Chocolate and York Media pack

Indulge Yourself in York – Home of Chocolate

M. Sury’s Oxford Chocolate House pamphlet in 1660

Cacao tree – Theobroma Cacao – literally “cocoa food for the gods” – is mainly found growing in central and eastern South American and West African areas. There is evidence that the pre-Mayan Olmecs from 1500 BC up to about 400 BC already knew cacao, but it was the Mayans who cultivated, manufactured and consumed chocolate, sometimes even spicing it with vanilla, honey or chilli peppers. Cocoa has always been precious product – Mayans already traded with cocoa. One could pay 10 cocoa beans for a prostitute. The Aztec king Montezuma II adopted cocoa as currency, establishing a bean bank and allowing payments in cocoa beans. He himself apparently drank about 50 cups on cocoa every day. The early European visitors, blinded by their search for gold, failed on first sight to realise the true value of cocoa beans. Columbus took a few back to Spain, where they raised not even the slightest curiosity. A legend has it that a crew of pirates stumbled across a horde of the dark gold, but thinking the beans must be rabbit droppings they threw the beans overboard. Even though Chocolate arrived to London already in mid-17th century, York has long had a reputation as the City of Chocolate, partially due to the sizable factories created by Rowntree’s and Terry’s during the 20th century. York’s sitting on the river brought many ingredients and raw materials into the city from afar, but it was the boom of the railway industry that sent chocolate products rapidly around the country, making Terry’s and Rowntree’s household names nationwide. Many of York’s industrial neighbours found wealth in cotton mills, steel and coal during the Industrial Revolution, York’s democratic structure and ruling merchants prevented many of these businesses from locating to York, except for chocolate. For York it all started in 1725, when at the age of 30, Mary Tuke set up a grocer’s business on Fossgate. Her descendants began trading in cocoa in 1785. To be able to trade in the city, merchants had to be freemen of the city of York and members of the Company of Merchant Adventurers’. Being a woman, Mary could only join the Merchant Adventurers’ as the daughter or widow of a member. Mary was neither and the Company attempted to impose fines, threaten with prison and have Mary put out of business for seven years. Thankfully Mary refused to give in and in 1862 the Cocoa and Chocolate side of the business was taken up by Henry Isaac Rowntree, a young apprentice who had joined the business to learn more about the trade. Meanwhile, Bayldon and Berry were busy making medicines and using a sweet new arrival – sugar, to “help the medicine go down”. Joseph Terry joined the company when he married into the Berry family, before taking over the company and renaming it Terry’s of York. In 18th and 19th century York was a fashionable place with Royal Manors, grand Assembly Rooms for sociable dinners and balls, and a Lord Mayor with a stately residence.

By this pleasing drink health is preserved, sickness diverted. It cures Consumptions and Coughs of the Lungs; it expels poison, cleanseth the teeth, And sweetneth the Breath; provoketh Urine; cureth the stone and strangury, Maketh Fatt and Corpulent, faire and amieable

Surrounded by a public of such discerning taste, Terry’s and Rowntree’s both found success and the perfect audience for their confectionery products. The world of steam power and railways brought many workers to the city, enabling York chocolate empires to grow with product distribution. In 1836 Joseph Terry together with Thomas Hide, Confectioner from Ousegate York and 20 other confectionery makers formed industry standards for Confectioners and Lozenge Makers. Setting high production standards for the industry, York has a long history of being instrumental in shaping the confectionery tastes of the nation. York had a great number of confectioners for a small city, not just the two big names we remember today. Mary Craven’s shop and factory on Coppergate produced boiled sweets since the 1805. After the factory moved to a site on Poppleton Road, the excavation work of Coppergate was carried out. This led to the discovery of the Viking remains and the Jorvik Viking Centre being created. Today York is left with a lasting legacy seen in the buildings around the city, created to service our demands for sweets, in the social change pioneered by the chocolate makers, in the products that still adorn the supermarket shelves and in the culinary taste, artisan producers, restaurants and growers that operate in the city now. Did you know this about York?

