A new parlour has brought a taste of Italy to Sunny Hunny.

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

After supplying businesses and gastro pubs around the resort since it was founded in 2016, East Coast Gelato has opened up on the Prom.

Michael Large, who has been a seafront trader for 40 years, has launched the parlour with his son Joel, who makes the gelato.

The family spent £400,000 revamping the site, which also now includes a chippy, beach goods shop and a 128-seater roof-top terrace with glass walls and panoramic views across The Wash.

'We opened on Whit Sunday and it's been superb,' said Mr Large Snr. 'People have been saying it's just what Hunstanton needed.'

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

His son has already won a number of awards for his gelato including winner of the Muddy Stilettos Local food Producer of 2017.

He was also a finalist at the 2017 EDP food and drink awards missing out narrowly to Thornham Deli.

Before setting up the parlour, he attended a gelato patisserie course in Italy and started a collaboration with Dr Tim Kinnaird from Macarons and More in Norwich supplying gelato for his store in Royal Arcade in exchange for macarons which Joel is selling in the parlour.

Gelato is all made on site using fresh ingredients. Flavours on offer include passion fruit ripple, lemon meringue pie, bubblegum, carrot cake, coconut and strawberry - made from Sharrington strawberries.

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Ice cream maker Joel's most popular flavour is salted caramel. Cakes and handmade lollies are also on offer.

Gelato differs from traditional seaside ice cream. It has less air, so is creamier, it has less fat and is served at -13C as opposed to ice cream's -18C.

Mr Large Snr said containers and cutlery used in the parlour and the chip shop were 100pc compostable. He said he hoped to encourage other seafront traders to follow suit and help cut down on waste.

The steel and glass structure could spearhead a regeneration of the southern seafront at Hunstanton.

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Design guru Wayne Hemingway has been appointed to draw up a masterplan for revamping the area. Survey work begins next week.

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: The business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian BurtThe business has been set up by father and son, Michael and Joel Large. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)