Best Ice Cream in Jesmond
Mark Toney, Di Meo's, and the Jesmond Ice Cream Company trike -- where to find the best ice cream in and around Jesmond.
Jesmond doesn't have its own dedicated ice cream parlour on the high street, but the options within easy reach are genuinely excellent. A 130-year-old Italian institution, award-winning riverside gelato, and a charming trike serving farm ice cream at the local market -- here are the best places for ice cream in and around Jesmond.
Mark Toney
Newcastle has been eating Mark Toney ice cream since 1892. Run by the Marcantonio family for over 130 years, this is the city's most iconic ice cream maker, with two parlours in the city centre -- 53 Grainger Street and 91 Percy Street (opposite Haymarket).
The ice cream is made to Italian family recipes and is genuinely excellent. The Grainger Street shop has the full cafe experience: sundaes, banana splits, knickerbocker glories, and hot meals alongside the ice cream counter. Percy Street is more of a quick-stop cone shop, ideal for a scoop before catching the Metro home to Jesmond.
Mark Toney is one of those rare places where the reputation is entirely deserved. If you've lived in Jesmond for years and never been, correct that immediately.
Best for: A Newcastle institution since 1892 -- worth the trip into town for proper Italian-heritage ice cream.
Di Meo's
Di Meo's is another Italian-heritage ice cream family, making gelato to a recipe dating back to 1925. Their Ouseburn parlour at Riverside Walk is the most scenic spot to eat ice cream in Newcastle -- sit on the terrace overlooking the Tyne with a cone of their pistachio or salted caramel.
The flavour range includes classic Italian gelato alongside more playful options like Battenberg and honeycomb. There's a good vegan and dairy-free selection too. Di Meo's also has parlours in Whitley Bay and North Shields, so coastal day trips come with a built-in gelato stop.
From Jesmond, the Ouseburn is about a 10-minute walk downhill -- a pleasant stroll through the Dene or along the valley trail. It pairs well with a visit to the Biscuit Factory or Ouseburn Farm.
Best for: Award-winning gelato in a beautiful riverside setting -- the best gelato within walking distance of Jesmond.
The Jesmond Ice Cream Company
You'll spot The Jesmond Ice Cream Company trike before you taste the ice cream -- a traditional British-made tricycle that pops up at Jesmond Food Market on Armstrong Bridge (first and third Saturdays) and at events around the neighbourhood.
They serve Doddington's ice cream, made at a farm in Wooler using natural ingredients with no additives or artificial colourings. The flavours are simpler than the Italian parlours but the quality is outstanding -- proper farm ice cream in a waffle cone, eaten in the park. They also sell home-baked cakes and can be hired for weddings and parties.
Keep an eye on their social media for pop-up locations -- when the sun's out, the trike appears.
Best for: Natural farm ice cream from a charming trike -- catch them at Jesmond Food Market on Armstrong Bridge.
Quick comparison
| | Style | Location | Vegan | Price | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mark Toney | Traditional Italian | City centre (Grainger St / Percy St) | Limited | £ | | Di Meo's | Gelato bar | Ouseburn riverside | Yes | ££ | | JICC Trike | Farm ice cream | Markets & pop-ups | No | £ |
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