5 million Kit Kats are produced in York every day – over 1 billion every year. Top chocolate brands such as Kit Kat, Aero, Smarties, After Eight, Yorkie, Chocolate Orange and

Black Magic were all created in York The Rowntree factory once employed 14,000 staff, employing teachers and gardeners as well as

the factory workers New Earswick is located on the outskirts of York, it was created by Joseph Rowntree as a “Model

Village” as an alternative to the slums of York and housed many of his workers. Still today there are no pubs in New Earswick.

Rowntree’s owned York’s first motor car, which they used to promote the brand by creating a giant can of Elect Cocoa and putting it on the car. The public would come from miles around to see the spectacle. The car once broke down in Sheffield city centre getting the drivers arrested for being a nuisance. The giant tin of cocoa would often fall over due to being too heavy.

Terry’s first created the Chocolate Apple before the iconic Chocolate Orange. There was also a Chocolate Lemon in the 1980s.

The competitive rivalry between Cadbury and Rowntree’s is thought to have inspired Roald Dahl to create Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dahl went to school in Derbyshire. It might have been the school trip to the Rowntree factory that shaped his imagination.

In 1921 Rowntree very generously bought a piece of land next to the Terry’s factory and donated it to the City of York as a public park.

In 1926 Terry’s moved to a larger factory site next to The Knavesmire as someone had bought the land next to their factory, preventing them from expanding.

The Terry’s clock tower is an iconic building frequently featured on race days as it lies next to York Racecourse.

The relocation of the Craven’s Sweet factory from Coppergate to a location outside of the city led to the excavation of Coppergate. During the excavation the remains of York Vikings were discovered – now collated in the Jorvik Viking Centre.

At Christmas 1914 The Lord Mayor and Sheriff generously sent a bar of Rowntrees chocolate to every York man fighting in the Great War. One of these tins with the original chocolate bar inside can be seen at the Mansion House.

A tin of Rowntree’s Elect Cocoa was taken by Shackleton to the Antarctic in 1908. It was discovered completely intact 50 years later and is now housed in the Nestlé archives in York, its taste has been pronounced to be in “excellent condition”.

Rowntree’s two children were mascots for the company: “The Cocoa Nibs” Plain ‘Mr York’ was an iconic automated character introduced in the 1920’s. Mr York of York, was

featured in the first animated advertisement with sound and promoted the Motoring Chocolate bar with a wide range of merchandise created to promote Mr York and Rowntree’s. Mr York is today housed in the Nestlé archive in York.

A York bar of chocolate was once presented to the then Princess Elizabeth. It was made with cocoa, sugar and vanilla all grown in the atrium at the Rowntree factory.

As part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, York’s Chocolate Story launched a campaign to ask the people of York for their memories of working in the chocolate factories of Rowntree's, Terry's and Craven's.

The Queen was the first person to ever receive a bar of entirely English chocolate, made from cocoa beans grown in the Rowntree's hot house in York. Nestlé in York also has some rare footage of the Queen's father on a visit to the Rowntree's works in 1920 and the factory has had the Royal Warrant since the days of Queen Victoria.

York produces 80,000 tonnes of confectionery a year. Kit Kat is very popular in Japan where the name sounds like ‘kitto katsu’ – a Japanese phrase that

means “surely you will succeed”. US research suggests the higher a country's chocolate consumption, the more Nobel laureates it

spawns.

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History

HRH the Prince of Wales, 31 May 1923 whilst flying over the factory on a biplane.

