Home   Spalding   News   Article

Subscribe Now

South Holland ice cream shops give us the scoop on mid-heatwave business




By Michaela Roper

We toured the Spalding town centre to discuss the success of ice cream and dessert parlours amid an extreme heatwave that has been targeting the UK this week. Despite the Amber Weather Warning from the Met Office yesterday (Monday), South Holland locals have braved the heat and headed out to seek a much-needed chill (mostly in the form of a 99 cone).

On Red Lion Street, business for Marco's Ice Cream and Coffee Bar is booming, according to owner Elaine Robinson.

Owner Elaine Robinson is pictured outside Marco's with a regular
Owner Elaine Robinson is pictured outside Marco's with a regular

Trading since 1990, she acquired the shop in 2002 from previous owner Mario Fragale, who sadly passed in early 2020. Since then, she has taken the reigns at Marco's and has been serving local youngsters for over 20 years, describing her sales often as "impulse buys" that are assisted by the vintage Italian feel of the parlour, placed in the heart of the town centre and in an ideal spot passing place for those craving an ice cream cone.

The heat has certainly driven her sales even further.

She told the Spalding Guardian that particularly "for a Monday" that she had seen an increase in sales since opening, and that she hoped the hot weather continues into the weekend as it "naturally attracts more business" to her shop.

Emily Bingham in WaffleOppolis
Emily Bingham in WaffleOppolis

Passers-by have been cooling down at Marco's all day, with Robinson describing her "medium vanilla and chocolate mix cone" as her bestseller of the summer so far. Her enthusiasm for the business shone as much as the sun at the beginning of this week, with no doubts that sales will rocket as the temperatures soar across Spalding in the coming days.

There was a similar warm reception for the weather at dessert house WaffleOppolis. After a successful stint during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in early June, in which the home of the signature 'bubble waffle' hosted a range of red, white, and blue sweet specials to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne, business has continued booming at the takeaway treat spot.

"Don't jinx it" joked employee Matthew as he discussed the benefits of the warm weather to their trading - he described their top hits so far this week as ice cream and crepes, and how they "even had to ask their owners to order in some more cones" in preparation for the upcoming weekend heatwave.

In order to attract more Spalding sightseers, starting from this Friday, WaffleOppolis are hosting an array of Hawaiian themed special ice cream sundaes and loaded waffles over the weekend in celebration of the summer forecast.

Emily Bingham, another worker at the dessert parlour, praised the weather for bringing out customers. Although there may be an increase in passers-by searching for milkshake concoctions and even waffles on a stick, loaded with sweet toppings, the heat has not deterred their regulars from enjoying treats at the store.

"We have a range of people coming in" they both agreed, mainly "school kids during the week and families at the weekends." said Emily.

After only opening in January of this year, WaffleOppolis will be welcoming a boost in business over the summer. Their branches in Downham Market, Kings Lynn, and Fakenham will be sure to share the same success, in the hopes that the weather continues into next week to provide encouragement for those with a sweet tooth in South Holland to visit the Spalding spot to indulge in their signature sweet treats.

Not too far from the summer heat in Spalding is Laddies Ices of Holbeach, the award winning ice cream parlour situated on Church Street, which is open for business from 7am every weekday this week and 8am at the weekend, and will have its doors open for locals searching for a cool treat in the town.

- Share with us your pictures and go-to tips of how you're coping with the warm weather this week (and even snap a photo of your waffles or a cone with a flake if you visit one of Spalding's much loved ice cream parlours over the weekend).



Comments | 0
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More