Nothing says summer like ice cream and ice cream parlours are a welcome fixture of summer, replacing the retro, Mr Whippy wielding ice cream van. Visitors and residents of Colchester in Essex can now cool down in style with locally sourced gelato in the form of family-run Tub and Cone, which just opened in a Grade II-listed building on Crouch Street.

Decor-wise it's more sophisticated than your average pastel-hued ice-cream parlour, decked out in black and gold giving it a hint of New York glamour with industrial style seating inside and high bar stools in the window. Open until 10.30pm, it’s providing a holiday-feel to residents and passers-by.

More than just an ice cream parlour dishing locally-sourced gelato served in tubs and cones (as the name suggests), it's all-out dessert-time here as they also sell sugary puddings such as waffles, crepes and milkshakes, cakes and strawberries dipped in chocolate with vegan and gluten-free alternatives.

The grown-up decor belies some seriously kid-centric concoctions with indulgent desserts such as the Ferrero Cookie Dough featuring a lot of Ferrero Rocher (which perhaps inspired the suspended golden ball pendant ighting), and ice cream. When summer’s gone diners can warm up with the syrupy sponge puddings also on the menu.

* 91 Crouch Street, Colchester, Essex CO3 3Z.