Rowntree

Joseph Rowntree was a Quaker who is remembered and revered both for his outstanding work towards improving the life of working people (including his own employees) and for his work in the famous Rowntree confectionery company. In 1827 his father set up a grocer’s shop in Pavement (now a Pizza Hut restaurant), where Joseph learnt the trade. Joseph's younger brother Henry, knowing that he would never inherit the grocery business, went to work as an apprentice for his cousins – the Tuke family, who were dealing with tea, coffee and cocoa. Mary Tuke had set up the grocer shop in Walmgate in 1725. The business grew, and began importing tea coffee and cocoa on a large scale. By 1862 the cocoa side of the business had become so big that the Tukes decided to pass it on to Rowntrees. In 1862, Henry Isaac Rowntree acquired the cocoa side of his cousins business. Henry was not a brilliant businessman and was near in bankruptcy when in 1869 his elder brother Joseph was sent to assess its finances and rescue his business. Henry died in 1883 and the business passed to his brother who, in time, expanded the business to the chocolate factory on Haxby Road that we know today. He set up three influential Trusts (which is extended to four) that still bear his name today, and which continue his legacy in the fields of poverty, housing, international peace, social justice and democratic reform. Rowntree later merged with Mackintosh, and the joint company became part of Nestlé in 1988. Many sweets and chocolate bars that are a much-loved part of British life are manufactured in the York factory, like Kit Kat, Aero, Milkybar and Yorkie. Terry’s

York’s other great chocolate name is Terry’s. The firm began in 1767 and was founded by Mr Bayldon and Mr Berry. The Terry’s name first appeared when Joseph Terry became a partner in 1823. The site in Bishopthorpe Road remained the hub of Terry’s confectionery production in Britain until its closure in 2005. At peak seasons over 700 people were employed at the plant to produce world-renowned delights such as Terry’s All Gold. The Terry family has been involved in the highly successful business for generations, and the present-day representative, Peter Terry, is honorary president of what is now a £140 million business. Terry’s has operated under the ownership of Kraft Jacobs Suchard since 1993. Craven’s

In 1822, when Joseph Hick opened a confectionery business at 48 Coney Street, York. Thomas Craven, became apprenticed to the firm of Berry and Hide, where he was to learn the art of confectionery. By 1843, and by now a Master Confectioner, he was in a position to take over the business and married Joseph’s youngest daughter, Mary Ann Hick in 1851. This was a shrewd move as Mary inherited her father’s confectionery business when he died in 1860. Alas, their good fortune was to be short lived as Thomas died just two years later.

“Surely this is one of the biggest factories in the World!”

Widowed, and with several children to support, she had no choice but to roll up her sleeves and get involved in the running of the Craven’s confectionery business. Just four years later she was listed in Melville’s Directory of Business for York as a ‘manufacturing confectioner with premises in Coney Street, Pavement and Coppergate’, a remarkable achievement in an age when women were rarely involved in business. Craven’s became the world's largest boiled sweet manufacturer and is now owned by a global confectionery company, Tangerine. Tangerine is based at one of the original Craven’s factory sites on the outskirts of York where it manufactures sugar and toffee-based confectionery including Jameson’s Raspberry Ruffles, Tavener’s Toffees and Barratt Refresher lollies.

Did you know…? The successful chocolate industry brought economic stability to 19th century York. York’s superior railway connections were vital to the success of its chocolate industry. Nestlé’s Chunky Kit Kat has been one of the retailing sensations of the past decade. You can still see what was a very sumptuous Terry’s chocolate shop and restaurant in St Helen's Square. It now houses the jewellery shop Swarovski. The first Terry’s chocolate ‘fruit’ to be made in York wasn’t the famous Orange, but a Terry’s Chocolate Apple. Surveys reveal that Terry’s Chocolate Orange finds its way into one in ten Christmas stockings. In 2011 Nestlé opened a new archive to secure historical records of York’s rich chocolate making history.

