These days no self-respecting south London ‘hood can be without a retro sweetshop-cum-ice-cream-parlour. East Dulwich has Hope and Greenwood; Herne Hill has Gerty’s Gumballs; and Forest Hill has Sugar Mountain, which does the old-fashioned thing topped with a big squirt of kitsch.
The talking point is the trio of themed booths: the retro games booth (Ker-Plunk, Mousetrap, Bionic Woman); the ‘80s pop-culture booth (Smash Hits annual, Bros 7-inches, Jason Donovan cassette, Charles and Di tumbler); and the space race booth (Neil Armstrong’s signature, photos of astronauts, globes). The ice-cream itself comes from North London’s Marine Ices (£1.60 for a one-scoop cone and an extra £1 per additional scoop). The flavour spectrum stretches from bubble gum (which doesn’t taste as brash as it sounds) to white chocolate or pistachio.
Customise in a sundae glass with sauces or toppings, with a traditional Ben Shaws pop on the side. A great after-school treat for kids, or sugar-based nostalgia fix for adults.