Everyone remembers heading to the ‘Port’ for a walk on the beach, getting on the rides in Barry’s amusements and then an Ice Cram from Morelli’s. But Portrush wasn’t the only place you could get this Morelli’s award winning Ice Cream, infact the Morelli’s have been making their name in Ice Cream since 1911 with the original store in Stone Row, Coleraine.
Just a few miles down the road in the other ‘Port’, Portstewart, is where it all began for a young Angelo Morelli when he made his way to the North Coast to help his Uncle run the Ice Cream shop on the Promenade in 1927, then called the ‘Ice Palace’.
But in 1957 Angelo along with his wife Anastasia took over the business and opened ‘Sundae Garden’ (see what they did there!). The business was eventually passed onto son Nino who opened another shop called Nino’s in 1988 which along with ice cream also served food and drink.
Morelli’s Advert 1960, NW200 programme 
Morelli’s Advert 1984, NW200 programme
The business never stood still for too long and in 2002 even saw the original building knocked down making way for a new restaurant which could hold up to 200 people and including a gift shops and apartments above.
Morelli’s other locations included Portrush, where they still trade today, and Coleraine for a short time on Railway Road with an Ice Cream Kiosk. But you don’t have to travel far these days to get a Morelli’s Ice Cream with stockiest of their award winning recipes all over the UK.
The latest development in the Morelli’s family business was the refurbishment of their Portstewart flagship store. Speaking following the re-fit, the Morelli family said:
“Following a major refit Morellis of Portstewart have announced the creation of at least six new jobs at the iconic restaurant which is great news for the resort.
Redesigning the floorspace has allowed for more seating and at the same time doubled the carryout facilities thus requiring the increase in the workforce.
Now in its third generation of Morellis they celebrated their centenary in the area in 2011 by securing a place in the Guinness Book Of World Records when they had 2,728 people eating ice cream at the same time in a day when they threw a massive party in the town to say thank you for so many great years.
And today (Wednesday 1st May) local resident Sarah Travers popped in to officially open the newly refurbished restaurant and Sarah had plenty of kind words to say about the establishment and how several generations of her own family have enjoyed their unique products. Local entertainer Brian Moore was also there and acted as host proving music, craic an giveaways.
The occasion also had a community angle as Damian Morelli chose it as an opportunity to help raise the profile of the Zachary Geddis “Break The Silence” Trust. Yasmin Geddis, who is Zachray’s sister, spoke of the experience of losing her brother to suicide and of the work of the Trust and with so many parents present it lent a poignancy to the day.”
Sarah Travers is best know as a news reporter and TV personality but has lived on the North Coast all her life. At the official open Sarah said;
“I was practically brought up on Morellis Ice Cream so it was a no-brainer when I was asked – after all, what’s not to like”.
