Minster Scoop Run began as a quiet idea on a warm evening near the Shambles. York’s small creameries often had a few tubs left after market hours — not enough for big wholesalers, but far too good to waste. We started offering short-cycle runs, using insulated bags and simple text updates so neighbours could enjoy those last batches the same day.
Our aim is steady rather than fast. We work with local dairies and small kitchens that still churn by hand. The deliveries follow routes through shaded lanes, avoiding rush hours and tight junctions. Each round is planned to match fridge space, rider capacity, and forecasted temperature. Nothing high-tech, just human attention and notes that make sense.
We operate from a small store room near Goodramgate, with one chest freezer, a folding bench, and three bicycles fitted with cool boxes. The space may be modest, but it allows everything to stay visible. Each container is sealed, logged, and marked with the time it left the creamery. It is this traceable, small-scale rhythm that keeps our batches honest.
Our riders are locals who know which cobbled corners stay cooler in the afternoon and which gates take longer to open. They’re not treated as anonymous couriers; they’re part of the day-to-day. Routes are designed collaboratively, updated on a whiteboard that shows wind direction, sun paths, and small pencil notes like “avoid bridge glare after 4 pm.”
Behind every drop is cooperation with makers who care about texture and temperature. Some use Jersey milk from nearby farms; others craft plant-based mixes using oat or coconut cream. We don’t interfere with their recipes. Our task is to bring them across York safely, keeping the tub exactly as they intended it.
The name Minster Scoop Run reflects both the city and the act. The Minster stands as a quiet landmark on most of our routes — visible above the roofs while riders weave through streets. “Scoop” is literal and symbolic: a single serving, a small portion of something cared for. “Run” suggests light movement, not rush. It’s a balance we try to maintain every day.
We’re not a subscription service or an app that over-promises speed. Orders are simple notes sent through our form or by phone. Once confirmed, we assign the next available window, prepare tubs in a chill wrap, and set off. If the road is closed or the sky looks unpredictable, we adjust politely. Ice cream doesn’t need drama to arrive cold.
Our communication stays plain: one message when the order is accepted, one when we’re leaving, and one on arrival. There are no automated prompts, countdowns, or unnecessary pings. If we need clarification, we call. Human voices tend to fix confusion quicker than buttons.
We reuse packing where possible. Each paper tub is compostable, lids are recyclable, and insulation sleeves are collected during the next round. Even the ink on our labels comes from a local print shop that uses water-based pigment. None of this feels revolutionary; it’s just tidier for the planet and for York’s waste stream.
Our project runs under local registration as a small food distributor compliant with the Food Standards Agency guidance. Each creamery partner holds its own hygiene certificate and batch log. We align with UK Data Protection Act 2018 for storing customer contacts, and no data is shared with external advertisers or analytics companies. Names, addresses, and flavour choices are kept solely for fulfilling orders.
When something goes wrong — a melted edge, a delayed route, a missed text — we listen and adjust. There are no promises of perfection, but there is a clear intention to learn from each round. York’s weather teaches humility quickly.
Visitors sometimes ask if we plan to expand to other cities. For now, we prefer proximity. The idea of delivering further than our bikes can ride feels against the purpose. Local means people you might see at the market or along the Ouse path, and that’s exactly how we like it.
Minster Scoop Run is also a record of small connections: dairy owners sharing timing tips, customers leaving cold packs at doors, neighbours suggesting quiet shortcuts. These details form the true flavour of the service — calm, small, deliberate.
We welcome feedback, questions, or even ideas for new flavours. The best suggestions often come from regulars who notice when strawberries are riper or when mint grows wilder near the allotments. Drop us a note at [email protected] or call 441 904 586 742.
You can also visit us — though our “office” is just a back room behind the freezer at 23 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LJ. If you stop by, expect the smell of waffle cones and a bit of background radio. That’s usually how our afternoons sound before the next round begins.