Written by Gabrielle Wilkinson
From shared laughter over sundaes to stolen glances across banana splits, John’s ice cream parlour in Wingate was a popular haven for young couples in the 1950s.
In classic 21st century fashion, the parlour has found a new life at the award-winning Beamish Open Air and Living Museum in Northeast England. Using original elements from the café, the replica building invites visitors to travel back in time with rock and roll classics whilst enjoying traditional ice cream and treats.
The building of a legacy
The café was originally owned by Giovanni Baptista Parisella, affectionately known as ‘John’ in his constituency. After release from service in a battalion in Scotland, John worked at a fish and chip shop with his father before a short-term residency in Alnwick led him to the purchase of what would become an integral component of the local Wingate community.
A sprinkle of magic
John’s Italian descent offered a unique sweet treat that dripped with authenticity, and it was not long till the parlour became a well-known staple for socialisation with café crooners.
His cross-generation legacy finds itself weaving into many families’ stories. Descendants of the café crooners sit in the replica booth with a hot chocolate in their hand and fascination in their eyes, wondering what types of conversations must have occurred between lovers sharing a milkshake. Perhaps a disagreement over what to put on the jukebox or a shared adornment of a slice of chocolate cake topped off with a sprinkle of magic.
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