The cafe was opened in 1910 by my grandfather, Domenico Sidoli. The premises were chosen because it had a large rear area suitable for making ice cream. This ice cream was sold in the three kiosks we operated on Rhyl promenade and in the cafe itself. The cafe has a wide shop front and in those early years the windows were used to display sweets, chocolates and tobacco. The cafe sold tea, coffee and cold drinks. It also had a soda fountain, however, the best selling drink in those days was tea.
In 1939 when the war broke out my grandfather and father were interned on the Isle of Man. Our ice cream kiosks were lost. Fortunately, my grandfather had three daughters and they ran the cafe very successsfully during the war years. The cafe was packed with soldiers drinking coffee. Some were even drinking it outside.
After the war my father took over the running of the cafe. Ice cream, which was banned during the war years, was reintroduced and people were queuing outside - even blocking the doorways of neighbouring properties in order to buy some.
The 1950s and '60s were also boom times. The cafe was refurbished with a different counter, new tables and chairs, and new lighting. The opening hours in the '50s and early '60s were 10am to 10pm seven days a week. Customers would come in the evening after going to the cinema and have a hot chocolate, Horlicks or Ovaltine before going home.
At the present time the cafe is run by myself, my mother and sister with some part time staff. We are making a living selling roughly the same products we have always sold. 
your comments
Dave Williams - ex Rhylite
Sidoli's - Wow. It was a case of hopping on the trusty Raliegh and pedal like blazes to pick up that famous tub of vanilla and then back even faster to 'share' some of it with my siblings at the house on Elwy Drive. Just another fun Sunday in Rhyl in about 1950 or so! Happy Days.
Thu Feb 19 08:48:59 2009
Geoff Maltby, Gold Coast, Queensland
Sidoli's was always a stopping off point when walking into town down Wellington Road. The coffee they turned out was awesome and they always had the creamiest of ice creams. If I should ever get back to my birthplace (Rhyl), I would hope that Sidoli's Cafe is still there for me.
Wed Nov 12 09:04:47 2008
Iain Goodwin, Rhyl
We have created a group which now has 20 members on Facebook. 'Is Sidoli ice cream the best?'
Mon Oct 27 08:50:17 2008
Arthur Underhill from Rhyl
About 1947 when we were 17 to 20 year olds, a crowd of us boys & girls used to meet every Sunday afternoon in Sidolis; Tony Sidall, Arthur Mee, Hughie Dowell, Megan Reece, to name but a few. They were happy days - 60 years ago.
Mon Aug 25 19:11:05 2008
Jo Cunningham
Is this the same family that had cafes in Shrewsbury? Aldo was a friend of my husband and I would love to have some news of him and Dominic. (I'm talking about the late 50s here!)
Mon Aug 11 11:23:27 2008
Michael Prince, Stirling
Sidoli's is the most amazing time capsule. The owners kindly let me take some photographs last Saturday morning. I've posted them onto my website. I hope you like them - flickr.com/photos/michaelprince
Wed Apr 30 09:07:25 2008
Mike Demack, Rhuddlan
Other local businesses to recall - particularly the 1950s - Tudor Coffee Bar at the High St entrance to Brookes' Bros car park, The Roma coffee bar on the front with clear pyrex cups and Wimpys - one cup to last all evening on a Sunday night. The Bee jazz club. Rhyl Grammar tuck shop and the Twiggs - lunchtime meals of Chelsea Buns - Greaves record shop in Prestatyn and the sound proof hoods to listen to Tommy Steele, Elvis and all the other pop tunes of the day.
Mon Mar 17 09:32:32 2008
Robert Davies, Reading
In the early 1950s I regularly cycled from Denbigh to Rhyl with my father. Two rituals were religiously observed on each trip - a bag of cakes from the bakers shop in Water Street, to be eaten on a bench outside the fire station, then a trip round the corner to Sidoli's in Wellington Road. I always chose a wafer which could be made in different thicknesses, a 3d or a 6d I seem to remember. The thickness ordered depended on how much pocket money was available. The self-imposed challenge was to make it last as long as possible. My favoured technique was to lick all the way round, then squash the biscuits together and start licking again. This process was repeated until the last drop of ice cream had been forced out. Only then could the biscuits be nibbled, by which time they were quite limp and soggy. Happy days. Long may you continue to make the best ice cream I have ever tasted.
Wed Jan 9 10:27:20 2008
Robin Jones from Guildford
In the late 40s, early 50s our Sunday afternoon routine was Sunday School in Water Street, Sidoli's for wafers and cornets and then a drive in the country. Need I say which was the highlight for me!
Tue Oct 16 09:37:10 2007
Maureen Broadhurst, Magnolia Texas
I lived in Dyserth in the late 50s early 60s and Rhyl was my stomping ground as a teenager - today, I still maintain that the famous Sidoli ice cream from Rhyl is the best ever.
Tue Oct 9 08:21:54 2007
Jean Sherriff, Rhyl
Just the name Sidolis brings back so many happy memories of old friends. During the war years my friends and I always met there as did many young soldiers. I always remember in the winter months the roaring fires. I now meet up there with family and friends and talk over old times. Thank you Sidolis for so many happy memories.
Thu Sep 27 08:58:02 2007
Gareth Jones, Yr Wyddgrug/Mold
I grew up in Rhyl and used to love getting ice cream in tubs from Sidoli's on Wellington Road in the 1960s and 70s. To me it used to taste better than any other ice cream but I have to be honest and say I haven't sampled it in years - I will do so next time I'm back in Rhyl to check it is still as good! Well done and thanks to the Sidoli family for serving the town faithfully and well for so long! Long may you prosper.
Mon Sep 10 09:31:50 2007
Miss Jones of Rhyl
Sidoli's has the nicest ice cream in the whole world. Plus I was taught RE by Miss Sidoli - she is a lovely person.
Mon Sep 3 08:52:59 2007
David Hughes
What a tremendous institution Sidoli's Cafe is. I remember my mum telling me that it was the "in" place to try the new frothy coffee in the late forties and fifties. Our annual pilgrimage to the fair on Easter Monday, led by my Nain, would not be complete until the grown-ups had had a coffee and the children had all had a milkshake or Corona and an ice cream. I remember being fascinated by the large model of an ice cream cone that was always displayed outside the shop. I always wondered if anyone had ever ordered one that size. They rate a mention in my book, The Reso. Congratulations to the several generations of the Sidoli family who have served Rhyl so well - long may they continue.
Thu Aug 30 11:00:27 2007
Stuart Jones, Rhyl
They make nice coffee in here. It is nice now that is a non-smoking cafe. It is nice to come in here and spend ten minutes of your day taking a break and sitting with a frothy coffee whilst looking out of the window letting the world go by. It really amazes me as to how many people I know that walk past. Save Rhyl Queens.
Mon Jul 23 12:06:06 2007
Mike Demack, Rhuddlan
Yes support local businesses. My wife and I make a regular visit to Les & Rita's Chip Shop close by Sidoli's. We used to take our children to their shop by the cattle market in Chester in the 70s, they moved to Rhyl in later years. And can I get my Sidoli's without my wife seeking her wafer - of course not!
Fri May 25 15:07:55 2007
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