A popular ice cream vendor in Herefordshire has announced a temporary two-day closure of its outdoor shack, citing concerns for staff and customer well-being amidst the UK's unprecedented heatwave. Oakchurch Farm Shop, located in Staunton-on-Wye, confirmed that its Scoop Ice Cream Shack, known for its homemade ice creams and sorbets, would not operate on Wednesday or Thursday.
The decision comes as the Met Office issues its first-ever red weather warning for extreme heat across parts of England, signifying a significant risk to life. Temperatures are forecast to climb to exceptional levels, potentially reaching 38°C in some areas. The red warning took effect from 09:00 BST on Wednesday and is set to remain in place until 21:00 BST on Thursday.
Nick Price, owner of Oakchurch Farm Shop, explained the rationale behind the closure. He stated that the refrigeration equipment within the outdoor ice cream shack generates substantial heat, and he was unwilling to compromise the safety of his employees or patrons. Despite acknowledging that these would typically be very busy days for sales, Mr Price deemed it essential to close. He confirmed that this marks the first instance of the shack closing due to high temperatures.
While the outdoor shack will remain shut, customers will still be able to purchase tubs of ice cream and cones from the main farm shop. The Scoop Ice Cream Shack is expected to resume normal operations from Friday onwards, including the upcoming weekend, following the lifting of the red weather warning.
The Met Office's red warning advises the public to avoid non-essential travel and to stay out of direct sunlight during peak hours. This heatwave follows a pattern of increasingly frequent extreme weather events in the UK, which scientists attribute to rising global temperatures exacerbated by human-induced climate change.
Across the UK, the Met Office has issued various heat warnings. While the red warning is concentrated in parts of England, an amber warning for extreme heat covers a broader swathe of England and Wales, indicating potential health impacts for the wider population. Northern Ireland and Scotland are currently under yellow warnings for thunderstorms in some regions, but are also experiencing elevated temperatures, though not to the same extreme levels as central and southern England. Wind speeds are generally expected to remain light, typically below 10 mph, which offers little relief from the heat.