Nestlé Archive An advertising robot, a stained-glass window and the tin of cocoa that was with Scott of the Antarctic when he died - these are only a few of the items which form part of a new Nestlé UK archive created at the company’s factory complex in York. The state-of-the-art facility has been built to preserve documents, films, artefacts and artworks from all of Nestlé’s UK sites, with climate and humidity controls to preserve its contents, and specially fitted lights designed to filter out harmful UV rays. Highlights of the archive include a collection of more than 300 Nestlé films that were recently uncovered in a wall cavity at the company’s base in Croydon, the original pre-war artwork for the classic Black Magic advertising campaigns, a rare collection of hundreds of 1920s chocolate moulds and thousands of photographs, magazines, catalogues and other documents. The famous stained-glass window comes from the Haxby Road site’s oldest office, while the robot dates back to an advertising campaign from the 1920s. The archive was the brainchild of Nestlé UK archivist Alex Hutchinson, and its launch was attended by Giles Naish, who works at Nestlé in York and is the great-great-grandson of Joseph Rowntree.

Cadbury, Fry, the Rowntree & York connection George Cadbury and Lewis Fry were both apprenticed to Joseph Rowntree Senior (Lord Mayor of York) at his grocers shop on Pavement where they learnt the trade along with his son Joseph Rowntree Junior who became the famous chocolate magnate. Mssrs Cadbury and Fry seniors were both making chocolate before their sons went to York.

George Cadbury returned home to take over the business with his brother, built the new Garden factory and the Garden Village and made the Cadbury business what it is today. Lewis Fry went into politics. The sons learnt the grocery trade, the ancient and delicate art of tea blending, coffee roasting, ketchup making, the buying and storing of perishable produce, patting of butter etc. This all happened before 1860. In 1860 the Food and Drugs Act was passed which meant that manufacturers, grocers and others in food industry could no longer tamper with food in order to make quick money. Until that time, and for a short period after, it was common to find your tea leaves had been mixed with old used tea leaves, wax in the chocolate or poisonous food colouring in sweets. All confectionery roads in Britain appear to lead to York. York is not only home to the beginnings of three major confectionery firms in York, but also the beginnings of three different attitudes to confectionery (Rowntree’s grocery trade, Terry's medicinal and novelty trade and Craven's retail trade), which shaped the confectionery industry.

Things to See and Do

See, hear, touch, smell and taste – all five senses were in chocolate heaven this spring when the UK’s ‘home of chocolate’ celebrated the fourth annual York Chocolate Festival at a host of chocolate-themed venues around the city in April 2015.

SEE

Blood & Chocolate

In 2013, Pilot Theatre created a unique theatrical experience telling the story of the Quakers and World War I. Blood & Chocolate was performed as a promenade performance around the city streets, and received rave reviews. Now it is available on YouTube on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DgqP6TqHSo.

York Chocolate Trail

Take a mouth-watering wander through time, packed full of chocolate, pioneers and famous confectionery. Pick up a free York Chocolate Trail leaflet from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre on 1 Museum Street and follow the Chocolate history around the city. Terry’s Sweet Shop at the York Castle Museum

Terry’s of York was one of Britain’s oldest confectionery making companies and was one of the first to make eating chocolate rather than drinking chocolate. When its factory in York closed on 30 September, 2005, York Castle Museum received over 400 objects including photographs, packaging, publicity catalogues – and chocolates, which they are now displaying at the Museum.

Joseph Rowntree Theatre

The Joseph Rowntree Theatre was designed by the well-known architect Barry Parker and built in 1935. Back then it was then known as The Joseph Rowntree Hall, but was renamed The Joseph Rowntree Theatre in 1946. The total cost of building the theatre was £12,000, which was provided by the Joseph Rowntree Village Trustees. Simple architectural features, combined with a warm colour scheme and hidden lighting, were designed to give an intimate and welcoming atmosphere to the 450 seater auditorium. The hall was equipped with the most up to date acoustics, lighting and heating system and a magnificent curved cyclorama. The hall was opened on 18 November 1935 by Seebohm Rowntree, Chairman of the then Rowntree & Co Limited, with the aim of providing a hall which may be a fitting centre for those recreational and educational activities which make for a full and happy life. www.jrtheatre.co.uk

