Whereas us Brits might solely get a couple of days of correct summer time climate a 12 months,  our love for ice cream at all times endures, come rain or shine. The standard ice cream van and its basic chimes have actually earned their place as a summertime staple in the UK, however are we witnessing them turn into frozen out?

Seventy years in the past, there have been round 20,000 UK ice cream vans to purchase your favorite iced deal with from, however regardless of their nostalgic and beloved place in our tradition, the decline of the ice cream van is changing into clearer, with numbers dwindling exponentially over the previous couple of a long time. 

For a lot of, ice cream van homeowners and shoppers alike, this will probably be unhappy information, however it begs the query: what number of ice cream vans are left within the UK?

In keeping with the Ice Cream Alliance, there have been regarded as 2,500 to five,000 vans nonetheless working within the UK within the final half-decade. Nonetheless, our information – collected from 362 councils between Might and July 2025 – paints a fair bleaker image.  

Maintain studying to search out out the inside track on simply what number of ice cream vans are left in your area and the nation as a complete. 

Ice cream vans within the UK: Nation rating

There are 1,538 ice cream vans that councils are conscious of within the UK. This contains licensed avenue commerce vans and people with permission from their native council to function in sure areas, plus any others working that they had been conscious of. 

Nonetheless, this isn’t equally divided between the 4 nations.

Variety of licensed Ice cream vans within the UK by nation

It could appear to be the presence of ice cream vans is melting away, however this isn’t essentially true in each nation, so let’s break it down additional. 

We must always notice that, if a council wasn’t in a position to specify a quantity, didn’t present avenue buying and selling licences or consent (so ice cream vans don’t want to tell them) or didn’t reply, their district was given a zero. If there isn’t a report of licensed vans in a particular space, this doesn’t essentially imply there aren’t ice cream vans working within the space, however it may possibly nonetheless give us a tough concept. 

In some circumstances, we had been referred to the general public licensing register, through which we recognized ice cream merchants by their title (if not already specified). 

England

Variety of ice cream vans counted: 1,065

On paper, England appears to be the perfect served for ice cream. It has the most important variety of vans, with over thrice the quantity Scotland has and over 10 occasions the quantity in Wales and Northern Eire. Our information ranks it lowest, although, as a result of it has the fewest vans in comparison with inhabitants measurement. 

Ice cream vans in England: Regional rating 

Every council has completely different guidelines for buying and selling in its space, and never each ice cream van proprietor must be licensed by, or have permission from, their native council. Their licence will solely be legitimate within the space that’s been permitted. Even itinerant merchants, like ice cream vans that transfer buying and selling places, need to comply with native guidelines set by the council. 

The info we collected from councils throughout the UK may be divided into our rating of areas beneath. 

Surprisingly, the perfect space for ice cream vans in England is the north, with the east and west claiming the highest two spots in our rating. The North West additionally has probably the most whole ice cream vans in comparison with another area in England and the UK, with an enormous 265 vans.

Relating to discovering a screwball or a scrumptious double cone, Higher Manchester is the place to go, main the way in which with 117 vans. That is 100 greater than the nationwide common per county space. Lancashire follows in second place with 61 vans.  

Shifting to the South, Kent is the third-best-performing county with 55 ice cream vans, however the majority of them are solely in three (Medway, Folkestone and Hythe and Swale) of the 13 districts. Three of the opposite districts really don’t give out licenses in any respect. 

It could shock you to see the nation’s capital on the backside of our listing. London solely has 58 vans in whole, with South London having 27 and West London having 22 vans. North London lets the facet down with a measly 4. London’s figures aren’t helped by the growing variety of avenue buying and selling bans being permitted throughout town, with Greenwich being the latest spot to have another ban voted for. 

Norfolk could also be identified for its shoreline, arguably the right spot for a smooth serve, however 4 out of 10 districts don’t license ice cream vans. Breckland and North Norfolk have 13 and 9 ice cream vans respectively, however King’s Lynn, which may be very near the coast, has ‘none within the borough’ in keeping with the native council. 

North Norfolk might have a smaller quantity of ice cream vans, however it does stand out due to ‘The Ice Float’, a vibrant pink boat that sells ice cream on the Norfolk Broads. 

The West Midlands has a notably disappointing turnout. In Rugby, there are not any at the moment licensed ice cream vans, and in each Birmingham and Coventry, they don’t license them in any respect. Sandwell has 37 ice cream vans, whereas Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Nuneaton and Bedworth solely have eight, seven and three vans respectively.

Wales

Variety of ice cream vans counted: 80

Naturally, as a smaller space, Wales has considerably fewer ice cream vans however extra per 1,000,000 than England. 

Ten of the 22 areas both don’t have ice cream vans recorded or don’t license them, however it isn’t all doom and gloom, as Gwynedd and Swansea have a more-than-reasonable 13 vans in every area, which is probably the most in Wales.

Wales has 600 prohibited streets or areas in whole, making it exhausting for ice cream van homeowners to pitch up within the nation. Over 300 of those are in its capital, Cardiff.

