Ice-cream wars could be set to break out in Hampstead with the opening of a third gelato shop in the village.
The hoardings are up and the builders are fitting out a new Amorino Gelato Al Naturale in the High Street - opposite luxury chocolate and gelato brand Venchi, and around the corner from the well loved Oddono's Gelati in Flask Walk.
According to their website, the newcomers already have stores in Camden Town, Covent Garden, and Notting Hill, and specialise in creating a rose shaped ice-cream in the cone with a spatula, and popping a macaron on top.
The brand started in Paris in 2022 when childhood friends and co-founders Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi opened their first store on the Ile St Louis. They now have 200 gelato parlours worldwide.
Their gelato is free of preservatives, artificial flavours and flavour enhancers and features flavours such as white chocolate and blueberry, tiramisu, pistachio, lemon and hazlenut chocolate.
Amorino, which replaces an 02 phone shop, is one of three retailers preparing to open in Hampstead High Street.
French menswear brand Balibaris has put up hoardings around the former LK Bennett store at 17 Hampstead High Street, and fashion jewellery brand APM Monaco which also has stores in Covent Garden and Westfield, is also opening soon.
Balibaris is renowned for casual chic contemporary clothing including sweatshirts and T-shirts bearing the slogan 'le charme Francais' and according to their website they also have branches in Covent Garden, Chelsea and Marylebone.
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