A sweet partnership between Gulliver’s Kingdom and a neighbouring dairy farm will see legendary local ice cream served to guests at the theme park resort.
Gulliver’s Kingdom, in Matlock Bath, has reached an agreement to sell Matlock Meadows ice cream at its hotel restaurant.
Matlock Meadows is based on the working dairy farm Masson Farm – a stone’s throw from Gulliver’s Kingdom – which has been in the Dakin family since the 1930’s.
After being inspired on a trip to Lake Garda, Italy, 12 years ago, the family began producing their famously-delicious artisan Italian-style gelato.
Following a “cow to cone” philosophy, Matlock Meadows’ ice cream is made onsite with the finest ingredients, including quality “farm assured” milk from their own dairy herd.
The farm supplies ice cream to restaurants, cafés and tourist attractions across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. It has an ice cream parlour and coffee shop open Fridays 11am to 4.30pm (during termtime) for an end of week treat.
The partnership came about after Hannah Marsden, resort manager at Gulliver’s Kingdom, reconnected with Josh Dakin, who runs Matlock Meadows with his parents and brother. Hannah and Josh both grew up in Matlock and attended All Saints Primary School and Highfields (secondary) School.
Hannah, 34, who started as a ride operator with Gulliver’s in 2009 and has worked her way up to resort manager, said: “I visited the farm to have a chat with Josh and he gave me a full tour along with some samples to take away. I was hooked. It really is the best ice cream in town!
“It’s extremely important for local businesses to support one another and ice cream and theme parks fit perfectly together, particularly as we are both family businesses founded in this area. We’re thrilled to have Matlock Meadows ice cream at Gulliver’s Kingdom and we’re sure our guests will be too.”
Josh, 32, said: “I’m really proud to supply local places and Gulliver’s Kingdom is right on our doorstep. From where the cows graze at the top of our hill, Gulliver’s Kingdom is literally over the other side. The ice cream guests will be eating is made less than a mile away.
“It’s fantastic for me to have Matlock Meadows ice cream at Gulliver’s Kingdom and great for them to offer guests a truly local product.
“The main reason for making ice cream was to make some money out of milk and keep the farm going. We’ve had some really hard times but it’s at the point now where the ice cream is paying the wages on the farm and some of the bills and every year we’re expanding. My little lad’s eight and he’s already decided he’s going to make ice cream!”
