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John Bull’s World of Rock

Factory tour, welcome to john bull’s world of rock.

A hands-on rock and chocolate factory tour where your visit takes you around a working confectionery factory. Learn the secret of how we put the letters inside a stick of rock, see our mini bakery, and watch the chocolate spinners forming chocolate fish.

Factory Tour Guide

We are currently operating tour entry once per 45mins with limited numbers per slot in order to provide a safe and socially distanced visit. Pre-booking online is required to guarantee a slot.

The Factory Tour experience is available Monday to Friday during school holidays.  Chocolate lolly making is currently unavailable, but we are pleased to be able to offer rock rolling in a Covid safe manner.

We reserve the right to vary attraction content, opening hours and admission prices without prior notice, and to refuse admission. All offers subject to availability.

Touch…

and experience manufacturing for yourself as you make your own chocolate lolly and personalise a stick of rock* (activities charged separately). *When production programme allows.

Hear…

the history of the area’s premier confectioners as told by John Bull’s ancestor

Smell…

an assortment of tantalising aromas whilst our products are being made, in particular our irresistible Belgian chocolates and mouth watering Yorkshire biscuits.

and learn the secrets of rock and chocolate production unfold before your very eyes!

Taste…

our delicious range of products at the World of Rock. Choose a gift for your friends (or yourself!) from our extensive range in the factory shop and visit our café.

Rock Rolling – Take part in the rock rolling process by rolling out your own personalised stick of rock which contains one letter from A-Z chosen by you.

Opening Times & Prices

MONDAY – FRIDAY: 10am | 10:45am | 11:30am | 1:00pm | 1:45pm | 2:30pm | 3:15pm

Factory Tour Entry Prices Adult Entry (Age 16+) £4.50 Child Entry (Age 4-15) £3.50 – Under 4 Free Family of 4 Entry Ticket (Max 2 adults) £15.00 Family of 5 Entry Ticket (Max 2 adults) £18.00

World of Rock Factory Tour

There must be a minimum of 1 adult per booking.

Adult: (Age 16+)

Child: (Age 4-15)

Under 4: (Free)

Family of 4 Entry Ticket: (Max 2 Adults)

Family of 5 Entry Ticket: (Max 2 Adults)

Times are in Europe/London

• Choose a date above to see available times.

Factory Tours

On-site facilities.

Shop – Find a gift for a loved one, or treat yourself to your favourite biscuits, sweets or chocolate.

Additional Safety Measures

We have introduced additional safety measures for our visitors and employees to create a safe andenjoyable visit to our factory.

Location & Directions

John Bull World of Rock is located approximately 3 miles from Bridlington, 20 miles from Scarborough and 28 miles from Hull.

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John Bull Sweet Factory Tour

Last Updated on March 15, 2024 by Suzy McCullough

The John Bull Sweet Factory self-guided tour takes around one hour. Combined with a visit to the Candy Kingdom soft play centre next door you can easily spend more than 2 hours here. John Bull is in Carnaby, which is a short drive from Bridlington in East Yorkshire.

What is there to do at John Bull Sweet Factory?

John Bull Sweet Factory is a self-guided tour around where their sweets, biscuits and chocolates are made. You start with a short video and then you join in guided sessions with a talk about how the rock is made.

For an additional £1.50, you then get the opportunity to roll your own stick of rock. There are free, sweet samples in this room and you can see people at work in the factory. The tour then continues with a look at the biscuit-making room and the chance to eat biscuits.

You will pass displays detailing the history of John Bull’s world of rock. In the chocolate room, you should be able to see the large packaging machine in operation. For another £2.00 each you can make your own chocolate lolly. They also have more sweet samples here for you to try. The tour then finishes in a shop full of sweet delights.

At a separate cost, you can also visit Candy Kingdom soft play. This is an indoor play centre for 0-12 years with a separate toddler and baby area.

Important Information John Bull

Is there food and drink available.

There is a cafe on-site where you can order food both in the soft play area and a separate area for everyone else.

What are the main things to do?

Self-guided tour around a sweet-making factory and the chance to try samples and make your own rock and chocolate lolly. There are toilets on-site and a cafe.

What are the ticket prices?

£4.50 per adult at John Bull and children are £3.50. Under 4’s are free. Prices are subject to change and/or discounts online.

Is there parking?

There is free parking.

When are they open?

John Bull has limited opening and is mostly only open during selected school holidays from Easter until October. For up-to-date opening times and dates please visit the websites linked above.

Dog friendly?

Pet dogs are not permitted.

Are they accessible?

Please contact the venue.

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Tickets to The Chocolate Factory are on sale now!

