A NEW gelato parlour has opened its doors in Ryedale.

Dottie’s Gelato and Vintage Tea Room, a new cafe selling artisan gelato in a range of flavours, is based in what was former outbuilding in Champley’s Mews just off the Market Place in Pickering.

The parlour sells gelato - ice-cream made in the Italian style - which is handmade on the premises, in 24 different flavours, including ferrero rocher, mint chocolate chip and blue bubblegum.

Zoe Clarke, the owner of the new parlour, said: “We have totally renovated the barn and turned it into something amazing.”

Zoe said that the response so far has been “unbelievable”.

“It has been totally crazy, with constant queues and all tables taken with word out on social media,” she added.

She said that the family connection with ice-cream making goes back a long way, with the original business being started in 1936 by her grandfather.

The family then took a break from this business in the late 1950s.

Zoe said that the new parlour, which also sells tea, coffee, waffles and other desserts, has created 10 new jobs and two apprenticeships in the town.

She added that she wants to build a reputation for the business throughout the whole county.

“Our aim is to be a major attraction not only in Pickering but North Yorkshire itself,” she said.