On a grey, overcast, bleak day in a seaside town that relies on warmth and sunshine, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium stands as a beacon of light.

Having been going for seven years in London, the Whitstable branch represents the firm’s first foray into Kent – and is another of the county’s hidden gems.

An Instagram account dedicated to showcasing the marvellous frozen creations of the family-run business has seen interest from people all around the world.

That same social media page is what caught my eye and, as a staunch ice cream enthusiast, it only felt right to saddle up and head over to the parlour.

The white and yellow frontage is fresh but not garish. It blends in with the surrounding area to the point where I could easily stroll past, were I not actively searching it out.

Yet when I rock up on a gloomy Friday afternoon, the shop is heaving, with plenty of bums on the very limited number of seats.

Possibly a symptom of spending so long labouring over choosing what to get, I’m suffering from decision paralysis so decide to pass the buck of the decision onto the staff and ask what they’d recommend.

They suggest the ice cream cake – apparently the only place in Kent you can get one – and a Glacier, where you smash three of your own toppings together with soft serve (a type of smooth ice cream that has been whipped or aerated in a machine).

I pick bubblegum sprinkles, Lotus Biscoff bits and Smarties with this – but there are about 30 different toppings to choose from, ranging from mildly healthy to downright dangerously sweet.

Coming in a little pot, the Glacier packs a lot of punch if you get the customisation right.

The ice cream cake is an interesting mix of white, brown and blue with soft serve, sprinkles and toasted marshmallows added for good measure.

Both of my dishes, by design, offer a brilliant variety of tastes with each bite – a constant education in the art of stimulating the tastebuds.

The ice cream cake in particular throws some really remarkable curveballs.

Who knew the combined taste of a toffee chocolate ball, roasted marshmallows and sprinkles could work? I definitely had my doubts.

Elsewhere, my partner is a bit more civilised and opts to try a scoop of basil white chocolate with passionfruit jam, as well as a dollop of gooseberry crumble.

For those of you who enjoy nutmeg or cinnamon, the gooseberry crumble has a similar sort of aftertaste – it’s like Christmas in your mouth.

The basil white chocolate choice is more savoury than sweet, something which will delight some and horrify others. The glorious passionfruit jam offers a sweet release for the sweet-toothed fiend in me.

Altogether, our desserts cost slightly over £18 – not quite McFlurry prices but by far exceeding expectations.

A woman next to us is tending to a “Rainbows are Forever” signature cone, which is a mix of sprinkles, popping candy and white chocolate and ice cream – a concoction she describes as “amazing”.

The truth is, I’d have been delighted to sample each bespoke creation if I had the capacity in my stomach and a bit more money in the bank.

In particular, I expect the mango and jasmine tea sorbet will capture the hearts of many.

The selection is just marvellous. There must genuinely be something here for everyone – even those who detest a sweet treat after a meal.

With the Glacier alone, you could visit there every day for 10 years and still not run out of possible combinations, which feels pretty good going.

The owner, whose name I did not catch, beams behind the counter as business comes and goes – which it does frequently.

Basking in the glory of his creations and the love the people have for them, this Willy Wonka of ice cream constantly ponders upon new flavours, ideas and experiences.

While the shop doesn’t quite compare to the allure of the fictitious chocolate factory, the pure joy the ice cream parlour brings is clear to see. What a fine addition to Kent’s food portfolio.