Our Italian grandparents, Nonno Alfonso and Nonna Adelina, brought the magic of gelato to England in the early 1900s. They opened gelato bars across the UK, eventually settling on the South Coast. All our gelato was handmade daily using fresh, local ingredients, and these gelato bars became a hub for local communities to gather for gelato and coffee.
Inspired by this heritage, the Forte family—Bruno, his wife Ana Maria, mother Louise, and sister Patricia—launched Swoon Gelato to bring premium gelato to the UK. We continue to use traditional methods to slowly churn our gelato, along with high-quality, natural ingredients, to create the finest tasting gelato in a range of varieties and flavours.
We delight in bringing people together to enjoy our gelato and hope you love it as much as we do.
The team
Bruno Forte
Co-Founder
After years in the family hospitality business, Bruno discovered his calling at the Gelato University in Bologna—a 'wow' moment where he realised he could revive the high-quality, authentic gelato his family tradition was missing. Driven by this passion, he returned to the UK to found the first Swoon gelateria with his family in Bristol in 2016.
Pat Powell
Co-Founder
Pat is the creative force and Brand Visionary who defines the look, feel, and style of Swoon. She ensures that every visual element, from the packaging to the overall shop aesthetic, perfectly reflects the passion and premium quality of our handcrafted gelato. Pat’s dedication to style and detail is what makes our brand instantly recognisable and memorable to customers.
Ana Forte
Co-Founder
Ana is the architect of our marketing strategy, focusing on making the Swoon brand visible and exciting across all digital platforms. As Bruno’s wife, she brings a deep commitment to the family business, directing all efforts across social channels to achieve a far reach and foster a strong, engaged community around Swoon gelato.
Stefano Tarquinio
Gelato Maestro
Stefano is our passionate Gelato Maestro, channeling expertise from Carpigiani Gelato University and years running his own famous, high-quality shop in Bologna. He is the invaluable driving force behind every exceptional flavour we create.
Josh Margarson
Operations Manager
Josh, our Operations Manager, is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of all our gelato bars. He also plays a key role in the ongoing training and development of our teams, and collaborates closely with the directors to foster the growth of Swoon.
Deborah Hawkins
Business Development Manager
New to Swoon, but with a wealth of Hospitality experience especially within the B2B sector. Debs is the linchpin for Swoon's Retail and Wholesale proposition, collaborating with Partners and seeking opportunities to get Swoon Gelato closer to our customers than ever before. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she is a complete joy to work with