‘The time has come’ - popular ice cream parlour closes

One of the best-rated dessert shops in Bristol has closed - resulting in another blow for Wapping Wharf. Oliver’s Ice Cream shut its doors at Cargo 2, behind the M-Shed, for the final time on December 18.

Its owners Fran and David announced the permanent closure on Facebook. “The time has come for us to face semi-retirement and close the business,” they said in the statement.

The pair launched the business at Farrington Guerney in Somerset after a trip to Germany inspired them to make ice cream. Five years ago they moved to Wapping Wharf.

However, in recent months footfall appears to have gone down in the area, mainly due to the closure of the Gaol Ferry Bridge. In October, Bristol World spoke to Fran Oliver for a feature on the situation facing retailers there.

She told us that regulars from south Bristol were ‘coming less often’ due to the extra distance they had to walk. However, she did say the businesses was still seeing tourists and people from other parts of the city.

The couple’s full statement on Facebook read: “We will miss all our customers - many of whom have become friends - and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time at Cargo.

“We will continue to sell chocolate goods and maybe ice cream cakes made to order (online), so if you are looking for either you can contact us via our website (oliversicecream.co.uk).”

The ice cream parlour was rated four-and-a-half star on TripAdvisor from 50 reviews, making it the ninth best-rated dessert shop in Bristol.