Islington welcomes The Dreamery: artisanal ice cream shop and wine bar

On the 5^th of December, Islington will see the opening of The Dreamery, an artisanal ice cream shop and wine bar by Alex Young and George De Vos, the creators behind local spots Goodbye Horses and Day Trip, a restaurant and a coffee shop respectively. Located on the same Halliford Street as the other venues, this latest project aims to complete a trio of playful venues designed to transform an ordinary city corner into a magical escape in De Beauvoir Town.

The Dreamery will offer a seasonally changing menu of ice creams, devised by Jack Coggins, the Head Chef of Goodbye Horses, and all prepared in-house. The opening list will include festive flavours like Christmas Pudding and Gingerbread, in addition to timeless favourites such as Mint Chocolate Chip, Croissant and Custard.

In an unusual but intriguing pairing, the venue’s Floor Manager, Sophie Mathieson, has selected a variety of light glou-glou wines from small, independent producers. These wines are chosen specifically to complement the ice cream flavours, to be enjoyed at any time of the day.

The interior of The Dreamery, housed in a repurposed 19th-century building, reflects a whimsical charm with a capacity for 20 guests. The design, a collaboration with Ltd Ltd and Studio Bates Rai, features a large stainless steel bar that serves both as the ice cream counter and wine bar. The decor includes handcrafted cement tiles and a ceiling adorned with a grid of timber and Japanese Unryu rice paper panels. British artist Lucy Stein has contributed to the atmosphere by painting murals inspired by British folklore and mythology throughout the space.

Alex Young, co-founder and creative director, commented on the upcoming opening “It’s Christmas, and what better time to open an ice cream shop?” His vision, shared with co-founder and general manager George De Vos, is to create a space where “the familiar feels unfamiliar,” encouraging guests to embrace life’s little pleasures and leave their everyday concerns behind.

Food Desk

For more reservations at Goodbye Horses and updates on the other projects by Alex Young and George De Vos, visit the website here.