A NEW ice-cream parlour has finally opened its doors in Bournemouth.

Gallone’s ice cream parlour officially opened at the former Jessop’s store in Gervis Place last Saturday.

The Northampton-based company now has outlets in Bedford, Leamington Spa and Market Harborough and the new parlour in Bournemouth is the next stage of the expansion process.

The popular ice cream parlour is renowned for its unusual flavours but there are also many of the more familiar ones on offer as well.

And so far it has received plenty of praise from its new customers including Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns.

Mr Burns attended a special preview on Friday, August 4, before the official opening on Saturday.

He described the parlour a positive addition to the town and was quick to praise Bournemouth locals Rob and Liz Marsden who will be running the business.

“I think Gallone’s can become an important part of the community. It’s refreshing to see a company try to embrace Bournemouth and put community on par with profit," added Mr Burns.

“For years we’ve walked past this shop and seen it boarded up and empty. Now we see a bright hospitable area and it’s clear there’s been a real effort to embrace Bournemouth."

With 32 flavours on offer at any one time as well as waffles, pancakes, milkshakes and smoothies, customers will certainly be spoilt for choice.

But Rob and Liz also plan on making it a real community asset - with hopes that WI and mummy and toddler groups will use the venue.

Customers will also be able to buy tubs of ice cream to take away and will also have the chance to make their own flavours in the party room.

Gallone’s, who have been manufacturing ice cream since 1895, recently opened a concession next to Madame Tussauds in central London, but Bournemouth will be its first coastal site.

Managing director Catherine Gallone said: “We’re hugely excited by the challenge of opening our first parlour in a coastal town.

"Rob and Liz will make excellent franchisees, their sense of community is very clear and I think it will only be of benefit to Bournemouth.

“At Gallone’s we’re passionate about our ice cream just like many Bournemouth locals and tourists who come to the area, so we welcome ideas for creating sundaes and maybe even new flavours.”

So far the Bournemouth team have plans for a Cherries sundae and during the air festival weekend there will also be a Spitfire sundae on offer.