The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch, a review.

A Quick Overview

Cuisine: Ice Cream

Price: ££

Location: 11 Pont Street, London, SW1X 9EH

Food: Original, weird, luxurious and expensive

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The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch

Visited: 10/06/2024

Returning for its third year, the much-loved summer concept store, The Ice Cream Project has arrived in London. With sleek silver freezers packed full of ice cream with a twist, an array of unexpectedly delightful ice creams and sorbets that pay homage to Anya Hindmarch's love for cult food brands like Branston Piccalilli.

Anya Hindmarch's whimsical collaborations have long graced her fashion lines, with accessories echoing the charm of cereal boxes to Heinz ketchup keychains. This love has now made the leap into ice cream and each year people queue to try the new flavours. Which this year includes the likes of soy sauce, Jaffa cakes, orange juice, and even baked beans infused ice cream.

The standout, however, is the Filippo Berio pesto ice cream – an unexpected fusion of sweet and herbaceous that captivates the taste buds. It shouldn't work but it does, the pesto isn't hidden it is highlighted and complimented. It is a weird sensation that takes some getting used to but is honestly really good. The ice cream's texture is as sumptuous as one would expect – silky, creamy, and utterly indulgent. For those less adventurous, the Birds custard and Sun-Pat peanut butter offer a safer experience. Yet, with a single scoop priced at £4.50 and a 500ml tub at £16, indulgence comes at a premium, particularly when compared to other luxury brands found in the freezer such as Ben and Jerrys.

The Ice Cream Project is unlikely to be more than a one-off or once a year experience, it's a novelty and even Anya understands this as it is a pop-up store. The Ice Cream Project is a place to try flavours like pesto and soy sauce that you wouldn't find anywhere else and have them actually taste good (bar the baked beans - for me that was a miss) and that along with a dash of hype is what you are paying for. Am I going to be a regular - no, is anyone? Unlikely. But try a scoop of something crazy as a one-off, why not? You may be surprised.

For those near West London, The Ice Cream Project awaits to challenge and delight your dessert expectations.

7/10