CROWDS gathered for the opening of a new ice cream shop in Basingstoke town centre and be the first to sample the range of different flavours inspired by South Asia.

Scooperb opened its doors to customers on Saturday, August 13, in Wote Street, offering two scoops for the price of one and entertaining the crowds with music by Basingstoke Community Radio.

Read more: IN PICTURES: Basingstoke suffers from driest July on record

The franchise has been opened by husband and wife team Sarath Jonnakuti and Kanuka Mary Chava, who decided they wanted to start their own business.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Sarath, a former IT consultant from Basingstoke who moved to England from India when he was 28, said he first sampled Scooperb’s ice cream during a visit to London.

He said: “During Covid I thought about starting my own business. I tried these ice creams in London and I was amazed. They have such unique flavours which are inspired by Asia and I had never seen that before.”

Basingstoke Gazette:

Sarath spoke to the owners of the business and decided to become a franchisee.

“We both had the same passion,” said the 42-year-old.

Sarath and Mary said they were delighted with the crowds who came along to the opening.

Mary added: “It’s exciting and scary, we’re a bit nervous.”

Ice creams and desserts on offer at Scooperb are all eggless, vegetarian or vegan.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The company was founded in 2017 and now has branches in London and Hounslow.

Its ice cream is described as “handcrafted, and churned with very little air, resulting in purer, more robust flavours, as well as the creamiest textures you can find”.

Flavours include cardamon, green apple, cinnamon, blackberry, and mango.

The family-run business also offers other eggless desserts and sweet treats such as milkshakes, waffles, crepes, sorbets, sundaes, and brownies.

The new Wote Street shop has a small seating area inside for customers to sit in. 

Read more: Police called to oil spillage in Basingstoke after crash