Verdict: Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium is my favourite ice cream shop in Kent. They rival any of the ice cream shops I’ve tried in London with their ever changing and imaginative flavours, meaning you’ll want to come back again and again just to see what they’ve come up with next.
A trip to the seaside isn’t complete without an ice cream. While Whitstable has a few places where you can get a cone or tub from, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium can be considered the best, not just in Whitstable, but all of Kent. It’s easy to see why there have won Taste of Kent awards.
What sets them apart are the combinations of flavours on offer. It reminds me of Udderlicious in London. Some of them are wacky and ‘out-there’ (I’m looking at you, potato), but generally the flavours combine well. Recipes are developed in house by Phil Harrison , former head chef of The prestigious Anglesea Arms. Does it feel like some of the combinations have been chosen by spinning a wheel with various ingredients to get the combinations? Maybe. Here are some of the combinations they’ve had in the past:
- Milk Chocolate, Hazelnut & Raspberry Jam
- Matcha Sponge & BlackBerry Jam
- Malted Pistachio Croissant
- Blueberry/ Lavender Jam Meringue Swirl
- Cinnamon Sponge, Apple Jazz with Crème Cheese Frosting
- Miso, Banana and Butterscotch Pudding
You can even create your own mix; choose three ingredients which they will mix up. Who needs McFlurries?
But don’t worry, if you’re like me and you get overwhelmed when there’s too much choice and you can’t narrow it down to your top five, Bears have a shortlist of fan favourites named Signature Cones like this brownie, dark chocolate and popcorn taste sensation.
There are also plant based flavours on offer so no one has to miss out.
And for the kids, they can have a Little Bear cone.
They also offer celebration ice cream cakes. Yes please.
And in the winter when it might be a little too cold to have ice cream, there’s always hot chocolate.
How To Get To Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium in Whitstable
The shop is located on Whitstable High Street, a short 5 min walk from the seafront – 81 High St, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1AY
Warning, if it’s an incredibly sunny day, you may not make it to the beach (I’m talking from experience, all the napkins in the world couldn’t have saved me). In this case, I would recommend having your ice cream in the shop (there are four chairs and two tables) or on the bench outside of the shop.
The nearest parking areas are Gladstone Road car park or Middle Wall car park. Although, if you want to make a day of it in Whitstable, what I do is park for free in Tankerton, then walk 20 minutes along the seafront (which has gorgeous views) to get to Whitstable.
Bears also have a shop in Brook Green Pavilion near Hammersmith, West London – The Pavilion, Brook Green, London, W6 7BL.
https://www.bearsicecream.co.uk
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