York’s Chocolate Story is five years old – and it’s celebrating with a tasty treat for visitors.
They can get in for just £5 on the birthday itself – Friday, March 31. That’s better than half price on the normal adult ticket of £11.50, and nearly half price on the child’s (£9.50).
After five years, the King’s Square attraction has become a part of York’s story.
It opened in 2012 as a visitor experience to showcase York’s unique chocolate history. Since then it has welcomed celebrities, royalty and hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world.
Brand new exhibition
The birthday caps quite a month for York’s Chocolate Story. Earlier the attraction launched it’s new exhibition 250 Years of Terry’s.
Terry’s of York was established in the city in 1767 by partners Bayldon and Berry who opened a shop in the city selling lozenges, comfits and other simple confectionery.
They were joined in the 19th century by unlikely partner – apothecary Joseph Terry. Luckily, experience in sugaring pastilles and pills meant that JT adapted easily to a career in confectionery.
He pioneered new products and made the company famous. By the 20th century Terry’s had introduced the world to the boxed chocolate assortment as well as one of the world’s most iconic confectionery: the Chocolate Orange.
Opium, anyone?
The exhibition showcases a selection of the most interesting of the Terry’s products from opium based throat sweets to some of the most beautiful and decadent chocolate boxes in history.
A selection of old favourites such as Neapolitan, Spartan and Waifa will be on display as well as some curiosities like the poison cards contained in early Terry’s confectionery warning of sensational ingredients such as mercury and belladonna (aka opium).
Exhibition coordinator Jenni Shepherd said:
As well as collecting wonderful objects I have also had the opportunity to talk to so many people who worked at Terry’s.
The company has a fascinating history, from chemists to confectioners, but the stories from the factories themselves and the pride of the people who worked there is what makes the company so interesting.