Much more than just one Cornetto at Islington Wharf ice cream festival
Gelato in July, 9 July 2011, 12 – 4pm
Islington Wharf, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester
Free
Islington Wharf, Ancoats will be celebrating its heritage as the centre of Manchester’s Italian ice cream community with a second annual Gelato in July ice cream festival on Saturday 9 July 2011. ISIS Waterside Regeneration, developers of Islington Wharf, will host the day complete with Italian food stalls, ice cream vans, traditional Italian music and a historical slide show and talk on the area following a successful event in its inaugural year.
Ice cream is of course the main focus of the day, with several different ice cream vans on site – each offering their own cool treats. This includes traditional soft ice cream made by one of Manchester’s original ice cream families, the Reas.
Tony Rea, local historian who grew up in Ancoats, commented “Since the mid 19th century Manchester has had strong Italian connections. For nearly a century we made Ancoats into a ‘little Italy’, pioneering the modern day British ice cream industry, making and selling ice cream, establishing businesses, importing food stuffs from Italy and making the area home. However, by the mid 20th century the area was in disrepair; most of the original community had moved on and because of the decline in manufacturing at the time, industrial areas such as Ancoats were abandoned. Islington Wharf is bringing new life into the area and it’s wonderful that we can celebrate the past and play a small part in its future through this delicious festival.”
Also on hand for ice cream enthusiasts will be a lovingly restored classic Bedford CF van – Sunset Ices from Morecambe and Manchester’s own ice cream van for a more sophisticated palate – Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, bringing the treat bang up to date with innovative and tasty flavours such as the Sicilian inspired Lemon, Limoncello and Treacle Tart or refreshingly comforting Summer Fruit Crumble.
Hollie Reynolds, senior sales and marketing manager at ISIS added “Gelato in July is a fun way for us to remind ourselves about the heritage of Ancoats. This second event will be bigger and better than our debut festival last year and I hope everyone can join us to sample the best ice cream on offer at our award winning development, praised for its attractive public areas which are helping to bring back the waterfront to colourful life.”
For up to date details on the day’s events please visit www.islingtonwharf.co.uk or follow the festival on twitter @gelatoinjuly
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