Bitterne Park's Dora's Cups and Cones re-launches as The Songbird Ice Cream Café and Creative Space at a celebration on Saturday (Sept 26).

 

“We want it to be more of a community hub for creativity, as well as a fun place to come for ice cream, coffee and cakes,” owner Andrea Rayner told bitternepark.info.

So why 'The Songbird'?

“I like the idea of singing about good things: we're going to sing about our organic ice cream, we're going to sing about creativity, and sing about the fact that it's a fun place to come and connect with people. And I like the name!” said Andrea.

“We're going to have a programme – probably one a week – in the evening for adults to come and make things, from Christmas cards to some baking, cup cake decorating – even just some colouring in evenings for adults, because that's quite in at the moment, so people can connect with each other and make new friendships.”

And for kids, as well as existing Wednesday morning activities, new sessions are in the pipeline, such as gingerbread house making nearer Christmas

Gin and tonic sorbet

At Saturday's re-launch there will be live music at 2pm and various other attractions, from hair braiding and stick on tattoo activities for kids, to ice cream sampling with special guest flavours – including a gin and tonic sorbet!

There's also a raffle in aid of Basics Bank which runs a food bank from Bitterne Park Triangle on Wednesdays, with prizes donated by other local traders, includng cooked breakfast for two at Miss Ellies (previously Lite Bites), coffee and cake at Il Picchio, a bottle of Prosecco from the Co-op, fish and chips from Charlies, and more.

Kevin and Andrea Rayner – pictured left with original owners Victoria and Darren Metcalfe – took over Dora’s Cups & Cones in April. Dora's Cups and Cones originally opened in April 2014.

The shop was previously pet shop Alphapet.