Frae has stepped up to the plate and is delivering delicious results.

The Venue
The second branch of Frae (the first is in Islington) is conveniently placed right next to Notting Hill Gate tube. The shop is bright, fresh looking and quite simple. Though the inside is quite small, it still feels roomy. There’s a booth by the window and various low wooden stools, which look like the ones you’d use for milking cows. The tables are equally as bijous and round, with pretty posies placed in shiny silver buckets. On the wall to the right is a large mural of a laughing lady in a bikini stretched out by a pool. It almost looks like a ‘50s glamour photo and gives the venue a kick of colour and life.

The Atmosphere
Frae is supremely laid back and easy going. The menu is printed on the wall and is easy to understand, making ordering a breeze. The staff are at hand to help customers out with their decisions by offering tastings of the three flavours, getting you fully involved in your frozen yoghurt process. Due to its location, you get a healthy mix of people from office workers to locals to students and tourists, mainly American, on the weekend. Weekends are typically their busiest time but they are open from 10am to midnight every day, so you’ll be able to get your fix.

The Food
Although it’s not the first frozen yoghurt establishment in the city, the other outlets could learn a lot from Frae. Frae is the old Scots word meaning ‘from’, which is their whole mantra. They know where all their produce is from and that it’s natural and organic. Their fruit comes from New Spitalfields market every morning, the ingredients for the yoghurt come from a farm in Scotland and the brownies they use as toppings are sourced from a bakery on Camden Passage.

There are three choices of frozen yoghurt: English strawberry, green tea and natural. The strawberry is deliciously creamy and smooth with a light hit of strawberry, the green tea is subtle and equally as smooth and the natural makes you want to pile it high with toppings. The best thing about it is the calories and fat content. A small tub (£2.50) is 83 calories, a medium (£3.10) 100 calories and a large (£3.95) 134 calories – and it’s fat free. Toppings only cost 60p and sauces 20p. There is a decent balance of good and naughty toppings to choose from. The good: mango, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, pineapple, banana, coconut, mochi (a glutinous squidgy rice cube that goes perfectly with the green tea flavour.) The terribly naughty but desperately divine: Oreos, chocolate chips, Kit Kats and brownies. The latter melts in the mouth and is absolutely dreamy. The difference with Frae is that the ingredients taste fresh and natural. Some places have a fake-ness to them, whereas Frae is a cut above.

The Drink
If you don’t fancy the full on nature of the frozen yoghurt, then their frozen yoghurt smoothies are a great substitute. Starting at £4 for a strawberry and banana one, it’s light and easily drinkable - and you feel like you have made a good start to your five a day. The Berry Mix (£4.30) is an excellent drink to have for breakfast. Consisting of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, natural yoghurt and a shot of skimmed milk, it feels like a meal rather than a drink. It boosts your energy levels and leaves you satisfied and full. They taste incredibly fresh and wholesome and as you know where the produce has come from, it’s more reassuring to drink. There’s also a selection of coffees from espressos (£1.50) to cappuccinos (£1.90) to soya lattes (£1.95).

The Last Word
Frae doesn’t need gimmicks, it has substance instead. They say the proof is in the pudding and that’s certainly true with Frae.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (2)