Becoming a member of Cardiff with no ice cream vans registered are Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Powys, Ceredigion, Flintshire, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.

Northern Eire

Variety of ice cream vans counted: 74

Impressively, each single area of Northern Eire has licensed ice cream vans. 

The Causeway Coast & Glens takes the lead right here with 12 vans, however Belfast Metropolis is shut behind with 11. On the different finish, Lisburn & Castlereagh Metropolis solely has one van recorded. 

In a optimistic for enterprise homeowners, practically the complete nation has not specified any prohibited streets, however there are round 180 in Ards and North Down.

Scotland

Variety of ice cream vans counted: 319

Although it isn’t identified for having seaside climate, Scotland reigns supreme with regards to the variety of ice cream vans per 1,000,000 individuals. 

North Lanarkshire pulls away from the pack with 45 ice cream vans, the very best we will see

throughout any single area in Scotland, Northern Eire and Wales. Fife has 32 and Glasgow Metropolis has 27, that are nonetheless spectacular numbers in comparison with different components of the UK.

Roughly 50 banned streets and zones exist in the entire of the nation.

Why are UK ice cream vans disappearing?

Earlier than we cease waffling, we must always tackle a attainable motive for the decline in cell candy treats. 

Firstly, many people will probably be feeling the pinch with regards to funds, and it’s no completely different for ice cream van homeowners. Though the cost of fuel has fallen after reaching a big excessive in 2022, it nonetheless poses fairly the monetary burden on these having to refuel recurrently, and the injury to cell companies might already be finished. The rising value of dwelling has additionally, after all, made shopping for elements dearer, with supermarkets and wholesale distributors having to up their costs. If these value hikes aren’t being absorbed by the merchants themselves, they’re being handed on to the patron, who could also be more and more much less inclined to simply accept them.  

Talking of supermarkets, these may be contributing to adjustments in shopper behaviour, that are then lowering the ice cream van commerce. With so some ways to purchase candy treats like ice cream, together with conveniently popping into your native store or shopping for bulk on-line, many Brits now not really feel the necessity to wait for his or her native van to drive by. 

The environmental affect of cell companies like ice cream vans additionally continues to be argued, to not point out the noise air pollution they create. They might be nostalgic, however should you’re working from dwelling or don’t need your children begging for a Mr Whippy, an ice cream van jingle close to your property might be the very last thing you wish to hear. 

These points, amongst others, have led to quite a lot of avenue buying and selling bans popping up throughout the nation. 

As we talked about above, London has made headlines with regards to native councils voting to ban buying and selling on sure streets, with round 130 areas recorded. In the event that they’re not banned, there should still be time restriction guidelines in place to make operating an ice cream van enterprise extremely powerful. This may little doubt be an enormous issue within the ice cream decline we’re seeing. 

When contacting councils, we additionally requested about particular bans or guidelines for avenue buying and selling inside every council space to approximate the variety of streets and zones the place buying and selling ice cream vans had been prohibited.

Lancashire has round 700 prohibited streets, with 200 of those being in Blackpool. Blackpool Council has recorded no licensed ice cream vans. Trafford can also be a giant contributor within the North West, with over 300 prohibited streets recorded. Unsurprisingly, it solely has three registered ice cream vans. 

The North East might rank effectively for the variety of ice cream vans, however with regards to prohibited streets, Tyne and Put on has round 500 prohibited areas, with Newcastle having 400 of those alone. 

Durham County is shut behind with roughly 350 prohibited streets.

From our findings, we will see that is changing into extra frequent. We’ve listed the highest 5 areas within the UK with probably the most prohibited and restricted areas beneath: 

These are approximate numbers primarily based on the road buying and selling coverage of native councils. These prohibited areas could also be a avenue, zone or bigger space.

Gerry Bucke, our common supervisor, stated: “Getting a cone from the native ice cream van means one thing to all of us, so these numbers are disheartening for enterprise homeowners and prospects within the UK.

“Adrian Flux takes nice delight in supporting ice cream van homeowners throughout all 4 nations, however it’s clear that this beloved custom will quickly be on the way in which out if not addressed.

‘Whereas E-vans could be an affordable answer to the continued environmental issues, preserving any type of ice cream van on our streets would require shoppers to be supportive of them.

“For those who’re fortunate sufficient to nonetheless have a neighborhood ice cream van or spot one whilst you’re out and about, should you’re in a position to, have a cone for previous time’s sake. A candy deal with and supporting a small enterprise is a win-win state of affairs.”

Ice cream van proprietor? Adrian Flux has you coated

A part of the operating prices of being a enterprise proprietor is having the suitable insurance coverage, and for these operating an ice cream enterprise from their van, Adrian Flux will help. As a specialist insurance coverage dealer, we’re in a position to supply reasonably priced ice cream van insurance the place different insurance coverage corporations can’t. 

For those who run one other form of catering enterprise out of your van, we will help you with that too, due to our catering van insurance. 
Name us for a quote on 0800 089 0203 or request a callback at a time that fits you.

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