Destinations across London and the South Coast for this Sunday’s International Ice Cream Day

The all-important International Ice Cream Day falls this Sunday, 19^th July. With the start of the school summer holidays and weather to match, London and the South Coast offer no shortage of ways to mark the occasion. The ideas gathered here are presented with range in mind: from established bakeries and neighbourhood newcomers to restaurant collaborations and limited-edition launches. Each takes a different approach, whether reworking a British classic, drawing on Portuguese pastry, or pairing Northern Chinese cooking with artisan ice cream.

Several offers are time-limited or tied specifically to Sunday, so don’t walk – run and get that frozen fix. Options span central London, Marylebone, Spitalfields and Brighton, catering to those staying in the city as well as anyone heading to the coast. 

Pastel de nata soft serve at Santa Nata, city-wide

Santa Nata, the bakery specialising in Portuguese pastel de nata, is introducing a soft serve ice cream inspired by the custard tart this July. The dessert blends custard-flavoured ice cream with vanilla soft serve, finished with pastry flakes and a dusting of cinnamon, echoing the flavours of the original pastry. It will be available at the bakery’s Battersea, Covent Garden Piazza and Oxford locations. To mark International Ice Cream Day, the chain is running a two-for-one offer on the new soft serve throughout the day.

Harry Styles-approved flavours at Sticks & Cones, Marylebone

Marylebone’s newest ice cream shop Sticks & Cones makes its scoops and lollies from scratch, avoiding artificial ingredients in favour of produce largely sourced from B Corp-certified suppliers. The gelato-style scoops run to some unusual flavours, including a Grown-Up Vanilla with tonka bean, a spirulina-tinted Blue Moon and rotating specials such as Tiramisu and a watermelon sorbet reportedly favoured by Harry Styles. The paleta-style lollies lean fruity, from straightforward Mango to Pineapple Yuzu Cardamom, and can be pre-ordered for parties. Coffee comes from Climpson & Sons, and the bright, family-friendly space seats around 20 for those settling in.

A seaside twist on the knickerbocker glory at Pearly Cow, Brighton

Pearly Cow, an independent grill restaurant on Brighton’s sea front, has added a new dessert to its summer menu. The Pearlybocker is a reworking of the knickerbocker glory, the traditional British sundae, layering vanilla and hazelnut ice cream with a mixed berry compote. It is finished with a homemade Choc au Pain cake and torched meringue. The eatery, which focuses on locally sourced meat and fish, is also running a summer offer of freshly shucked oysters with merlot vinegar shallot and lemon plus a glass of Chapel Down for £20, or a martini with beef fat chips for £16.

Ice cream Bao-wiches at Xi Home Dumplings Bay, Spitalfields

Xi Home Dumplings Bay has teamed up with local ice cream maker Darlish to introduce what they describe as London’s first ice cream “bao-wiches”, timed to hit this Sunday. The dessert pairs crispy fried bao buns with artisan ice cream, and comes in four flavours: Orange Blossom & Pistachio, Black Tahini, Rich Rice and Mango, Sticky Rice & Sake Kasu. The collaboration links two independent businesses based in the same corner of east London, blending Northern Chinese cooking with ice cream. Priced at £8 each, they are available until the end of August at the Blossom Street site.

Food Desk