Rowntree Park

Rowntree Park is a short walk from the city centre, situated on Terry Avenue by the River Ouse. The park was a gift to the City of York by Messrs Rowntree & Co. in 1921 and is a memorial to the Cocoa Works staff who fell and suffered during World War I. A set of listed gates off Terry Avenue were added to the park in memory of those who fell in the World War II. Bronze plaques mark both occasions within the centrally located Lych Gate. The park has woodland walks, tree trails, ornamental lake with ducks and geese, half of the lake available for use for model boats, two bowling greens, six tennis courts, skate park, basketball court and well equipped children's play area. Mansion House

Mansion House was a home to Joseph Terry four times in his role as Lord Mayor of York. The Mansion House was built as a home, and a place for the Lord Mayor to entertain visitors to the city, and also to house the wonderful civic collections. Still used today for the same purpose, the Mansion House is also open for exploring. Terry’s Shop and Tea Rooms

Now a Swarovski jewellery shop, once the building was housed by Terry’s Shop and Tea Rooms. The signs can still be seen with the name being quite visible. Fairfax House

Fairfax House houses the exceptional Noel Terry Collection of English Furniture and Clocks. This collection, which was given to York Civic Trust in 1980 following Noel Terry’s death, comprises some of the best examples of British cabinet-making and horology. The superb Noel Terry collection of furniture, clocks, paintings and decorative arts, has been described as one of the finest private collections of the twentieth century. Pizza Hut, Pavement St

Now a Pizza Hut, the Pavement street venue was once The Rowntree store created by Joseph Rowntree senior.

HEAR

Choccy & Sweetie Tour by YorkWalk

Join the Choccy & Sweetie Tour, explore the locations in York best known for their chocolate history and hear the history of Terrys & Rowntree’s, visit Choccy and Sweetie shops and taste free samples. www.yorkwalk.co.uk York’s Chocolate Story York’s Chocolate Story is an entertaining and informative guided tour through the history of York’s most famous chocolate-making families and their finest creations. Discover chocolate’s origins, how to make it, how to taste it like an expert and even the sustainable future of chocolate. Uncover a host of surprising secrets and fascinating facts behind York’s greatest chocolate products, from the Chocolate Orange to the globally famous KitKat. www.yorkschocolatestory.com

TOUCH

York Cocoa House Chocolate School The art of chocolate making is a wonderful skill that will always impress. There's very few things that don't taste better with chocolate. The most fantastic thing is that it can be perfected so very easily by all ages and abilities. York Cocoa House has chocolate workshops at a range of different levels, from their drop-in Chocolate Lollipop activities and their one hour Taster Workshops to more in-depth Chocolate Masterclasses. There’s always an option to join their Chocolate Apprentice Course with a dedicated week to work with chocolate. www.yorkcocoahouse.co.uk/chocolate-school York’s Chocolate Story

York’s Chocolate Story offers educational workshops for children and fun chocolate Masterclasses to adults. Workshops last one hour and are hosted in a partner venue just a short walk away from York’s Chocolate Story. For children there are different themed chocolate workshops – the newest for 2015 is for for 5-7 year olds ‘Adventures in the Chocolate Factory’ where children can delve into the world of Roald Dahl’s classic ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Chocolate Masterclasses are the best place to learn the secrets of the York’s chocolatiers with a glass of choccy cocktail.

Betty’s Cookery School

Bettys has over 95 years of experience lovingly hand crafting a beautiful selection of chocolates. Led by an expert Bettys chocolatier, this course is a great all-rounder, covering a wide range of chocolate-making techniques. From the delicate art of hand-tempering and hand-dipping chocolate to creating indulgent fillings and different finishes. www.bettyscookeryschool.co.uk

Yorkshire Soap Company

Walking into the Yorkshire Soap Company shop in York would make anyone feel like Alice in Wonderland with the Wizard of Oz music on the background and fantastic looking little cakes and chocolates wonderfully presented on cake trays.

