Scotland’s Art Deco Heritage 7. Nardini’s Café, Largs. Update.
Posted in Art Deco, Scotland, Trips at 14:25 on 5 August 2009
On my trip Doon The Watter I ended up at Largs, so naturally I took the chance to visit and photograph the refurbished Nardini’s.
This is a stitched together photo of the two I took of the exterior. I like the flags, a true Art Deco touch. Note the “ghost” of the car that was turning left on to the main street.
What a splendid job they’ve made of the restoration. It’s been tastefully done with lovely light shades in the cafe part, stepped octagonal box shapes.
The ice cream selling area (through the corner entrance) also has a Deco type shade on the central light but it’s a stepped cylindrical shape.
The glassware on the doors has also been rendered in the Deco style.
The décor inside and glass doorway reflect the Art Deco feel. The chairs and tables in the café part were less striking though.
This is the photo of the left side.
The present owners have no connection with the Nardini family as far as I know.
Encouragingly the place was busy, though.
We had to sample the wares, of course. The good lady had a double cone with Belgian Chocolate and Caramel Shortcake flavours, I had Double Cream Vanilla and Tablet. (The sign said, “Scottish Tablet,” – must be for the tourists.)
Here is the photo from the right aspect.
There were other ice cream purveyors in Largs including a different Nardini’s – perhaps someone from the original family trading on a smaller scale than before.
Largs is still a typical seaside town. There were even people buying rock from a wee sweetie shop. It took me back.
Due to someone viewing (on 1/8/09) my previous post about Nardini’s (see link above) I found this video on you Tube.
Nardini’s website is here. See also this nice set of aerial photos.
Carolina
15 December 2011 at 19:11
Hello, this post brought me to the time when i did visit this place with my soulmate, this place belong to three italian associates not related to Nardini’s family, for the ice cream i can say the scottish tablet is my favorite too, though i am not longer fiancee to the man i went there with, i can say i had a great shore view whilst tasting a hot chocolate mug, unforgettable moments, as you can find the owner serving you in site, you can feel the latin warmth since you first step in.
Monterrey
México
jackdeighton
15 December 2011 at 20:10
Hi Carolina,
Thanks for looking in. I must say Largs is a long way from Monterrey!
I’m glad you have nice memories of Nardini’s even if your engagement didn’t work out.
I knew the Nardini family were no longer involved, but didn’t know the present owners were also Italian in origin.
Mind you there are lots of Scots of Italian extraction.
Nardini’s, Byres Road, Glasgow – A Son of the Rock -- Jack Deighton
15 March 2012 at 12:05
[…] They have tried to make it look Deco, certainly. The lettering is deco; and the top glazing. The interior lighting is like the ones in the re-opened Nardini’s in Largs. […]