Visiting Bond’s Ice Cream on a hot sunny day has been a firm family tradition in our household for as long as I can remember. Driving out into what just seemed like open farmland as a child headed toward the biggest tallest aerials I had ever seen (Inskip, it’s a secret navy base shhh – at least that’s what Dad would say).
The Boot and Shoe was another family favourite but more likely because we knew Cathy and Denny who were the Landlords at the time. But tucked away just past the Boot and Shoe was somewhere I was very familiar with. Bond’s Ice Creams.
It’s as well known to locals as Nottrianis is to tourists. But sadly the well known and loved Ice cream is no longer manufactured. Martin Molloy took over the family business in 1993 but had been working there for his family since the age of 14. At the age of 68 he was keen to see the business sold as a going concern in order to continue the Ice Cream Brand.
The business was sold to Preston entrepreneur Simon Rigby and in 2020 he sought to renew an older planning application to build homes on the site but maintained that he wished to see the Ice Cream brand continue on the site. Mr Rigby sadly died unexpectedly at the age of 58 on the 26th of August 2020.
Now in 2021 the Ice cream manufacturing has sadly ceased. In a new post seen on Facebook just yesterday the daughter of the new tenant explained that more work is required to get the ice cream manufacturing back up and running but in the mean time the site will be selling English Lakes Ice Cream.
Although it’s not the traditional bond’s experience I will remember from my childhood – I’m confident that making memories with my own children now at this familiar and friendly countryside retreat will be as pleasant and magical as it was back in the 80s and 90s.
If you want to find out more about the Ice cream parlour at Elswick – Visit the FB page here.