But it’s not just the shop that feels like out of this world! Handmade on site, the Yorkshire Soap Company makes chocolate-scented soap bars and chocolate scented soap cupcakes to leave you smelling good enough to eat! www.yorkshiresoap.co.uk

Chocolate Treatments at Solaris Treatment Room

York-based massage therapist – Ana Guerrero offers indulgent chocolate treatments from Dark Chocolate Facial to Full Body Dark Chocolate Massage – there’s a lot to choose from at Solaris Treatment Room. www.solaristherapeuticmassage.co.uk

SMELL

Nestlé Chocolate Factory

Nestlé UK has been a part of life in the UK since the 1860s. The company has its roots in three big organisations; Nestlé, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company and Rowntree’s of York. The first two merged in 1905 and then took over Rowntree’s in 1988. Nestlé Chocolate Factory is now situated on Haxby Road in York but covers the whole city with the smells of chocolate reaching to the Racecourse. If you’d like to track the delicious chocolate smell follow @YorkChocAroma on Twitter and see maps highlighting the likely coverage based on wind speed and direction. www.twitter.com/yorkchocaroma www.nestle.co.uk

TASTE

Goddard’s Garden, National Trust The cherished family home of Noel Goddard Terry, owner of the famous chocolate-making firm Terry’s of York is now opened to the public. It’s a true hidden gem - only a stone's throw away from York City Centre. The house has selected rooms displayed to give glimpses into the family home and working chocolate factory. The garden includes yew-hedged garden rooms, bowling green, wilderness gardens and plants for every season; it is also an oasis for wildlife. A trip to Goddards is incomplete without a visit to the Terry family’s beautiful Dining Room where Goddard’s offers light lunch, refreshing drinks and the signature chocolate orange cake. Or why not enjoy a glass of Sherry whilst relaxing in the armchairs. On the Lavender Terrace snacks and sips are offered in the beautiful 1920's style rattan chairs. Curl up with a gin and tonic, bloody mary, Pimms or light snacks such as cheese and biscuits or scones and enjoy the sun. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards

York’s Chocolate Story Chocolate Bar Café

The perfect destination for chocolate lovers to pick up a deliciously decadent snack. Hot chocolate is one for the chocolate connoisseur, made with only the highest quality chocolate with nine distinct flavours to choose from. Or why not choose from our range of divinely decadent shakes. Simply pick from our extensive range of delicious ice cream. We serve a sublime range of fresh chocolates created in house by our chocolatiers every day and stock a huge range of fabulous handmade brownies and tray bakes. For those looking to share our legendary luxurious Chocolate Fondue for Two is the perfect option!

York Cocoa House Afternoon Chocolate

York Cocoa House offers Chocolatada with the Afternoon Chocolate Menu, a combination of the Cocoa House specialities all made with chocolate! It can’t get any more chocolatey! Chocolate was once regarded as a hot liquor along with tea and coffee, to be enjoyed in polite society. Middlethorpe Hall & Spa Piper Heidsieck ‘Sublime’ Chocolate Afternoon Tea

Middlethorpe hall was once home to Terry Family and is located close to both the Terry’s of York chocolate factory and Head Offices on Bishopthorpe Road, and National Trust Goddards, a residence they had built overlooking the Racecourse. Middlethorpe Hall’s grand public rooms are therefore the perfect place to treat and indulge in the unique Chocolate Afternoon Tea served together with a glass of award winning Piper Heidsieck ‘Cuvée Sublime Champagne.

Chocolate Shops in York

Bettys Café Tea Rooms Hotel Chocolat Monk Bar Chocolatiers York Cocoa House York’s Chocolate Story

Chocolate Stays in York

Hotel Indigo – NEW!

