Famous Facts

Verrecchia ice cream

Verrechia’s in Guildhall Square 14 October 1959

Portsmouth, like other coastal towns, saw Italian ice cream makers appearing by the late 1800s. Initially there was some local hostility with regular fines being imposed for obstruction. However, attitudes had softened by the inter war period enabling Augusto Verrecchia to open his popular coffee house and ice cream café by the railway bridge near Guildhall Square. In the post WWII period, this café was much loved by the students of the nearby Municipal College as the individual booths were ideal for courting.

One of these booths is now preserved and on view in the City Museum.

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Comments:

“My Dad used to ride the Walls ice cream carts. It was the same sort of cart as the one in the City Museum. Then when they brought the vans in, he stopped because he couldn’t drive. “- Comment submitted by a Portsmouth resident.