VIDEO: Doggy ice cream really takes some licking at Wigan park

An ice cream parlour's bid to help our four-legged friends beat the heatwave is proving a massive tail wagging success.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Jul 2018, 11:30 BST
Updated 23rd Jul 2018, 13:27 BST
Donna Townson from Fredericks Ice Cream and regular customers Paul Wren and dog Murphy, who enjoys the ice cream especially made for dogs and, inset, Murphy enjoying his treatDonna Townson from Fredericks Ice Cream and regular customers Paul Wren and dog Murphy, who enjoys the ice cream especially made for dogs and, inset, Murphy enjoying his treat
Donna Townson from Fredericks Ice Cream and regular customers Paul Wren and dog Murphy, who enjoys the ice cream especially made for dogs and, inset, Murphy enjoying his treat

Fredericks, the famous century-plus old Lancashire gelato kings with a parlour in historic Mesnes Park, are now keeping pets as well as people happy - with Doggy Ice Cream.

The special sorbet-like concoction is made with peanut butter topped with suitable sprinkles made from crushed dog biscuits.

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And to keep noses cold and wet the treat is totally dairy free because, as vets remind dog-doters, a canine constitution can’t deal with lactose.

Donna Townson from Fredericks Ice Cream and regular customers Paul Wren and dog Murphy, who enjoys the ice cream especially made for dogs and, inset, Murphy enjoying his treatDonna Townson from Fredericks Ice Cream and regular customers Paul Wren and dog Murphy, who enjoys the ice cream especially made for dogs and, inset, Murphy enjoying his treat
Donna Townson from Fredericks Ice Cream and regular customers Paul Wren and dog Murphy, who enjoys the ice cream especially made for dogs and, inset, Murphy enjoying his treat

The treat has been such a success during the fabulous weather that Fredericks have repeatedly sold out.

Now bosses at the firm have decided to boost production and keep four legged Fredericks fans as happy as the two legged variety.

They are now even selling their product to other businesses who wish to give their pet visitors a cooling, lick-smacking treat.

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Fredericks still use the original factory in Bolton Road where they produce an amazing 200 plus varieties, including various custom one-offs for commercial tie-ins, all via the time served artisan method of making smaller batches of delicious ice cream by hand

These include Salted Caramel, Cookies and Cream, Liquorice or Bubble Gum to the original, and seemingly eternal best-seller, Luxury Vanilla.

Donna Townson, joint managing director of Fredericks and the third generation of the family to run this cherished Lancashire name, promises dog owners their faithful sweating companions won’t be disappointed if they make a repeat visit to its parlours any time soon, because empty punnets are now being replenished.

She said: “It is quite a hands on job to make it because you have to hand fill the tub and then put the biscuits in and we have got to do it when we are not making any other ice cream, so we have been struggling a bit to keep up with demand, because we have to prioritise sometimes.

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“We have been doing a few hundred tubs a week at present - and that is growing.

“We are now getting customers, particularly at Mesnes Park parlour, calling in with their dogs because of it, particularly in the gorgeous weather. We are dog friendly and have long put out bowls of water and biscuits and this seemed a logical extension and dogs and their owners seem to love it!

“Humans could try it if they want because there is nothing none-edible about it ... but we reckon dogs would prefer it really!”

Related topics:WiganLancashire