Ice cream sellers and punting businesses are nervously looking up at the skies after a particularly damp summer has left them feeling anxious about sales. 

Oxfordshire grappled with 18 days of rain over the course of July and a further yellow weather warning for thunderstorms was issued on Wednesday this week. 

The rotten weather has been far from ideal for selling ice cream. 

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Lewis Ratto, director at Alfonso Gelateria on Banbury Road in Oxford, said: “It’s been pretty dramatic and quite obvious.

Oxford Mail: Lewis Ratto, director at Alfonso Gelateria Lewis Ratto, director at Alfonso Gelateria (Image: Ed Nix)

“Every year you have good months and bad months. It’s part of the business.

“This year’s a bit more unusual because there’s never been such a big period of bad weather.” 

Mr Ratto opened his first Gelateria in 2015 and has also shops in Witney and Woodstock. 

He explains that the biggest impact of the weather is a psychological one for whether people want to eat ice cream.

Mr Ratto added: “I still remember August 2019 as a particularly windy one and in a few years time I’ll still remember July 2023." 

Graham MacDonald, who owns Gelateria iScream in the Covered Market, told the Oxford Mail that he has also been feeling the impact of the rain. 

He said: “I do the sun dance instead of the rain dance but that doesn’t seem to work." 

The businessman pointed out that it helps to be in the Covered Market because a lot of people come inside to shelter from the rain.

Oxford Mail: Graham MacDonald of iScream gelateria in the Covered MarketGraham MacDonald of iScream gelateria in the Covered Market

For Andrew Howard, director at Oxford Punting, the situation is more black and white.

People simply don’t want to go punting in the rain. 

He explained: “People are struggling to plan to go out on the river, with picnics or for proposals.

“Last year everyday was sunny, it seemed to go on and on and on. 

Oxford Mail: Andrew Howard, director at Oxford Punting Andrew Howard, director at Oxford Punting

Mr Howard told the Oxford Mail that his biggest fear is reaching the end of the season having not made enough money to replace punts and cushions for next year. 

Graham Jones, of traders' group ROX – Backing Oxford Businesses – said he sympathises with businesses at the moment. 

Mr Jones added: "It is tough for them. It's been a bad month but it's British weather so it is unpredictable. 

"I was at Cherwell Boathouse a couple of weeks ago. It was nice weather that day but there were not many punts shored up.

"It raises the question of how many visitors are even coming into Oxford whether the weather is poor or not.

"But it should help having new hotels such as The Store which encourages visitors to stay for longer.

"It's swings and roundabouts but I do hope for better weather to help business."