The long-awaited opening of Fablas Ice Cream's second Vale parlour will soon become a reality after almost two years since acquiring a site in Penarth.

As our sister site Penarth Nub News originally reported back in October 2020, Fablas Ice Cream will occupy South Lodge, located on the north side of Cliff Hill in the town, at the southern entrance to Windsor Gardens.

The building dates back to 1881 and was originally built as a parkkeeper's lodge. Fast forward over 140 years, the site will soon become a hot spot for ice cream treats as well as waffles, sundaes, pancakes, and Italian coffee to compliment the mouth-watering menu.

Fablas Ice Cream also offers sweet treats such as pancakes and waffles. (Image credit: Fablas Ice Cream - Lauren Evans)

Lauren Evans, 26, is the director and co-owner of Fablas Ice Cream. She runs the business with her mother, Michelle. "It's an absolutely gorgeous building and we started looking at South Lodge over two years ago in the February pre-pandemic," she told Penarth Nub News.

"I didn't even go to the first viewing as I'd just come out of an operation for a burst appendix. I was like, 'Mum, I don't want to lose this opportunity – you need to go to the viewing!'.

"So, mum [Michelle] went to the viewing and, to be quite honest with you, until the end of last year when things started to be finalised, I hadn't been inside South Lodge."

The pandemic made securing the South Lodge site a very slow process. "It's been quite long-winded," said Lauren. "I think we got the keys at some point in September last year."

Perhaps this is an unusual place to set up an ice cream parlour? It's on the edge of a residential area and a walk away from the popular Esplanade. But Lauren believes this is a clear advantage. "To some, people might think it's a bit off-the-beaten-track and maybe not a sensible business move," she said.

"But it's in such a fabulous location and, if we can make that parlour a destination place more than just a place to pop in and pick up ice cream and go off again, then I think we're on to a winner."

Lauren and her mother, Michelle, started looking at South Lodge pre-pandemic. (Image credit: Fablas Ice Cream - Lauren Evans)

The Cowbridge parlour opened in 2017 and another parlour in Porthcawl opened its doors in 2020. A site in Caerphilly is also scheduled for a summer opening this year.

Its Penarth store will allow for outdoor seating and customers can rent one of Fablas Ice Cream's blankets to take to the park for a picnic.

Penarth's dog-friendly community will also be well catered for. Lauren said: "The parlour is on a very well-known dog walking route, so we're definitely going to be friendly with our four-legged friends!"

But disabled access is a problem for the South Lodge site. Lauren and Michelle have submitted a planning application to introduce a glass box on the outside for customers with disabilities to enjoy what Fablas Ice Cream has to offer.

This is very important for Lauren and Michelle. Both Cowbridge and Porthcawl parlours offer disabled access for all customers to comfortably enter the Fablas Ice Cream. "My argument is everyone should be able to enjoy ice cream," she said.

Disabled access is important to the owners of Fablas Ice Cream and both locations in Cowbridge and Porthcawl can easily cater to disabled customers. (Image credit: Fablas Ice Cream - Lauren Evans)

"Because that building [South Lodge] is in a listed park, we can't adapt the outside of that building so we're not able to put ramps up and things like that."

She added: "A glass box on the left-hand side will not take away from the building itself and you wouldn't even notice that it was there. The reason we're doing it is purely for disabled access."

Despite plans for the parlour to open its Penarth branch in the summer, an exact date has not been set, due to several factors, with one dominating worldwide discussion. "The war in Ukraine has put a massive burden on supply chains with making our glass counters and things like that – all of our equipment comes in from Italy," said Lauren.

"We are clutching at straws at the moment, and we honestly don't know when we will open – it will just be when it will be, and we can't do any more than that."

But when the parlour does open its doors, the impact is likely to be strong. Almost two years in the making, Fablas Ice Cream is one step closer to welcoming its eager Penarth customers.