice Creams

Artisan ice cream that tastes like no other, with entirely natural ingredients, Taywell crafts their ice cream in small batches, using fresh, local milk and premium ingredients, including fruit from local farms and vanilla imported directly from Madagascar. With classic flavours, including rich salted caramel and smooth chocolate, to experimental serves like buttery Kentish cobnut and aromatic Turkish Delight. Based in Goudhurst, Taywell distributes their ice cream across Kent, from local farm shops, supermarkets and theatres, including the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells.

Bottega Montalbano

A family-run Italian Caffè located in the heart of Tenterden, you will experience an authentic feel of Italy inspired by Sicily’s cafe culture. Bottega Montalbano serves a range of homemade gelato, made fresh on the premises each week; each batch is crafted using entirely natural ingredients and locally sourced milk from the award-winning Street Farm in High Halden, only a few miles away. The parlour showcases a range of popular artisan flavours, from nutty almond and smooth chocolate to Amarena cherry and fresh mint chocolate chip, with a smooth creamy finish.

Herbert’s Gelato

Discover organic ice cream on Kent’s coast, found in The Shell Shop in Folkestone Fish Market. Herbert’s Gelato curates handmade gelato using organic milk and entirely natural ingredients and fresh fruit lollies, made using only natural fruit juice. With a range of novelty flavours, including the iconic gypsy tart ice cream, which has been awarded 2 stars at the Great Taste Awards 2022. Seasonal summer gelatos are made from the freshest fruit, from strawberries and cream, made using Kentish strawberries and banana, using fresh, organic bananas, to raspberry ripple, which is made from Herbert’s raspberry jam, blended seamlessly through the smooth gelato. Herbert’s Gelato celebrates Kentish-made dessert at its finest.

Reynolds Ice Cream

For a unique ice cream experience, make your way to Kent’s East coastline, with a new permanent site in Greatstone and a summer pop up at Folkestone’s Harbour Arm. Reynolds Ice Cream boasts a number of indulgent flavours, making sure to generously garnish each bubble cone, with servings from Kinder Bueno, drenched in a rich chocolate sauce and garnished with hazelnuts and Kinder Bueno bars, to pistachio ice cream blended with Nutella, served in a classic cone with a traditional flake.