A father has expressed outrage after being charged £20 for four ice cream cones from a van in Burnley, Lancashire, during the cost of living crisis. Frank Krzyzanowski, 38, treated his family to 99 cones with flake and sauce from a Royd Ices van on Monday, August 4, 2025, but said his 'heart sank' when the card machine displayed the total.
Mr Krzyzanowski, who was with his partner Asya, 30, and their three children—Aneta, 16, Frank Jr, eight, and nine-month-old Adrian—claimed the prices were displayed in 'minuscule writing' on an A4 card. He said he felt 'trapped' and 'embarrassed' as the ice creams had already been made, leaving him no choice but to pay.
'Families are being charged up to £4.50 for a basic cone. It’s extortionate for a public park especially when cash is refused as it’s card only, so kids with pocket money can’t even buy one,' he said. He added that it was 'humiliating' and felt like being 'taken advantage of' in a public park with no cheaper alternatives.
A spokesperson for Royd Ices said the company is aware of the complaint and has been in contact with the local authority. They stated: 'Transparency is key to our retail operations and like many other retail outlets our prices are on display at the serving counter/display cabinet. Burnley Borough Council have a very strict consumer pricing policy which is very fair to the general public, which we completely adhere to.'
Burnley Borough Council has been contacted for comment. The incident has sparked debate about ice cream pricing amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
