Easter Extravaganza!

Easter and chocolate have long been associated, this Easter (28th March – 13th April), you can find out why on exclusive themed tours.

Uncover why certain children in York were once lucky enough to enjoy solid chocolate eggs and discover how our expert chocolatiers recreate ornate Easter eggs up to 3 ft tall.

York is the UK’s home of chocolate and York brands such as Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Cravens have an illustrious history in the City creating some of Easter’s most famous confectionary.

You can also satisfy your sweet tooth in the our decadent shop, which will be stocked with handmade Easter eggs in all shapes, sizes and even characters – perfect for an Easter gift with a personal touch. Meanwhile, little ones can embark on an Easter egg hunt as an added extra to the tour.

Mum’s go FREE!

We’re celebrating Mother’s Day this year with free entry to the attraction for all mothers on Sunday 15^th March.

Go one better than flowers and breakfast in bed this year – a fully guided tour with us at York’s Chocolate Story is the perfect way to treat mum on this special day.

(*Free entry will be provided to all Mother’s when accompanied by their paying son or daughter. Available on walk up tickets only.)

February Half Term awaits!

This February Half Term (14th – 22nd February), we will pay homage to the nation’s favourite bubbly chocolate bar – AERO, as it celebrates 80 years of success.

The week-long celebrations will include demonstrations, hands on activities and fun facts for all the family. Originally created by Rowntree’s in 1935, the bubbly chocolate bar continues to be one of the nation’s favourite treats.

80 years ago, Rowntree’s created AERO. Initially, Cadbury owned the rights to the name of ‘AERO’, but close ties between the two great chocolate making companies meant that trade was possible. Rowntree’s swapped two names they owned – ‘Airman’ and ‘Airways’ – and the brand we all know and love today was created. During WW2, production of AERO was stopped for almost a decade due milk shortages, but began again in 1950. Since 1959 and the launch of AERO Peppermint, flavour variants have been a big part of the brand, from Lime to Coffee, and Strawberry to Caramel.

By popular demand, we will be open earlier than usual for one week only, offering additional tours at 9:30 and 9:45am.

New Exhibition!

We’re launching a new exhibition this spring, ‘Brilliant Brands: York Chocolate Through the Ages’. From 4th May, drop by and delve into the history of York’s most famous brands.

While other British cities were built on steel, coal or wool, York’s fame and fortune have rested on chocolate for almost 300 years. World-famous brands, including KitKat, Aero and Terry’s Chocolate Orange, all originated from the historic city of York. The legacy of three entrepreneurial families: Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s, continues to this day. Though much has changed over the centuries, York remains the UK’s home of chocolate.

You 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.

A very happy new year at York’s Chocolate Story

We’re gearing up for a fantastic events schedule in 2015. Watch this space for exciting exhibitions, trails and seasonal fun…

Here’s a teaser of what we’re up to:

“Have you felt the bubbles melt?” February Half Term – 14th – 22nd February
We pay homage to the nation’s favourite minty chocolate bar – Aero – with exhibition features, demonstrations and hands on activities for chocolate-lovers young and old. Originally created by Rowntree’s in 1935, the bubbly chocolate bar continues to be one of the nation’s favourite sweet treats.

Brilliant Brands: York chocolate through the ages – Spring
Discover the history of York’s brilliant brands at our unique exhibition. Take a journey through York’s much-loved confectionary and discover which world famous chocolate bar was once called Chocolate Crisp, and which multi-coloured treats were formerly known as Chocolate Beans.

Easter – 28th March – 13th April
Uncover the secret of why certain children in York once got to enjoy solid Easter eggs, watch as our chocolatiers recreate ornate Easter eggs from days gone by, while little ones embark on an Easter egg hunt.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook for exclusive offers!

Tasting in the Dark

We’re inviting people to experience chocolate in a new light on Thursday 30^th October. We will be hosting an exclusive Tasting in the Dark event as part of the Illuminating York Festival. From 7pm, embark on a unique journey of sensory exploration as you can take part in a chocolate tasting session without your sight.

From the toasted, dark, earthy flavours of cocoa to notes of citrus, herbal and even floral – there are a whole host of flavours contained within one piece of chocolate. Our sight significantly affects the way we taste food as our brain attempts to perceive flavours before food reaches our taste buds. Expert guides and chocolatiers will be on hand on the evening to talk you through the process of tasting like a professional and experiencing flavours without the help of your vision.

Tickets cost £15, including a drink on arrival. To find out more information and to book visit our website, visit the attraction or call 0845 498 941.

 

Celebrate Chocolate Week with us!

We’re celebrating all things Yorkshire for National Chocolate Week (13^th – 19^th October). Our expert chocolatiers are reinventing Yorkshire favourites into sweet treats to enjoy for one week only. Sample Yorkshire’s finest flavours in chocolate form, from the famous ginger parkin, to Yorkshire rhubarb and Wensleydale cheese.

You can also witness traditional chocolate making in the chocolate production kitchen as our team of expert chocolatiers demonstrate the forgotten art of hand-dipping chocolate. Before machines aided chocolate manufacturing, hardworking factory workers would hand-dip chocolates individually. Incredible amounts of hand-dipped chocolates were produced on a daily basis in York’s chocolate factories where, at its peak, over 14,000 people worked.

We look forward to celebrating Chocolate Week with you! Keep an eye on our social media for special treats and offers…

 

The nation’s favourite chocolate bar

In a country that spends £3.5bn on chocolate each year*, we are delighted to announce the nation’s favourite chocolate bar – Galaxy. Over 4,000 people had their say in the attraction and online over the summer holidays.

Galaxy raced ahead in the poll, gaining over 2,000 of the votes, with Dairy Milk and York-born Aero coming in second and third place.

Individuals were able to choose from top York brands such as KitKat, Yorkie and Toffee Crisp, alongside other nationwide favourites including Snickers, Dairy Milk and the winner, Galaxy.

Well done, Galaxy!

Scott Mills, Match.com and East Coast

This Saturday, we welcomed the legendary DJ and budding dancer Scott Mills, alongside 60 Match.com singles, brought up to York by East Coast UK for a ‘Match Social’.

Chocolate and the People of York

Our new exhibition, Chocolate and the People of York, tells the tale of the original chocolate-making families and those they employed, and celebrates the bright entrepreneurs who continue to keep chocolate’s heritage alive in York today. While other northern centres made their wealth from wool, cotton and steel, York went its own sweet way and built a city from chocolate.

In its peak, over 14,000 people worked in the chocolate industry in York. As early as the 1800’s, some of the world’s most renowned confectioners, including Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s, began making a name for themselves and their famous brands, carving the future for chocolate in the UK. York’s CHOCOLATE Story has gathered real-life tales from those hardworking employees with a collection of fascinating photographs to be displayed in the attraction until 23rd October.

The exhibition will also celebrate York’s ongoing commitment to the chocolate industry. The city continues to produce some of the world’s most-loved confectionary, whilst small businesses including York Cocoa House and ChocAffair pave the way for the future of local and handmade confectionary. Visitors to the exhibition will find out more about the faces behind the companies who maintain York’s chocolate legacy.