Hexham has welcomed a new ice cream parlour, Four Beaumont, which has already garnered significant public support since its opening on July 19. The parlour, situated opposite Hexham Abbey and just a few doors away from the owner’s existing business, Marketplace Coffee, has quickly become a favorite among tourists and residents.
Claire Harijan, the owner of both Marketplace Coffee and Four Beaumont, expressed her excitement about the new venture. “Ice cream is so fun and it’s the ultimate happy food. Having children, I wanted a business that was family-friendly and that they could be part of. It must be every child’s dream for their mum to own an ice cream shop,” she said.
The parlour offers a variety of ice cream flavours, including espresso, cookies and cream, strawberry, Madagascan vanilla bean, Sicilian lemon swirl, and raspberry and sorrel sorbet. Vegan options are also available, such as rhubarb and raspberry, and caramelised biscuit, using an oat base for those who are lactose intolerant.
Claire has partnered with two ice cream suppliers, Northern Bloc from Leeds and Wooler-based Doddington Dairy, both of which use only natural ingredients in their products.
Customers have occasionally queued outside, indicating the parlour’s immediate popularity. The ice cream parlour also offers high-quality filtered coffee from County Durham-based Fika Coffee Roasters, a frequent request from customers at Marketplace Coffee.
Claire shared her vision for the business, stating, “In the coffee shop, we get asked for filtered coffee. Although we do an Americano, people say they love filtered coffee. Now when people ask if they can get filtered coffee, the staff can just say, ‘go a few doors up.'”
For the summer holidays, Four Beaumont will generally be open from 11am to 6pm. Claire is still deciding on definite opening times for the future.
Claire praised the supportive Hexham community, highlighting its love for independent shops. She shared her recommendations for ice cream, noting her personal favorite as vanilla. “When I look for an ice cream, it’s important the ingredients are all natural, the sugar needs to be balanced and you need to be able to taste the flavor of the ice cream over the sugar. I think all of them are really nice.”
Four Beaumont promises a delightful and family-friendly addition to Hexham, offering high-quality, naturally-made ice creams and a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and visitors.
