Summer is saved: Northampton's-own Gallones Ice Cream is back this weekend to give a taste of life outside lockdown
How does an ice-cream business adapt when everyone has been ordered to stay indoors?
It could have been a summer without ice cream for Northampton.
Thankfully, town-favourite Gallones Ice Cream will be back this Saturday to help Northampton enjoy a weekend treat.
Gallones is reopening its parlour in Kingsthorpe on Saturday - alongside the 10 ice cream vans that have already hit the streets in the past week.
Cathy Gallone, who will be greeting customers again after eight weeks at the Kingsthorpe Parlour this weekend, said: "I'm nervous and excited. I'm excited because it's been so long since we've seen anyone, but I'm nervous because it's been so long since we've seen anyone.
"We're just going to test the water and see if we can open with social distancing in place and see if it's the right time to come back."
An ice cream company would normally be in trouble if Spring began with the entire country ordered to stay indoors - but Gallones has worked hard to adapt to the lockdown.
Along with launching a tub delivery service, the family-run ice cream company is building is set to create a click-and-collect website and get on board with Deliveroo as early as next week.
Meanwhile, 10 of the family's ice cream vans have been on the streets in the past week serving pre-packaged 'theatre tubs'.
"But still, what people really want is ice cream cones," said Aldo Gallone, who has been directing the vans. "We really want to give the customer what they want so we're thinking how we can start serving cones again.
"The lockdown has made us feel very anxious from the beginning. It happened totally at the wrong time for us - right at the beginning of one of the nicest summers on record.
"But you've got to learn to adapt and change as a business. If you go into business for yourself and don't have a positive can-do attitude then you're stuffed."
Gallones Kingsthorpe parlour in Welford Road will be open between 12pm and 4pm on Saturday (May 30).
For more information on Gallones or to order one of its delivery tubs, visit their Facebook page.