Persian-inspired ice cream brand Darlish opens two new parlours in London

Darlish, the UK’s first Persian-inspired ice cream brand, has recently opened two new parlours in London – in Bloomsbury Square and Notting Hill – bringing its total number of locations to five. The expansion marks a further stage of growth for the independent business, which was founded in St Albans in 2017 by Laura Dawson in response to the limited availability of Middle Eastern dessert flavours on British high streets.

Dawson, who is of Indian and Persian heritage, began making small-batch ice cream at home, drawing on ingredients she had grown up with, including saffron, rose and pistachio. She initially sold her products at local markets, fairs and pop-up events from a wooden Italian-style cart. As demand grew, she opened a permanent parlour on French Row in St Albans, which became the brand’s flagship site.

The Darlish menu is influenced by Persian ice cream traditions that date back to around 400 BC, a period associated with the early development of iced desserts in the Middle East. The brand’s signature flavour is a combination of saffron, rose and pistachio. It has also gained attention online for its baklava ice cream sandwich, a product developed specifically for Darlish. Other flavours on the rotating menu include tahini caramel, orange blossom and pistachio, and cinnamon and date molasses. All products are made using natural ingredients sourced from selected suppliers.

The Notting Hill branch is located opposite the Blue Door made famous by the 1999 film of the same name, while the Bloomsbury Square site adds a central London presence to the brand’s portfolio. Alongside the new openings, Darlish has launched a delivery service through Uber Eats and Deliveroo, offering its products within a 20-minute radius of each of its stores.

The business remains female-founded and independently run. Dawson has indicated that further parlours are planned, although specific locations and timelines have not yet been disclosed.

Darlish currently operates five parlours across London and the South East, with its St Albans flagship continuing to serve as the original site of the brand.

Food Desk

For further information and orders, visit Darlish’s website here.