The death of the 99 Flake? How a family-of-four is now shelling out up to £6.50 each for rip-off cones across Britain
Ice cream vendors across Britain have been raising prices during this year's run of heatwaves, with some now charging up to £7 for a classic 99 cone, prompting accusations of "extortionate" pricing from customers. Industry figures point to rising cream costs as the driver behind the increases, but the timing has fuelled frustration given that hot weather has already been boosting sales significantly.
Ice cream sales reached £120million in June 2026, nearly double the figure from the same month the previous year, yet prices have climbed rather than held steady. One ice cream van operator selling Mr Whippy cones for up to £6.50 admitted that vendors had "all put our prices up this year." As a result, a family of four could now pay up to £26 for a round of ice creams, while even a Fruit Pastille lolly can cost close to £5.
- Ice cream prices hit up to £7 a cone amid Britain's heatwaves
- Vendors blame rising cream costs for the price hikes
- A family of four may now pay up to £26 for ice creams
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Ice cream has become the unlikely flashpoint of this summer's heatwave, with reports that vendors across Britain are charging up to £7 for a traditional 99 cone. Sales figures show demand has surged, with June 2026 takings nearly double what they were a year earlier, which has made the accompanying price rises harder for some customers to accept.
Vendors, including operators of ice cream vans, say the increases reflect rising costs for cream and other ingredients rather than an attempt to cash in on hot weather. The dispute matters because it touches a small but symbolic everyday purchase, particularly for families, and raises broader questions about how rising costs are being passed on to consumers even as sales boom.