It’s the first service of its kind anywhere in the world
Treats get delivered to your car at The ice Cream Drive In(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Kids don’t need a sunny day to enjoy ice cream, nor do most adults for that matter, but there’s one place not too far from Manchester where it really doesn’t matter what the weather’s like.
The Ice Cream Farm is an attraction on its own, with play areas, mini golf, a racing track, not to mention the UK’s biggest ice cream parlour. But sitting alongside it is the Ice Cream Drive In, the first service of its kind anywhere in the world.
Based in the village of Tattenhall, in Cheshire, drivers and cyclists can pull over by the lake, choose and pay for their order on their phone, then have their Cheshire Farm Ice Cream delivered to them via golf buggy – avoiding the entry fee of the farm itself.
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When the weather’s nice enough, you can sit on one of the deck chairs by the lake(Image: The Ice Cream Drive In)
If the weather’s dry, you can take a seat on one of the comfy deck chairs, but as it was typically raining during our Easter holiday visit, we decided to stay in the comfort of the car.
We were driving through the area anyway, so hadn’t made a special trip from Manchester, but there are worse ideas than a little road trip for some award-winning ice cream.
With more than 50 flavours to choose from, the hardest part is deciding what to have. The menu includes everything from rhubarb & custard and bubblegum, to chocolate ripple cookie dough, pistachio and sticky toffee pudding.
You can pick from various sauces and toppings too – such as sprinkles and fudge sticks – and it’s not just ice creams on offer, but milkshakes and hot desserts including pancakes and waffles.
There are more than 50 flavours of ice cream to choose from(Image: The Ice Cream Drive In)
It was the milkshakes we were keen to try and the flavours, including a rather delicious Biscoff with matching sauce, did not disappoint.
We didn’t have our dog with us, but even the pooches can get in on the action with some pet-friendly ice cream on the menu.
It’s a great place to have a pit stop on a trip from Manchester. Dogs – as well as humans – can stretch their legs, as long as they’re kept on a lead, and there are toilets next to the drive in for a loo break too.
You can take your time and it’s a nice lakeside spot to chill out for a bit, with a little animal viewing area to keep the little ones entertained.
A golf buggy delivers the treats to your car(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
It’s not far from other attractions, including The Crocky Trail and Beeston Castle so lots of families stop off here after visiting other places in the area.
You don’t need to travel by car though. If you live or happen to be staying in the area, you can walk in on foot, or by bike, and there’s a picnic area you can sit at.
The whole concept of the drive in is to provide a relaxed, hassle-free experience where visitors can enjoy their favourite treats away from the hustle and bustle, all without paying an entry fee.
Visitors can relax on the deck chairs by the lake(Image: The Ice Cream Drive In)
“The Ice Cream Drive In is perfect for a low cost treat during the summer holidays,” said owner and CEO Jonathan Fell. “It’s free to enter, there are farm animals to spot, and on sunny days you can recline by the lake under a sun shade, surrounded by wildflowers and with the sound of the fountain in the background.”
Ice creams cost from £3.95, milkshakes from £6.75, hot desserts from £6 and sundaes from £7. The drive in is open daily from 12pm to 5pm. Visit the website for more details.