Riley Ice Cream parlour opens

Following my recent posting about the frozen fate of the Prospero's premises, The Journal ran the following story yesterday about the new ice cream shop with Soho in its sights. You won't be surprised to hear that prices are running a shade above the cost of a tub a Waitrose's best Vanilla:

Picture from Harringayonline

An ice cream parlour has opened for business on the site of one of Crouch End’s oldest bookshops for the first time today (Friday, June 3).

After months of expectation the former Prospero’s bookshop in The Broadway has finally been transformed into Riley ice cream parlour.

The business is named after owner Will Riley - who along with partner Shaun Wilson announced his plans for an Italian-inspired cafe selling authentic ice cream in March.

Glorious sunshine ensured a flurry of interest from curious customers today.

Mr Riley, an ex-banker who lives in Islington, said: “We opened at 12noon and it’s been very, very busy. It’s been unbelievable.

“We open just for ice cream until Monday (June 6) and then it’s full service.”

Prospero’s Books closed on Christmas Eve last year after more than a decade in Crouch End when owner Ivan Beal announced his retirement.

A coffee-shop and two bookshops were also in negotiations for the lease but the ice cream parlour won out.

It will sell home-made ice cream and the proprietors hope to echo the popularity of long-standing ice cream restaurant Marine Ices in Chalk Farm, Camden.

Mr Riley told the Journal in March: “The concept is to provide quality ice cream, food, coffees and teas, like you would get in Soho.”

A whole variety of ice cream flavours will be made freshly on the premises.