NEW research from Premier Inn has revealed where in the UK is cheapest (and most expensive) to buy the most iconic of seaside treats - the 99 ice cream.

The survey found that people visiting the seaside can expect to pay between £1.40 and £3.25 for a 99 ice cream.

The cheapest individual towns for a creamy ice cold 99 came out as Weston-super-Mare and Southwold in Suffolk, at an average of £1.40 each.

With so much of the country enjoying a coastal break in the UK this year, the hotel brand wanted to find which regions and towns were most budget-friendly for sampling the classic seaside fare of fish and chips, as well as other retro treats like the 99 ice cream and a hot bag of doughnuts.

Why is it called a 99?

The 99 name refers to the chocolate flake rather than the ice cream, and it is not because of the original price of the treat. In fact, when first available a 99 would have cost about 1p.

Some say it comes from Stefano Arcari who sold ice cream from his shop at 99 Portobello High Street in Edinburgh.

Similarly, Dunkerleys of Gorton, Manchester, claim to have created it at their premises at 99 Wellington Street.

For others, the terms comes from Italian immigrants in the UK - it could be named for the Italian heroes of the First World War who had been born in 1899, known as the Boys of 99. The shape of the flake reminded Italian ice cream sellers of the feather in the soldiers' caps.

The Cadbury explanation is: “In the days of the monarchy in Italy, the King has a specially chosen guard consisting of 99 men, and subsequently, anything really special or first class was known as 99 - and that is how 99 Flake came by its name”.

Cornish towns came out in the most expensive rankings for a ‘99 ice cream, with Falmouth and Newquay charging on average £3.00 for the treat.

The study involved contacting over 500 independent stalls, kiosks and take-aways in over 100 of the country’s most popular seaside towns.

The research showed that Yorkshire and the Humber in general is the cheapest region for an ice-cream cone (with a chocolate flake of course!) with an average price of £1.85.

In North Wales, Conwy was the best value with a 99 ice cream costing an average of £1.80.

No North Wales towns featured in the top ten most expensive places.

Even though they attract major crowds because of their beaches, Skegness, Weston-super-Mare, Bournemouth and Swansea are among the individual seaside towns selling the lowest priced '99 cones in the UK, with each town charging, on average, less than £1.90 for the sweet treat.

Of all the kiosks contacted by Premier Inn the most expensive for an ice-cream cone were found in the Cornish towns of Falmouth and Newquay, St. David’s in Wales and Christchurch in Dorset, whose ice-cream shops all charged on average £3 or more for a cone.

The UK’s Cheapest Seaside Towns for 99 ice creams:

  1. Southwold, Suffolk, £1.40
  2. Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, £1.40
  3. Bridlington, East Yorkshire, £1.50
  4. Swansea, Swansea, £1.65
  5. Conwy, Conwy County Borough, £1.80
  6. Skegness, Lincolnshire, £1.90
  7. Poole, Dorset, £1.90
  8. Bournemouth, Dorset, £1.95
  9. Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, £2.00
  10. Porthcawl, Bridgend, £2.10

The UK’s Most Expensive Seaside Towns for 99 ice creams:

  1. Christchurch, Dorset, £3.25
  2. Falmouth, Cornwall, £3.00
  3. St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, £3.00
  4. Newquay, Cornwall, £3.00
  5. Ventor, Isle of Wight, £3.00
  6. Penzance, Cornwall, £2.90
  7. Deal, Kent, £2.75
  8. Fowey, Cornwall, £2.70
  9. Portsmouth, Hampshire, £2.70
  10. Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, £2.70

For the full rankings, including the cheapest and most expensive towns for other seaside treats visit: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/news/2021/coastal-treats.html