New dessert shop offering flower-shaped gelato cones set to open in Henley

A new dessert shop offering flower-shaped gelato cones is set to open its doors in central Henley.

Gelato brand Amorino has a chain of boutiques across the world and local franchisees Kim and Peter Sandstrom are bringing its Italian gelato flavours to Henley in the coming weeks, following the success of their stores in Marlow and Windsor.

The husband-and-wife duo’s venture into the world of gelato started in COVID when they came across an Amorino shop in London.

“Amorino was open because it was a takeaway, and Kim and I wandered in there and started speaking to the owners and found out a little bit more about the business,” Peter said.

After feeling that the brand would work in the local area, the pair, who have lived in a number of different countries and have owned a house in Marlow for more than 25 years, embarked on a journey to bring a store to Marlow, which opened in June 2022.

Peter added: “We had Chris Evans on the radio celebrating our store, and it launched with great success.”

Shortly after, the pair expanded and opened a shop in Windsor in April 2023.

Both shops have been doing ‘very well’ and have been ‘well received’ by consumers and customers, Peter explained.

The team has now turned its attention to Henley and are aiming to open a new boutique at 24 Market Place, next door to Gail’s bakery by April 1.

“I thought the area would benefit from an international gelato,” Peter added.

The entire unit has been upgraded as part of a ‘significant transformation’ to provide a ‘more premium’ space and ‘bright and airy’ look.

As well as counter service, there will also be digital screens available for customers to browse the menu and place their orders, which ‘is going to be a little bit unique for the area’, Peter added.

The dessert parlour will open daily from 11am to 10pm and will offer 20 flavours of gelato and sorbet, including tiramisu.

All products are 100 per cent natural and gluten free, Peter revealed.

One of the brand’s unique selling points is its flower-shaped gelato cones, he added.

“What’s unique about our brand is you can have as many flavours as you want. So usually, people have four, five different flavours that we create into a unique ice cream, and it looks like a flower.

“It’s built like a rose and that’s how we serve our ice cream,” Peter said.

Among its other offerings, the shop will also serve up warm crepes, Brussels waffles, gelato macrons, French macrons and Lavazza coffee.

Guests will also be able to choose from 12 different flavours of authentic Italian hot chocolate, ranging from chilli to normal hot chocolate.

The team is also employing around 10 or 12 people from around the area into the new venue.

Peter added: “It’s always an exciting time for the town and I think it’ll be great for the town.”

He added that despite ice cream parlour The Scoop Room, which is currently relocating from Duke Street to Reading Road, also being present in the town, ‘there’s space for another gelato shop’.

“We’re extremely excited,” Peter added about the new venture.

“It’s something, when we set out our business plan six years ago, Henley was an integral part of the plan.

“It’s always been the plan. It’s just the timing really of getting the right location at the right time.”

A takeaway option, via third parties such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats, will also be available from the Henley shop.

The Amorino brand launched in 2002, with its first shop opening in Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. The brains behind the venture were childhood friends Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi, who shared a common love for Italian gelato.

Amorino now operates in 22 different countries, with more than 310 shops.