The chocolate factory.

Discover the magical world of The Chocolate Factory and dive into a universe where your sweetest dreams come true. If you want to travel to this fantasy world, book tickets now! Plenty of surprises await you.

Gingerbread Town

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Practical info

Where is it?

A colourful candyland on the first floor of Westfield London! Please see map below for exact location.

Do you have any question? Maybe you can find the answer here!

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UNWRAP THE HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

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AS WELL AS THE DELICIOUS TREATS ON OUR TOUR, YOU CAN EXPLORE OUR SHOP FOR CHOCOLATE GIFTS (FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE!). WE EVEN HAVE AN ONLINE SHOP WHERE YOU CAN BROWSE OUR FAVOURITES FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR SOFA…

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Dive into the chocolatey world of Cadbury World

Uncover a world of chocolate delights and enjoy a fascinating, fun-packed day out at Cadbury World! Learn how your favourite confectionery is made, enjoy a delicious pot of warm melted Cadbury Dairy Milk, go on an adventurous journey in the 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema experience, plus, much more!

A journey through time at Cadbury World

The Cadbury factory is located in the historic village of Bournville, where we first started making chocolate over 100 years ago. In August 1990, Cadbury World opened its doors and now welcomes over 600,000 visitors each year. The attraction gives guests the chance to step into the amazing world of Cadbury, with a self-guided tour that explores an assortment of chocolatey zones, showcasing the history, making and magic of Cadbury.

Embark on a chocolate-Fuelled adventure

Discover the origins of the cocoa bean before jumping onboard the magical Cadabra ride and meeting the infamous Cadbury drumming gorilla. Plus, join Freddo and a whole host of Cadbury characters as they whisk you away on an adventurous journey in the 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema experience, complete with motion seats! Dive into a bowl of liquid Cadbury Dairy Milk, ride the Crunchie Rollercoaster and take to the skies in a Cadbury Creme Egg airship. There’s so much to see and do for the whole family as you discover the amazing world of Cadbury!

About Cadbury World

Cadbury world opened in 1990 offering a memorable, enjoyable and unique insight into cadbury, welcoming over 600,000 guests every year, cadbury world has grown to be one of the largest tourist attractions in the uk, visitors spend three to four hours at cadbury world as they journey through fourteen fun and fascinating chocolatey zones, the cadbury world shop stocks treats galore and plenty of special offers that you won’t find anywhere else, treat yourself to a delicious meal, snack or drink at the cadbury world café, a fun-themed restaurant complete with cadbury dairy milk cows, cadbury world’s range of educational talks and workshops will ensure that all families enjoy a trip with choc-full fun and discovery, discover more from cadbury, delicious cadbury recipes.

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Your Factory Visit Experience

Our World of Chocolate

Covid-19 

Now that the majority of COVID restrictions have been removed, we are pleased to say that we commenced factory tours again.

Have you ever wondered how filled chocolates, bars and other chocolate delights are made?

In our 75 minute tour, you will why the process of making chocolate by hand is truly fascinating to behold. So allow us to guide you through how we create our melt-in-the-mouth ranges.

Visit our modern factory in Inverclyde and see for yourself the whole process.

Learn about the origins of chocolate and sample 5 different types single origin chocolate.

You will see the ingredients, how we temper chocolate, and the types of products we make.

Best of all, before you leave, you will be able to choose a complimentary bar of chocolate from our Highland Range. In addition, you will take away an informative booklet with invaluable information about our Company and the history of chocolate and cocao.

Appointment necessary. The tours operate daily (Monday - Friday) at 3.00pm. Find us just off the westbound dual carriageway at the Woodhall Roundabout. This is a wonderful experience for all ages, and priced at only £40.00 per head.

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Chocolate Tourism in the UK

London, england, a passion for chocolate master class, chocolate connoisseurs tastings, chocolate ecstasy tours, harrods chocolate bar, melt chocolate kitchen, my chocolate workshops, rococo school of chocolate, william curley chocolate workshop, swansea, wales, michton chocolate factory, the chocolate academy, elsewhere in the uk, cadbury world, choccywoccydoodah bar du chocolat, chocolate workshops, chocolate connoisseur evenings, john bull factory tours, kennedys fine chocolates coffee house and factory shop, oban chocolate company factory, pemberton's chocolate farm, slattery's patissier and chocolatier, the chocolate boutique hotel, the chocolate cellar, walkers chocolate emporium.

