A Sweet New Chapter: English Heritage x Northern Bloc
We're thrilled to partner with Northern Bloc to serve up two exclusive ice cream flavours inspired by traditional British puddings: Bramley Apple Crumble & Custard and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients and a chef’s approach to flavour, these indulgent treats bring together Northern Bloc’s flair for bold, modern ice cream with English Heritage’s passion for preserving and celebrating our national story.
By enjoying a tub at your favourite English Heritage site, you're helping support our work to care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites across England.
The Flavours
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Bramley Apple Crumble & Custard
A timeless British classic with a contemporary twist. This flavour is a celebration of tangy Bramley apples swirled into smooth custard ice cream and topped with golden biscuit crumble. Rich, tart, and wonderfully nostalgic!
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Sticky Toffee Pudding
A rich tribute to Britain’s most indulgent dessert. Brown sugar ice cream meets swirls of sticky toffee sauce, offering a scoop that’s deep, buttery, and brimming with caramelised comfort.
Heritage in every scoop
Ice cream itself has a long and regal history in England, from the royal banquets of the 1600s to Victorian street sellers bringing icy treats to the masses. These exclusive flavours continue the tradition, inviting visitors to enjoy a scoop of the past with every bite.
Did You Know?
Both of these puddings have deep British roots. Apple Crumble became a household favourite during WWII, when rationing meant traditional pastry-heavy desserts were off the menu. The simple mix of stewed apples and crunchy topping was a smart (and delicious) solution. Meanwhile, the origins of Sticky Toffee Pudding is hotly contested. While some credit its creation to the Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel in Cumbria during the 1970s, others trace it back to the Gait Inn in Millington, East Yorkshire, as early as 1907.
There’s even a theory that Canadian Air Force officers introduced the recipe to Britain during WWII. Some say that items were smuggled into the North of England from passing collier ships and sugar and dates were chief amongst the smuggled goods! Despite its mysterious beginnings, sticky toffee pudding has become a beloved British classic.
Try it for yourself
Bramley Apple Crumble & Custard and Sticky Toffee Pudding ice creams will be available at selected English Heritage sites from summer 2025. Don't forget to tag your scoops and smiles with #HeritageScoops and mention @northern_bloc and @englishheritage.
Explore more from English Heritage
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Online Shop
Our online shop stocks a wide selection of quality products, including puzzles, greetings cards and other products from our licensed ranges.
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Holiday Cottages
We offer 21 holiday cottages in historic sites across the country. Some are decorated and furnished with licensed products, from wallpaper to sofas.
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Brand Licensing
Find out more about all our brand collaborations, explore how these partnerships were inspired by the amazing sites in our care.