Popular attraction in York city centre transforms shop and café

The Harris family were impressed with the new look with Clara (bottom right) saying the chocolate treats were "amazing" (Image: Kevin Glenton)

A NEW rich and luxurious look has been unveiled at a popular York attraction today.

York’s Chocolate Story in King’s Square has rebranded and its shop and café are transformed into an appealing celebration of the city’s relationship with pioneering chocolate making families mixed with the twist of a multi-sensory retail experience.

The Press paid a visit on the opening morning at 10am (Friday, October 23), as the first customers entered, with some also booked in for the guided tour travelling through the history of chocolate production and the significance of it to York on the first floor.

York's Chocolate Story unwrapped its new look shop and rebrand in King's Square today. (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Visitors are now greeted by a warm burgundy and gold colour scheme from the outside and the entrance to the shop opens up to the retail space and in the distance, the walk up and Art Deco entrance to the lift for the tour is really inviting and definitely part of the whole package and a special sensory surprise awaits behind the doors.

There are illustrations of four pioneering chocolate-making families whose lives, values and stories helped to shape York and its people, and the handcarts which double as display units help the imagination of chocolate being brought to the masses, or sold or moved around nearby St Helen’s Square.

York's Chocolate Story unwrapped its new look shop and rebrand in King's Square today. (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The social elements and history that helped develop the fabric of life in York driven by each of the Rowntree, Terry, Craven and Tuke families are a highlight of the tour upstairs.

The revamped sales area still included well-loved favourites from those iconic names such as the Chocolate Orange and Kit Kat, alongside treats made in-house.

The Harris family from Leicestershire were on the last day of a trip to York and had booked for the tour at 11am and weren’t aware the shop had been transformed.

Andrew Harris said: “It’s a welcoming environment and it was a nice touch to have been greeted outside.

“There’s a level of luxury here and it’s also family-friendly.”

Daughter Clara said she thought the taste of the complimentary chocolates made on site were “amazing”.

Andrew Harris, on a trip to York from Leicestershire with his family, said the new shop is "a welcoming environment" (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The cabinets were filled with chocolates made on site and a new hot chocolate bar was attracting plenty of interest, which was offering the chance for customers to experiment with new flavours.

General manager Stuart Wood said York's Chocolate Story wanted to put the history of York's chocolate pioneers back at the heart of its identity, celebrating the people, ideas and innovations that helped make the city famous for chocolate.