West Kirby ice cream shop scoops another award

John 'Kipper' Hughes, co-founder of The Ice Cream Shop in West Kirby, was honoured with business man of the year Bronze Award at the Wirral Life Awards, held at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool.

The shop has had a number of awards so far this year, taking the crown for Family Business of the Year and Newcomer (Family Business) at the Business Awards UK.

John 'Kipper' Hughes co-founder of The Ice Cream Shop in West Kirby, pictured with wife Diane at the Wirral Life Awards, held at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool (Image: courtesy of John 'Kipper' Hughes)

In September, it scooped the title of UK Small Business Awards and National Family Business 2024.

It also added Food Retailer 2024 for Merseyside to its award shelf at the Small & Mighty Business Awards and E2 Media Award of Excellence 2024 Best Ice Cream Shop.

John, 59, told the Globe: "I got the business man of the year Bronze Award at the Wirral Life Awards. However, silver to many feels like they have lost, especially if they had been favoured to win gold.

"While bronze winners often think they have won by making it onto the podium ahead of the rest of the field.

"Where the silver winner feels an opportunity has been missed, the bronze medallist has seized theirs and I feel mighty proud today".

The shop on Grange Road invites customers to challenge John to make anything they wish — with some creations mouth-watering and others described as just 'plain crazy'.

John and wife Diane opened the little shop in 2019 and have developed such a reputation that people travel from far and wide to enjoy their delights.

The shop has a revolving and ever-changing range of fascinating flavours of ice creams including dog ice cream, as well as almost 40 different types of bubble tea — something that John says has also been going down a storm.

But what makes him truly unique is that he actively encourages people to challenge him to make bespoke flavours.

If he makes a flavour a customer loves, they can buy tubs of it to take home.

For businesses, John can make them a bespoke flavour that they can re-brand — giving them something interesting to offer, rather than just standard ice cream for dessert.

John continued: "It's been a fantastic year for myself and Diane, award-wise, but unfortunately last February I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

"But with the help of the Walton Centre and my neurologist, we've been able to continue our Business and we set out this year to try and be the Best ice cream shop however each day brings more challenges.

"The medication is fantastic, but some days I have difficulty walking and talking and even getting out of bed and facing the world is a struggle but setting goals is what we do, so I've dedicated the award to Diane and the Parkinson's community, who I keep telling we can still achieve great things".