A FAMILY-RUN farm in Scotland – who recently produced a Boston Cream Pie Gelato in honour of the US city – has been named the the best ice cream parlour in the UK and Ireland.
The Ice Cream Alliance, the only trade association for the ice cream industry, recently announced the winner of Parlour of the Year 2026 as Forest Farms in Aberdeen.
The Aberdeenshire farm was bought by couple Anthony and Anne Wills in 1989, before establishing it as Scotland's first organic dairy farm in 1998.
Originally, the farms’ only product was their milk, inventing the UK’s first milk vending machine in 2017. However, their business model would go on to change after buying their first specialist ice-cream machine in 2019.
The farm is now operated by Anne and her sons, with a team of over 30 staff.
They opened their gelateria and gardens in 2021 after lockdown restrictions were lifted, fitted out with their own outdoor glass domes. The farm looks after a herd of 150 Friesian and Jersey cows which provide the "key ingredient".
The farm also provided their local area of Kinellar with free milk deliveries when shops faced shortages due to snow storms earlier this year.
Commenting on their award, Forest Farms said: “It’s an absolute honour to win Parlour of the Year! A lot of amazing ice cream parlours have won in the past and we’re excited to be counted among the best in the country.
“We plan to keep making our gelato to the high standard we’ve set for ourselves, while still innovating on our recipes. This award is just the beginning for us!”
The farm pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions earlier this year, and provide the cattle the utmost opportunity to graze outdoors.
Catherine McNeil, director of operations of Ice Cream Alliance, said: “Forest Farm absolutely deserves this.
"A glowing standard for ice cream in Scotland, Forest Farm’s heritage of excellence shines through their amazing organic ice cream.”
