Decades old Minchella & Co. ice cream sign serves up a scoop of history.

In June 2023, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery carefully removed a vintage sign from the gable end of a building, on Stanhope Road in the Tyne Dock area, for display in their latest exhibition: SCRAN! A history of Food & Drink in South Tyneside. The sign itself, belonged to the famous North East Ice Cream parlour, Michella & Co. 

Established in 1942, Minchella's Ice Cream has been a cherished fixture in South Shields, delighting generations with its ice cream creations. Renowned for its commitment to quality ingredients and time-honoured recipes, Minchella's has become synonymous with quality ice-cream in the North East. 

SCRAN! which brings together many beloved South Tyneside eateries and offer visitors an immersive experience that tantalizes the taste buds and celebrates the cultural heritage of the community. The Museum’s removal of the sign, was an opportunity for Minchella & Co. to commission a brand new sign to go up in its place.

Alongside the showcasing of the iconic Minchella sign, the museum has also collaborated with the North East’s favourite ice-creamery, to offer visitors the chance to create their own flavour of ice cream. With hundreds of entries so far, the winner is expected to be revealed in June 2024. 

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery has been a cornerstone of the community since 1876. It is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history and cultural heritage of South Shields. From fascinating exhibitions, to engaging educational programmes, the museum offers visitors a glimpse into the past, whilst celebrating the creativity and diversity of the region. 

The exhibition not only highlights the enduring legacy of Minchella's Ice Cream, but also underscores the museum's commitment to offering immersive and engaging experiences that resonate with visitors of all ages.  

About the exhibition:  

The exhibition entitled SCRAN: A history of Food & Drink in South Tyneside celebrates the traditional cuisine of the North East, from regional favourites such as stottie cakes and leek pudding, to singing hinnies and panaculty.  

In this exhibition, visitors can discover South Tyneside’s evolving food and drink story, from Roman times up to the present day, and learn of the origins of some of the borough’s most iconic eateries, including Colmans fish and chips, Dicksons pork butchers and Minchella & Co’s ice cream. In the decades following the Second World War, the region's culinary horizons were expanded with the introduction of flavours from places far beyond UK shores. The exhibition will also feature local pubs and breweries of yesteryear; cafes, restaurants and works canteens; wartime food rationing; and the emergence in recent years of foodbanks to help combat food poverty and holiday hunger. 

There is still time to view the signage on display until January 2025 in South Shields Museum & Art Gallery’s SCRAN! Food & Drink in South Tyneside Exhibition.