Behind a retail park, tucked in amoungst the maze that is Hamilton’s one way system is not where I would expect to find a gem of an ice cream place. But that is what Equi’s is. There is also a chip shop and a bit to sit in. Unfortunately, I have never sampled either of those so this review is all about ice cream. I’m sure I should dazzle you with some facts about how long they have been established and all the awards they have won. But I can’t. See when I go to Equi’s all I’m thinking about is which flavour is going in ma belly. With two cabinets to chose from it takes me quite a while picking which of the 20 odd flavours to eat. It’s why I take smudge, people are far more forgiving of indecision from a small person. But it’s rather unfair seeing as she decides in nano-seconds and never suffers from selectors-doubt. This visit I chose a chocolate dipped cone of cherry vanilla ice-cream, g got a chocolate dipped cone of mango ice-cream and smudge a tub of chocolate ice-cream. It was a very quiet journey home with with everybody concentrating far too hard on their ice creams to risk melt related wastage on conversation. Equi’s ice cream is creamy, soft and the flavours are always perfect. Punchy, strong and guaranteeing that I’ll be back soon.
Fiona M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Hamilton, United Kingdom
Been coming here since they put sparklers on Sundaes. I still have my badges from the 80s when they won(yet another) trophy for their amazing ice cream. Great ice cream, amazing milkshakes(241 on a Monday), brill food in the parlour. All in all an institution that is deservedly going from strength to strength. Be prepared to queue round the block at the first hint of sunlight!
Margaret W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 East Kilbride, United Kingdom
Well renowned family business in Hamilton. Gorgeous food! So busy. Great atmosphere. Ice cream to die for
Kevin G.
Rating des Ortes: 3 United Kingdom
After hearing from my wife how amazing this place is, it was a bit underwhelming. Standard chip shop fare, over-priced(£5.95 for a kids sausage and chips!) but nice enough. I had the Dante’s Inferno pizza which was aptly named; definitely one for lovers of a hotter pizza but nothing you can’t get cheaper elsewhere. The kids had the famous Equi’s ice cream which was delicious, came in a very large serving, but again was just too expensive. We enjoyed it but I don’t think we’ll be back for a while. 2 adult mains, 2 kid’s mains and 3 ice creams, plus 4 drinks cost us £45. Add to that the tip for the waitress and the whole deal cost us £50 — definitely not a place to visit regularly.
Raymond H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Hamilton, United Kingdom
Probably the best ice cream in Scotland, Britain, maybe even the world. Their selection is extensive, I think they have at least 10⁄15 different choices if not more, you can really taste the creaminess of their ice cream unlike other places that just tastes like hard ice mixed with sugar. This place makes ice-cream from any other ice cream parlour look like smart price vanilla — I would highly suggest anyone with a sweet tooth give this place a visit, you won’t be disappointed.
Sharon M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Motherwell, United Kingdom
This review is based on Equis Ice Cream Parlour This won’t be a long review because… well it’s an ice cream parlour! When there is a queue of people trailing out the door on a day that isn’t sunny, you know the ice cream has to be good! I’ve tried so many different flavours, and each one is simply gorgeous! My favourites are definitely the Oreo cookie dough, coconut and pistachio! Beautiful!
Martyn M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Don’t have much to say about Equi’s, except from the fact it’s absolutely amazing and the ice cream they sell is glorious! Equi’s has been there for as long as I can remember, and has both an ice cream parlour section to the store, and a wee café/restaurant section which has a basic chip shop/traditional café type menu! Don’t understand how this place has a one star review from someone, you cannot beat the ice cream from here!
Devlin
Rating des Ortes: 1 Hamilton, United Kingdom
food is stinking the only good thing about equis is the ice cream but even at that it is overpriced, cost me a £10 for 4 small tubs of ice cream. staff are never smiling and not very attentive. definitely not my chippy of choice.
Troy M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Wishaw, United Kingdom
Went to the diner through the back and very smart it is too with old photos of the place on the wall. Extensive menu with chippy type food as well as pizza/pasta, chicken dishes etc. Tried the bruschetta starter which was nice but didn’t agree with my new shirt when I dropped some olive oil infused tomatos over it, bummer! Opted for char grilled salmon with chips and veg and er indoors got chicken with tomato sauce, baked tatty and salad. It’s all good stuff. BIGPORTIONS. I was hungry but I aint the size of Geoff Capes, mair like Willie Carson. Can’t comment on world famous ice cream as it’s not my bag. Finished off with a coffee but should have asked for an extra shot. I like coffee super strong. A pleasant place for a no nonsense nibble!