This Magical Chocolate Factory Promises A Splendidly Sweet Photo Experience

Life may have dimmed our childhood imaginations a bit, but London’s newest photo experience will have you as wide-eyed as a kid in a candy shop. As soon as you step foot inside  The Chocolate Factory you’ll be digging out your phone to immortalise the kaleidoscopic utopia of sweets and chocolate before you, collecting proof you have not just stumbled into some candy-crush dream world.

Instagram addicts will be in their element, taking sweet-filled selfies in the series of magical themed rooms, and of course, you’ll be able to eat your way through the experience too. It’s now open at  Westfield London in White City, and you can find tickets here — it might even be the perfect Christmas gift for a friend or loved one with a sweet tooth, eh?

At The Chocolate Factory , the feeling of immersion into a sweet-themed world is absolute. Make sure your phone is fully charged. The multi sensory experience has photo opportunities around every corner. Whether it’s filming your friend in a neon-tinted ball pit, snapping yourself as a cupcake-winged angel or recreating Hansel & Gretel among gingerbread houses, you’ll want to immortalise the occasion on camera. Plus, if you fancy yourself a photographer, there are social media competitions to win prizes with the best picture.

With the impending prequel to Willy Wonka recently announced, some of you may be introducing your kids to the adventures of Charlie and his suspiciously revitalised Grandpa Joe. Witnessing the delicious wonders of the chocolate factory will no doubt inspire a question or two from the young first-time viewers. Namely, ‘ where can I get a golden ticket? ‘ and ‘ when can we go? ‘. Luckily, there’ll be no need to try and explain the concept of fiction vs. reality with The Chocolate Factory around, and you can be parent of the year making your sweet-tooth child’s dreams come true.

After exploring the delights of Chocolate Town, Cloudland and the Cupcake Room, your final stop inside The Chocolate Factory itself will allow you to taste all the tantalising treats you’ve glimpsed during your visit. Think chocolates, lollipops, gummy bears, and much more! The Chocolate Factory has already taken Madrid by storm, and London is the next place to experience this unique wonderland of sugar – pick up your tickets for The Chocolate Factory here !

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Discover the real life Willy Wonka sweet factory experience near Manchester

• Written by Louise Rhind-Tutt
• Last updated 3 years ago
• Food & Drink , Lifestyle

New Mills based Swizzels is the UK’s largest family-owned independent sugar confectionery business, and one of the few confectionery companies to still manufacture sweets in the UK. 

The Peak District company makes a range of well-known sweets including many of our favourites such as Love Hearts, Refreshers, Drumstick Lollies, Rainbow Drops, Double Lollies, Parma Violets, Squashies, Fizzers and Fruity Pops.

Now, the sweet manufacturer is making sweet dreams come true by giving fans the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime magical VIP tour at its sweet HQ.

To win this money-can’t-buy experience, fans simply have to find one of five golden Love Hearts rolls hidden in Swizzels’ variety packs.

We took a trip inside to see what the real-life Willy Wonka experience involves.

Behind the scenes at the Swizzels factory

The Swizzels factory is housed in a former textile mill where wicks for miners’ lamps were once made.

Around 550 people work at the New Mills factory, which operates 24 hours a day to produce over 20 different sweet brands that have been enjoyed since 1928, and still taste as good as they did back then.

We start our tour on the top floor, working our way down through floors of machinery, the air smelling so sweet and delicious you could add it to a 10p mix.

Drumstick Lollies come tumbling down chutes, Double Lollies fill vast vats, Double Dips are packaged up, and Rainbow Drops labels roll off a printer.

Over the years, Swizzels has created some of the UK’s best-loved sweets, and many are older than we might think. 

Rainbow Drops and Fizzers came in the 1930s. Then Parma Violets in 1946, Love Hearts in 1954, and Refreshers in 1955.

How are Love Hearts made?

Since the 1950s, Love Hearts have always been especially popular – and today, the factory produces a whopping 1.75 billion of them a year.

The fruit flavours famously feature a short, love-related message on one side of the sweet, with new additions, including emojis more recently, added every couple of years.

Believe it or not, it takes several tonnes of pressure for the message stamp to imprint onto the sweet. 

However, the process of how this stamp actually works has been kept top secret for the past 60-odd years – they don’t want anyone to steal their idea, after all – but it’s one of the things visitors can see on the tour.

How to win a VIP tour

Swizzels will open its factory doors and welcome the five lucky people who will have exclusive access to explore the sweet creation centre alongside three friends or family members. 

Not only that, but winners will also get the opportunity to channel their inner inventor and work with the Swizzels experts to have a go at creating their very own sweet.

The five winning golden Love Hearts rolls are hidden in Swizzels’ variety pack range which includes Loadsa packs, Lots of Lollies, Chew Crew and Bumper Bag packs, now on shelves in major retailers nationwide.