Hotel Indigo York, on Walmgate, the city’s thriving foodie destination and the birthplace of York’s chocolate making empire, will be working with York Chocolate Story to offer visitors an authentic taste of Britain’s chocolate heritage. The soon to open 101 room boutique hotel is partnering with one of York’s most popular attractions to offer visitors leisure deals to include chocolate making workshops and guided tours, taking them on a journey through York’s rich chocolate history. Within easy walking distance from the heart of York, the hotel will be equally suitable for both business and leisure travellers. PR contacts: Lisa Ronchetti. Email: lisa@adhocpr.com. Tel: 077903 869 669. Lara Huberman. Email: lara@adhocpr.com. Tel: 07799 416 225. Ad Hoc PR. Limes

The Limes is a beautiful family run late Victorian house. Book a chocolate break with Limes and enjoy delicious chocolates during your relaxing stay at this brilliant B&B. BEST WESTERN PLUS Dean Court Hotel

Choose either a Chocolate Indulgence Break or I Love Chocolate break. Chocolate Indulgence Break is for chocoholics everywhere with many super chocolate treats that have been arranged. I Love Chocolate break includes a box of Handmade Chocolates in the room with many other chocolate goodies.

yOrK’s CHOCOLaTe sTOry

York’s Chocolate Story, located in the heart of York, is an entertaining and informative guided tour through the history of York’s most famous chocolate-making families and their finest creations. Visitors can discover chocolate’s origins, how to make it, how to taste it like an expert and even the sustainable future of chocolate. There is so much to see, including live chocolate-making demonstrations from skilled chocolatiers and a host of fascinating chocolate artefacts. Visitors can even get hands-on and make their own chocolates in the Factory Zone and create their very own chocolate delights. Once guests have explored chocolate-making and its history, they can shop for and indulge in the finest chocolate in the attraction’s café and shop. The attraction is divided into three key zones:

Story Zone – engaging storytellers take visitors back thousands of years to the rainforests of Central America where it all began. Moving through the history of chocolate’s founding families visitors learn the fascinating facts and surprising secrets behind their finest creations.

Factory Zone – explore chocolate-making and its history in the Factory Zone. Learn how a simple cocoa bean is transformed into the finest chocolate. Immerse yourself in displays and exhibits of some of the most iconic confectionery brands in the world. Design your own chocolate bar wrapper and discover your perfect chocolate bar with a fun chocolate personality quiz.

Indulgence Zone – after the tour, put your new found knowledge into practice and choose from a selection of the finest chocolates in the country. Buy peach and raspberry or orange and geranium flavoured chocolates, or browse the many other chocolate delights produced by some of the UK’s finest manufacturers in the shop. The Chocolate Bar café is renowned for its indulgent chocolate delights and the speciality hot chocolate and the finest

Opening Times: Open daily from 10am – 6pm (last tour is at 5pm).

Closed on 25th December, 26th December and 1st January. Admission prices: Adult £10.50

Concession £9.50

Child £8.50

Family of four £32.50

Family of five £39.50 Press contact: Laura Good, Press Officer. Email: lgood@yorkschocolatestory.com. Tel: 01904 527721. For more information please see www.yorkschocolatestory.com.

Festivals & Events

York’s Chocolate Festival - annually in spring

The city of York has had a long and distinguished history with the confectionery and chocolate industry. Even back in 1781 the city boasted eight confectioners for its 17,000 inhabitants. Today the Nestlé Chocolate Factory still produces up to 6 million of Kit Kat bars a day, whilst the city has a pungent, comforting smell of chocolate lingering over it on roasting days. Many of York's population have had family that once worked in the confectionery dynasties of Rowntree’s, Terry's and Craven's, and everyone has a lasting memory of their favourite chocolate bar, many of which were created in our fair city. Every spring York celebrates the industry, chocolate lovers, artisan chocolatiers, museums and attractions sharing a piece of York's chocolate history. The York Chocolate Festival embraces their friends and partners across the chocolate industry in a celebration of our shared culture and heritage. Brilliant Brands: York’s Chocolate Through the Ages