Andrew p.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Seattle, WA
This place is outstanding. Ice Cream is great but my favorite thing they serve is the special fish. So so good get it if you go. Peace to Hamilton from Seattle USA
Steph T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 North Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Ask anyone in Lanarkshire where the best ice-cream is made, and almost everyone will tell you the same: Equi’s in Hamilton. It is renowned all over for the delicious, world class ice-creams and sorbets, and is pretty unique in the area. It is always mobbed wether it’s rain or shine, but in the Summer it is stowed out the door. People queue up right down the street to get some of this icey goodness. My personal favourite is the Dimebar crunch, although the fudge is out of this world. You can get a one, two or three scoop tub, but a one scoop is actually a good two dollops, which is more than enough for anyone, although you only get one flavour so you might not be able to resist the 3 scooper! The wee café adjoined is also nice. My friends and i decided to sit in here on a whim one night, and ordered sundaes. I had a toffee and chocolate one and i kid you not, it was the biggest sundae i have ever seen. I did my best to eat it but i could only make it half way, Lord knows i gave it my best shot! They were 4.95 a pop but well worth it(altho i suggest you share) I have also had a chippy from here and the chips are among the best in South Lanarkshire. You will not be dissapointed.
Alison k.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Glasgow, United Kingdom
As one currently in the land of endless ice cream — Boston MA — and having sampled many many many ice cream places here, I feel it’s only ethical to review the standard against which all ice creams are held(in my view anyway — and, I reckon, in all hamiltonian’s hearts) Seven words — that’s all you need to know Vanilla, Mint Choc Chip, Wild Strawberry Yeah they have the other wacky(and equally delicious) flavours such as dime bar crunch, etc but these three classics together are for me just perfection! The best ice cream in the world!!! How can I say this? Well, apart from a personal love for this sweet sweet treat, my East Kilbride inlaws also choose Equis for ice cream goodness when the family is over. Must be hard for those from EK to realise that just 13 miles down the road, Hamilton is actually the superior town! ;-) So i’m sorry toscis, christina’s, emack and bolio, and all the rest I should have mentioned — whilst you are great temporary substitutions, this is the real deal! PS they are also a great chippie too!!!
Jagsru
Rating des Ortes: 2 Hamilton, United Kingdom
A Hamilton institution, ‘Equi’s’ is an ice-cream parlour that now seems overly reliant on the sentimental place it has in the hearts of folk from Hamilton and the surrounding area. It’s ice cream is excellent, though expensive, and it is a chip shop and café too. It is in the latter two aspects that Equi’s falls far short of expectations. There is little immediate replenishment of food items that are on offer, if sold out. The service in the chip shop and café is slow and staff conversation with regulars may leave new customers waiting, wanting and feeling cold. If the staff do not know you, there is not very much golden or happy about the service.
KM
Rating des Ortes: 5 Shet, United Kingdom
Peter Equi’s is the ultimate Ice Cream Parlour and is also renowned for selling fab fish and chips. Equi’s is situated just a couple of miles from the town centre of Hamilton — just around the corner from Hamilton West Train Station. It’s been around for decades, won copious awards (deservedly so!) and truly gets better with every year that goes by! If you love ice cream, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven when you walk through the door of Equi’s and whether you choose to sit in the modern, quirky diner style restaurant or just take-away your ice cream, you’ll be spoiled for choice as to what to have. They have every conceivable flavour of ice cream — and more besides. My personal favourites are strawberry or raspberry meringue and ‘Sophies Choice’ which is a rich vanilla flavour ice cream with honeycomb scattered through it. If you’re in the area you MUST come here — but be warned, on a warm(or even hot!) summers day, you can expect to queue for a while — the line often extends out of the shop and up the street!
Trish1
Rating des Ortes: 5 Motherwell, United Kingdom
Great place to go for a fish supper as its one of the best around. You might have a wait but its well worth it as the food is all fresh and delicous. My kids love going over for the ice cream which they sell by the tubs in lots of different flavours, throughout my last pregnancy i was often found there ordering raspberry ripple oh and their knickerbocker glories are just a wee treat. The restaurant part has always been busy and its not to large so many folk opt for the takeawy part.
Bigski
Rating des Ortes: 5 Motherwell, United Kingdom
absolutely the best fish and chip shop in area, food always cooked to perfection and always very tasty, nice little restaurant although not a lot of tables, but theres always take out if you cant get seated, always seems to be busy, ice cream as we all know has won awards and i must say very well deserved, lots of different varietys of ice cream on offer, with different types of wafer cones and tub sizes, quite reasonably priced, cheaper take outs in the area but none as good as equis, well worth going that extra few miles to taste the best chips around, just a pity they dont deliver to motherwell area, usually have lunchtime specials on offer which can save you a few bob too, goes towards that extra ice cream you will be tempted to buy.
Pigtai
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
This is a nice place to go for a special treat it has a take away area as well as the seating area. There is not a large number of tables though. On occasions they have ran out of various items such as strawberries but there is always plenty of other options to choose from including the usual knickerbocker glory to banana boat. We tend to go in for an ice cream rather than a meal as we tried to eat both and it just was too much for me. The food though is really nice so is nice for a special treat!
Iimacb
Rating des Ortes: 5 Hamilton, United Kingdom
Sitting in or taking out Equi’s is possibly the best fish and chip shop in Hamilton. Surprisingly the prices are cheaper than several other competitors, but the quality is hard to beat. Service is usually fast and efficient with helpful staff. This is one popular fish and chip shop/restaurant which also makes it’s own brand of ice cream. This is my first choice for a fish supper.