Ice cream sellers in Warwickshire say why they’re not hoping for a hot summer

Popular ice cream vendors who have had their licenses renewed for another year of ‘bringing joy’ to visitors to Warwickshire’s country parks say they are not hoping for a long hot summer. It’s been a rainy and cloudy summer so far, but operators say the hot temperatures are actually bad for business.

This year, Warwickshire Property Management Ltd (WPM), on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, completed four new ice cream van licenses across the county. Alan Sullivan, who operates at Burton Dassett Hills Country Park, and David Smith, who operates The Ice Cream Center at Ryton Pools Country Park, are two of the operators who have had their licenses renewed for a year.

It means the friendly faces will continue to operate in Warwickshire’s country parks for another year – many of them occupying the same places for more than a decade. Many ice cream van operators are family businesses.

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Alan Sullivan’s father, now 86, previously ran his business and Alan, 64, started supporting him at the age of eight. He has now operated at Burton Dassett for more than 20 years.

Alan said: “It’s a great business to be in and a friendly one. Over the years I have met a lot of people who work in the park and also visitors. We try to keep prices reasonable to maintain that customer base. Not much has changed over the years, people skills are still the backbone of driving an ice cream van.

“We’re crossing our fingers for a good summer, but believe it or not, you don’t want it to be hot because that’s not good for sales. It’s been a mixed start with the weather, but my philosophy is that it always balances out throughout the year.”

David Smith, managing director of The Ice Cream Centre, has been operating at Ryton Pools for 13 years and has renewed his license for another year. His van can be found near The Foothills play area.

David’s obsession with ice cream began in 1975 when he was seven years old.

David said: “I was one of those kids who went to the ice cream van every day, even though I couldn’t buy it I was fascinated by all things ice cream.

“In all our vans we have a pride before profit approach. We have a policy that all our vehicles are no more than two years old and have low or zero emissions. This has resulted in us investing £178,000 in new vans this year.

“We’re hoping for a dry, hot summer and the ideal temperature is 21 to 23 degrees, anything above that and sales start to drop dramatically. It’s hard work. We work 20 hours a day, seven days a week, for eight months a year.

“But I love working at Ryton Pools. It is a wonderful place, the seasons bring new colors and new species. I have great relationships with my regular customers and we are proud to be based in the park.”

WPM is part of Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), which manages lettings on hundreds of properties owned by Warwickshire County Council.

Mandeep Padan, Asset Manager at WPM, said: “We have some incredible country parks in Warwickshire and there’s nothing better than enjoying an ice cream on a summer’s afternoon. We are delighted to have been able to extend licenses to ice cream operators across the county such as David and Alan.”

Cllr Heather Timms, portfolio holder for environment, climate and culture at Warwickshire County Council, added: “Supporting our ice cream vans goes beyond enjoying a delicious treat; it’s also about fostering community spirit and supporting local businesses that bring joy to Warwickshire residents and visitors.

“We are excited to see these family-centered, ethically-minded operations continue to thrive and contribute to the vibrant atmosphere of our parks. Businesses like these play a vital role in making Warwickshire’s Country Parks places that can be enjoyed and supported by all, now and for generations to come.”

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