‘‘We’re so excited to be able to offer fans this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit our wonderful world of Swizzels,” said Claire Lee, senior brand manager at Swizzels.

“It really is a magical experience to see how our most-loved sweets are made – the winners are guaranteed to have lots of fun on the day. 

“The search is on to find the golden rolls which are out there in packs right now, so hurry!’’

If you’re lucky enough to find a golden Love Hearts roll, simply take a picture of the roll and enter the lot code on the back of your Variety pack here: swizzels.com/vip .

Those who don’t find a golden roll can still be in with a chance of winning one of thousands of runner up prizes. Simply enter your lot code number on the Swizzels website to find out if you’re a winner.

The competition closes on 31st May 2022 and is open to residents within Great Britain.

Did we miss something? Let us know: [email protected]

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5 of the Best Food Factory Tours in London

Have you ever wondered how the vodka in your Martini or the chocolate hidden away in your office drawer is made? Taking a trip to one of these popular food factory tours in London is the perfect way to find out. It might not sound like your average plan for the weekend but a tour around a factory can actually be a fascinating experience – not to mention quite fun! There are plenty of factories, distilleries and breweries hidden in and around the capital just waiting to be discovered. The best part is that most of the tours are followed by a tasting session. What’s not to love?

5 of the best food factory tours in London

Fuller’s Brewery Tour

Running up to 20 tours a week, Griffin Brewery is one of the most popular food factory tours in London. If you want to know how your favourite beer is brewed, then Fuller’s Brewery is the place for you. For just £10 an experienced guide will talk you through the art of brewing from the arrival of raw materials to the packaging of the final product. At the end of the tour you’ll even be given a chance to taste Fuller’s special brews including London Pride .

To book a tour visit:  fullers.co.uk

Cadbury’s World Factory Tour

Indulge in the sights, smells, and tastes of one of Britain’s most famous confectioners. You won’t want to miss the magic of Cadbury World . This tour is fun for all of the family – learn the history behind the brand, watch the production line at work and have a go at making your own chocolate. Cadbury World is located in the famous area of Bourneville and is easily accessible from London by train and car. If you travel by rail you can even save yourself up to 30% off the price of admission.

To book a tour visit:  cadburyworld.co.uk

City of London Distillery Tour

If Vodka and Gin are more of your thing then a tour of the City of London Distillery will be right up your street. Open since November 2012, this is not one of your average food tours in London. It is the first distillery to open its doors in the city for over 200 years and offers a fascinating insight into the production of spirits for just £8. A visit to the Gin Experience will let you view a master distiller at work, peer into the copper stills and sample some of the Distillery’s famous COLD Vodka and City of London Dry Gin.

To book a tour visit: cityoflondondistillery.com

Smithfield Meat Market Tour

Experience one of the most historic factory tours in London at Smithfield Market . The capital’s last remaining central market dates back over 800 years and is bustling with history. On this walking tour visitors will be given a chance to meet the traders, explore the market and be guided through stories of Smithfield’s evolution. Be prepared for an early start as tours begin at 7am, but throw you right into the heart of the action at Smithfield.

To book a tour visit:  smithfieldmarket.com

Denbies Ultimate Wine Experience Tour

If you’re looking for a little country escape compared to the other food factory tours then head to the small market town of Dorking. Just an hour outside of London lies Denbies Wine Estate,  the largest vineyard in England. Denbies Wine Estate has been producing wine since 1986 and makes around 400,000 bottles every year. For just £9.75, their Ultimate Wine Experience will give you an interesting insight into the process of wine making. The tour consists of a short film in their unique circular cinema, a visit to the working winery and finally a tasting of some of Denbies award-winning wine.

To book a tour visit:  denbies.co.uk

If you’re looking to try something a little bit different then be sure to visit one of these food factories the next time you’re in London. Most of the tours last from between 2-3 hours so in order to avoid disappointment be sure to book well in advance. And finally, don’t forget to prepare yourself to taste some of the best food and drink made right in the heart of the city!

Planning your trip to London? Read about our   5 favourite things to do in London

Our  food tour in London  is the perfect way to explore London if you like culture, history, and food 

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Snapshots of the Jakemans Factory Tour

I love watching “how it’s made” type programmes so when Jakemans invited me to visit their factory for a tour I couldn’t wait to go along.  Although I’ve always used Jakemans menthol sweets to help soothe my sore throats   I’d never really thought about how these traditional sweets were made so it was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about this family company and also the processes used to make the confectionery that we know and love today.  Take a look:

A Family Business

It all began in 1907, in a small shop in Red Lion Street, