Your memories of Sunderland's former favourite Notarianni's

Ice cream in pop, chocolate wafers and high-backed booths

Notarianni's. You loved it and it was the best ice cream shop around.

That's what lots of you had to say when we shared our story about the parlour which closed 35 years ago this week.

The ice cream favourite in the 1950s.placeholder image
The ice cream favourite in the 1950s. | se

Let's see what you had to say.

Susan Davison said it was the 'best ice cream I have ever had. It was a part of our holiday when we came North to visit my Mum's family years ago."

Eating a knickerbocker glory in the high-backed booths

Marie Robson got to go to Notarianni's with her Nana and Granda.

"If I’d been extra good, I’d be allowed a knickerbocker glory, or jelly and ice cream. I used to feel dead posh sitting in the high backed booths."

Notarianni's on the left as the Santa parade passes through Sunderland in October 1978.placeholder image
Notarianni's on the left as the Santa parade passes through Sunderland in October 1978. | se

Shirley McDermott loved the 'Horlicks, ice cream in pop or knickerboker glory' while Eva Callaghan said they served 'lush ice cream'.

'I can still smell the coffee'

Sandra Knowles was a fan of the hot orange and Horlicks.

Margaret Bell and her mam used to go in on a Saturday morning while Ruth Bond said: "I can still smell the coffee and they had lovely chocolate wafers on the ice-cream sandwich." Then there's those of you who remembered working there.

Waitresses waiting to serve at Notarianni's.placeholder image
Waitresses waiting to serve at Notarianni's. | other 3rd party

They included Pat Walton who loved it because it was her 'first part-time job'.

A lovely family to work for

And Christine Cowell remembered the good days of the Saturday job.

Over to Maureen Owens who said her mam loved working there and the Notarianni's were a 'lovely family'. Notarianni’s ice cream parlour in High Street West closed for the final time on October 24, 1988 and memories of it were first shared with us by Philip Curtis of Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

Toys, novelties, ice creams. Notarianni's did it all.placeholder image
Toys, novelties, ice creams. Notarianni's did it all. | se

He told us: "No more would Wearsiders occupy the Palm Court and Café Royale of Sunderland and enjoy boat-shaped dishes of ice cream on marble tables.

The place where history comes alive

No more would a visit to High Street West be so looked forward to by children eagerly anticipating a knickerbocker glory or ice cream served with monkey’s blood – and served by waitresses!"

Thanks to Philip and the Antiquarian Society for such wonderful memories .

Find out more about the society by getting along to its Heritage Centre which is open in Douro Terrace on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 12pm.

You can also visit the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website which is at http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org

And to apply to become a member, email [email protected]

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