Hastings named among the UK's priciest seaside spots for an ice cream
With temperatures set to stay high across the south coast this week, but for visitors hoping to cool off with a seaside ice cream, new research has revealed Hastings to be among the UK’s most expensive destinations for the classic treat.
In a new study, credit card experts at Zable have analysed the cost of a single scoop and double scoop cones at 33 UK coastal destinations with Hastings ranked in the top ten most expensive in ninth.
The average cost of an ice cream in Hastings was found to be £3.25 for a single scoop and £4.98 for a double scoop.
Most expensive in the country was Porthmadog in Wales at £3.85 for a single and £5.28 for a double.
The clifftop village of Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire, claims the title of the UK’s most affordable seaside destination for ice cream, with visitors paying just £1.95 on average for a single scoop,
Multiple ice cream locations were analysed per seaside town to create an average price.
To find the average cost of one scoop and two scoops of ice cream in each seaside town, Zable analysed three of the top-rated ice cream parlours for each location basing it on the classic vanilla flavour.
James Goforth, Product Manager at Zable, said: "While an ice cream might feel like one of the smaller costs of a family day out, our research shows that prices can vary dramatically depending on where in the UK you choose to visit. At the most expensive destinations, a simple treat for a family of four can cost upwards of £15 for a single scoop each - and that is before you factor in travel, parking, food, and everything else that comes with a day at the beach. Those small purchases add up faster than most people realise.
"What is perhaps most striking is that a higher price tag does not always mean a bigger, busier destination. Some of the smallest seaside villages in the country are charging prices that rival the most visited coastal cities - a reflection of just how much limited competition, rather than tourism demand alone, can shape what we pay, even for something as simple as an ice cream.”
People can view the full study at www.zable.co.uk/money-academy/cost-of-ice-cream.