From 4th May, visitors can delve into the history of York’s most famous brands. Visitors will be able to take a journey through York’s much-loved confectionary - from the 1800’s to the modern day - and discover which world famous chocolate bar was once called Chocolate Crisp, and which multi-coloured treats were formerly known as Chocolate Beans. The exhibition will showcase a unique collection of packaging and artefacts, never before seen together. SHOCK-late Halloween – 26th October – 1st November

Join us for spook-tacular shock-olate tasting sessions. Courageous visitors can test their nerve by taking part in the tastiest trick or treat challenge ever. Guests will test their luck by spinning the ‘wheel of fortune’ to receive either a deliciously tasty treat or a revolting rotten trick chocolate. A Chocolate Covered Christmas – December Visitors can get into the festive spirit at York’s Chocolate Story this December. Enjoy seasonal tours and meet the one and only Father Christmas each weekend. 6

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CHOCOLATE CONTACTS IN YORK Bettys Café Tea Rooms Laura Crisp Tel: 01423 814 000 Email: laura.crisp@bettysandtaylors.co.uk Website: www.bettys.co.uk Hotel Chocolat Annabel Hyde Tel: 01904 635304 Email: yoadmin@hotelchocolat.co.uk Website: www.hotelchocolat.co.uk Monk Bar Chocolatiers Raymond Cardy Tel: 01904 634999 Email: ray@monkbar.com Website: www.monkbar.com Nestlé Tel: 020 8667 6005 Email: nestleukpressoffice@uk.nestle.com Website: www.nestle.co.uk York Cocoa House Sophie Jewett Tel: 01904 675787 Email: sophie@yorkcocoahouse.co.uk Website: www.yorkcocoahouse.co.uk York’s Chocolate Story Laura Good Tel: 01904 527721 Email: lgood@continuum-group.com Website: www.yorkschocolatestory.com

YORK FACTFILE The following information will provide useful reference points for your readers and we kindly request you to include our website address www.visityork.org/chocolate

The York Pass – Once purchased the York Pass offers you a choice of free entry into over thirty York attractions and tours as well as restaurant and shopping offers. You can buy a 1, 2 or 3 day pass making it a superb addition to your leisure break. To buy a York Pass contact York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@yorkpass.com or visit: www.yorkpass.com

How to get to York: By car - York is situated only 20 minutes from the M1/M62 motorway network. Frequent Park

and Ride bus services operate into the city centre. By train - York is on the Virgin Trains East Coast mainline. It takes less than two hours to get to

York from London. York is served by Virgin Trains East Coast and Grand Central Trains as well as Cross Country trains from the Midlands. National Rail enquiries Tel: 08457 484950. VTEC runs fast, frequent train services from stations along the London-Scotland route. East Coast also has direct trains to York from North East England and the East Midlands. York Station is a short walk from the city centre. Visit www.virgintrainseastcoast.co.uk. Grand Central runs train services between the North East of England and London, calling at Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London. For information: Tel: 0845 6034852. Website: www.grandcentralrail.com

By coach – www.nationalexpress.com

York is served by three key international airports: Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Doncaster with superb routes across Europe and the rest of the world. A direct rail service operates from Manchester Airport into York. Leeds Bradford Airport: take a taxi to Horsforth (£7, five minute journey) then Direct train to York (1 hour) – single fare off peak around £13.

Hull is the nearest ferry port served by P&O Ferries with daily overnight crossings from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge (www.poferries.com)

Press contacts: Kay Hyde, Head of Communications, Visit York. Email: kh@visityork.org. Tel: 01904 554451. Katie Parsons, Senior Communications Executive. Email: kp@visityork.org. Tel: 01904 554436. Riina Raabis, Administration Assistant (Marketing). Email: rr@visityork.org. Tel: 01904 550093. Website: www.visityork.org/media Photo library The Visit York team has a large library of photography available at www.visityorkimages.co.uk Please note: The information provided in the media pack is subject to changes. Please check the attractions’, event’s, festivals’ etc. details on given homepages.