The sun is shining, it's sweltering hot and the school summer holidays are upon us.

Many families will be heading to the beach, sun cream and swimsuits in hand. And we all know what completes a trip to the seaside - a big scoop of ice cream - or maybe two.

Listed below are nine of our favourite ice cream parlours in beach towns across Kent.

Morelli's

Victoria Parade, Broadstairs

Mario Morelli began making ice cream soon after arriving in England in 1907, selling the delicious desserts from a bicycle.

Then in 1932, the Italian opened an ice cream parlour and cappuccino bar on Broadstairs seafront, which is now one of the oldest in Kent.

It still retains its vintage decor, complete with a soda fountain, jukebox and pink leather seats.

Staff produce roughly 26 flavours in the downstairs kitchens on a daily basis, including Alphonse mango, pure pistachio and Kilimanjaro coffee.

With a vast menu of decadent, cherry-topped sundaes, milkshakes and waffles to choose from, there is something for everyone at this renowned seaside café.

Morelli's has also featured on the screen a number of times. Danny Dyer and the Eastenders cast popped along for an episode in 2015, as well as The One Show and Mary Berry.

Missy Moos

Sandgate Road, Folkestone

Missy Moos is less traditional, with a hot pink and black colour theme and funky flavour combinations.

Authentic Italian gelato in a variety of carefully chosen flavours sit on the menu alongside freshly-made waffles, doughnuts, crepes and cakes.

Pink bubblegum marshmallow and white chocolate honeycomb are a couple of customer favourites, or ask for flavour of the week.

Glass jars of sweets line the counters of the dessert parlour, which opened in 2017, replacing an Indian restaurant.

Open until late, ice cream is still served at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sundae Sundae

Harbour Street, Whitstable

Sundae Sundae is crammed full of all things beach - including crab nets, postcards but most importantly, ice cream.

Along with their three children, Chris and Gemma Conway have been scooping here since 2013.

They don't hold back when it comes to experimenting and have created some weird and wonderful flavours over the years, like bacon, maple and cobnut.

Chocolate and sprinkle-covered waffle cones and gluten free options are available on request.

Just a two-minute walk from the harbour, you can grab an ice cream before wandering down to eat while sat by the sea.

Sorbetto

Harbour Parade, Ramsgate

A family business, Sorbetto has ice cream, hot snacks, milkshakes and coffee.

The ice cream is made fresh on the premises from a traditional Italian recipe.

Decadent desserts, including banana splits piled high with fruit, whipped cream and wafers, are also up for grabs and a selection of dairy-free sorbets.

The café, with its dusty pink exterior, is nestled between an amusement arcade and the Queens Head pub, right on the marina.

Solley's Ice Cream

The Dairy, Church Lane, Deal

You may recognise this brand, as the company has grown to become the south east’s largest independent producer of real dairy ice cream.

Using milk from a neighbouring farm and 85% of ingredients sourced locally, Solley's is Kentish to the very core.

Lots of double cream creates the rich and creamy texture Solley's is renowned for.

As well as delivering directly to stockists, Solley's also sells from the farm gate throughout the summer.

Visitors are welcome to see where the ice cream is made, and can also jump on a tractor or complete the farm trail.

Salted caramel, strawberry shortcake and lemon meringue pie are among the flavours to choose from.

Makcari's

Central Parade, Herne Bay

Established in 1931, a year before Morelli's, here is another traditional ice cream parlour offering homemade puddings in a retro café setting.

Makcari's stands on the corner of Central Parade, with large windows curving round the entirety of the shop front, providing perfect sea views.

Sandwiches, jacket potatoes and burgers are also available if you fancy something savoury before your knickerbocker glory.

There's plenty of indoor seating alongside the huge counter or alternatively, you can grab a couple of cones from the adjacent hatch and sit on the sand.

An open-planned gelato kitchen is housed in the nearby bandstand, which Makcari's took over in 2009.

Popular flavours include tiramisu, peanut butter, Turkish delight, banana and Baileys.

Melt Gelato

Marine Drive, Margate

Made in-house using cream from Hinxden Farm in Kent, this parlour serves a number of punchy flavours including cherry and orange.

If you are after something a little richer, you can go for Melt Gelato's indulgent chocolate and hazelnut instead.

Right on the seafront, the parlour is part of Sands Hotel, which also has its own restaurant.

They even have "doggy ice cream" so you can treat your pet to something sweet too.

Deal Beach Parlour

Beach Street, Deal

Deal Beach Parlour is reminiscent of a school canteen with retro chrome counters and tables and chairs joined together by permanent metal fixtures.

The menu flaunts banana splits, coke floats and sundaes complete with whipped cream and wafer straws.

They also do oysters - not the shellfish - oyster-shaped, marshmallow wafers full of delicious whipped vanilla ice cream.

With a long silver spoon in hand, scraping the glass for every smidge of chocolate sauce, you'll feel just like a kid again.

The parlour is marked out by its distinct blue and yellow sign and large beach scene paintings.

Amarettos

High Street, Dymchurch

For such a tiny little shop with space for just a few customers, Amarettos delivers big on quality and range of choice.

Stand-out flavours include honeycomb, banana and bubblegum, with scoops served in authentic Italian waffles cones.

The ice cream is made at a nearby farm and you can also get a Mr Whippy or stick of rock.

With a baby pink sign, weather boards and pastel bunting draped across the windows - this is a perfect picturesque seaside ice cream parlour.

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