Italy Comes to Blandford as Dolce Amore Opens on Barnack Walk

A taste of Italy has arrived on Barnack Walk, no passport required.

Dolce Amore Gelateria e Caffè opened its doors in Blandford at the weekend, on the site of the former Miles of Value discount store. Behind it are Roberto Patalacci and Galina Jelley, a couple who've called Blandford Forum home since 2008 and now want to share a piece of their Italian heritage with the town. The way they tell it, the idea is simple: a trip to Italy without the airfare, built around good, honest food and proper artisan ice cream.

The name means "Sweet Love", and the menu leans into exactly that. There'll be artisan gelato made with Italian ingredients, alongside sorbettos, milkshakes, authentic Italian coffee and teas, sweet and savoury pastries, and pizza by the slice. The couple say they want it to appeal to everyone, families and children very much included.

Roberto, 61, a finance manager whose family hails from Perugia in the Umbria region, has lived in the UK for more than 40 years. According to the couple, opening Dolce Amore feels like a natural way to give something back to the community that welcomed them. They're no strangers to the local business scene either: Galina, 51, has run Salon Riviera, also on Barnack Walk, for the past six years.

The venue will seat between 35 and 40 people and open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

You can find them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dolce.amore.gelato/