Ice cream has been a beloved sweet treat in the United Kingdom for centuries, though it did not start out as an everyday indulgence. In the early Victorian era, it was a luxury reserved for the wealthy and most often served at formal dinner parties. Made entirely by hand with costly ingredients and requiring large amounts of ice to freeze, it was not something the average household could easily manage.

That all changed in the mid nineteenth century with the rise of commercial refrigeration. Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, ice cream could be produced on a much larger scale and quickly became accessible to the general public. Street vendors began selling it from carts, turning it into a familiar sight in busy cities and towns. It also became a seaside favorite, enjoyed while strolling promenades or relaxing along the shore.

A special nod goes to Carlo Gatti, who in eighteen forty seven is credited with becoming Britain’s first ice cream manufacturer and helping turn this once elite dessert into a treat for everyone. Inspired by this delicious shift in history, meet ICE CREAM.