Marine Ices

In 1931 Italian émigré Gaetano Mansi opened a sorbet parlour (Mansi's Cafe) at 8 Haverstock Hill in Chalk Farm. 16 years later his eldest son rebuilt it and renamed it Marine Ices, which was then run by family members with great success (with pizza and other Italian dishes also on offer) until 2012, when they sold it to restaurant group Ponti's. In 2014, with the building under threat, Ponti's employees took the frozen dessert side of the business to an adorable hole in the wall just 300 yards away, at 61 Chalk Farm Rd, where it now thrives and where the quality of ice cream and sorbet remains worth going out of one's way for. Perfect as a referesher during an afternoon exploring the Regent's Canal, Primrose Hill/Chalk Farm, Hampstead or Camden Town. For the record, this is not a gelato establishment despite the use of the word in certain signage. Tube station: Chalk Farm.