Swoon Gelato celebrates 10 years on College Green with a night of decadence desserts
Posted on: 06 May 2026Swoon – the award-winning Bristol-born gelato brand – is celebrating a landmark milestone this spring: ten years since it first opened its doors on College Green. To mark a decade of handcrafted gelato, they invited friends, family and press down to the original branch on Park Street, for an evening of decadent desserts, where we heard the rich origin story of the business first-hand.
Founded in 2016 by Bruno Forte, whose Italian family introduced handmade gelato to Great Britain over 120 years ago, Swoon began its journey at 31a College Green, Bristol, with a simple but unwavering belief: that every life is made a little better by gelato.
Ten years on, that belief has been rewarded with more than 100 Great Taste stars, a Supreme Champion title at the Great Taste Awards 2019, and a loyal following that stretches far beyond Bristol.
“College Green is where it all began. My Italian family introduced handmade gelato to the UK over a hundred years ago, and when we opened on College Green ten years ago, we were bringing that tradition home in a new way. Every scoop we’ve served there has been made with the same love and the same belief in quality that drives everything we do. Reaching ten years feels extraordinary, and we wanted to celebrate with the community that made it possible.”
— Bruno Forte, Founder, Swoon Gelato
Embarking on a culinary journey
So, on Thursday 29th April, it was an utter delight to attend the anniversary event, and embark on a culinary journey which reflected the history Swoon; a concept brought to life by the Gelato Maestro Stefano Tarquino.
That journey comprised three plates, each with a trio of miniature desserts. The first featured some of Swoon’s initial hits: simple things done exceptionally well, like a smooth, self-contained bite of stracciatella and a dash of salted caramel sauce. The second included their mango sorbet, vegan pistachio gelato (served inside a pistachio macaron) and their award-winning nocciola, which was given 3 Great Taste stars back in 2019.
Lastly, the third plate was made up of Swoon’s signature flavours. We had small, perfectly-formed squares of tiramisu and brownie gelato – before we were let loose on the spectacular soft serve machine (and this isn’t soft serve as you know it). With sharp berry sauce and grated dark chocolate, it was a cup of light-yet-hearty perfection, and the ideal follow up to nine tiny bites of bliss.
A family-run gelato gem in the heart of Bristol
Alongside this tasting menu, there were touching speeches from Stefano and Bruno. It’s clear that Swoon is still very much a family affair, as Bruno’s wife Ana Maria leads the brand’s brilliant marketing and digital strategy. Co-founder Pat Powell (Bruno’s sister) is the creative force behind the brand’s instantly recognisable black-and-white aesthetic, overseeing everything from shop design to packaging.
Meanwhile, CEO Simon Blagden is guiding the business through its next phase of growth. Simon is one of the most experienced operators in the UK hospitality industry, having previously held the position of ops director at PizzaExpress, before joining Jamie Oliver’s restaurant group, where he headed the celebrity chef’s restaurant business from its launch in 2008. His depth of experience in scaling quality food brands makes him a natural fit to lead Swoon into its next decade.
To Winchester and beyond…
The anniversary comes at a moment of significant momentum for the brand. Swoon has also recently opened its sixth location, at 79a Parchment Street in Winchester, continuing its expansion across southern England. The brand now operates bars in Bristol, Bath, Oxford, Winchester, and a permanent concession within Selfridges Foodhall on London’s Oxford Street, with further openings planned.
Throughout its ten years, Swoon has remained steadfastly committed to the principles it was founded on: provenance, craft, and the very best ingredients — among them Somerset milk and Sicilian pistachios from the renowned Bronte growing region. All gelato recipes are developed exclusively for Swoon by Bologna-based gelato maestro Stefano Tarquinio of the Gelato University.
The College Green bar, which is the brand’s spiritual home, is open seven days a week, from 10am until 10pm.
Good news for Swoon-enthusiasts! The brand is launching a once-in-a-generation competition, giving one lucky winner a Gold Card entitling them to free gelato for an entire year.
Visit Swoon at 31a College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TB or for further information check tem out online at www.swoononaspoon.co.uk.
Article by:
Alys is a full-time copywriter, avid reader and podcast enthusiast currently based in Henleaze. As a recent transplant from the North, she’s keen to explore everything the South West has to offer, but is especially interested in exploring the food, art and culture scene in Bristol.
