Creams Cafe Franchise

Creams Cafe operates as a dessert parlour rather than a traditional café, serving sundaes, waffles, crepes, milkshakes and its own artisan gelato, produced at a dedicated London facility using ingredients such as Madagascan vanilla and Sicilian lemons. The interiors lean into a 1950s American diner aesthetic, designed to convert high-footfall units into destination venues that appeal to families, students and evening visitors alike. Units typically trade from around 11am through to midnight, positioning the format to capture lunch, afternoon and late-evening trade in one site.

The brand markets itself as the largest dessert parlour chain in the UK, with stated ambitions to expand towards 300 sites in the UK and internationally. Head office support covers recruitment and training of new staff, marketing activity and product quality control, which is particularly relevant given that a typical store creates around 16 jobs, split roughly 40% full-time and 60% part-time. Creams Cafe is also an associate member of the British Franchise Association, which adds a layer of external accreditation to the franchise offer. The lower capital requirement relative to full-service restaurant concepts is presented as a route to a comparatively quicker return on investment, which is why the format tends to attract operators already running multiple units of other brands.

According to the official FAQs, the franchise fee is £15,000 plus VAT per unit, with an ongoing royalty of 5% of gross sales and a marketing contribution of 1% of gross sales. Third-party trade sources put total investment to open a single site in the region of £275,950 to £363,900, though this figure is not confirmed on the brand's own site and should be verified directly with the franchisor. Sites are expected to offer at least 1,500 sq ft, ideally with A3 (or acceptable A1) planning use, nearby parking, and proximity to complementary leisure and dining venues. A previously reported 20% discount on franchise fees does not appear confirmed on the official site at the time of writing, so it should not be assumed to still apply.

• Franchisor: Creams Franchising Ltd, head office in London
• First UK franchise opened: 2010 (per trade press; not independently confirmed elsewhere)
• Franchise fee: £15,000 plus VAT per unit
• Royalty: 5% of gross sales
• Marketing contribution: 1% of gross sales
• Total investment (trade estimate): approximately £275,950 to £363,900
• Minimum unit size: around 1,500 sq ft
• Network size: figures vary by source, broadly in the 87 to 100+ site range, with an expansion target of up to 300 sites
• Industry body: Associate member of the British Franchise Association
• International development: master franchise opportunities available outside the UK

If Creams Cafe's dessert parlour concept fits your ambitions, the next step is to contact the franchisor directly to confirm current fees, available territories and the full financial breakdown before making any commitment.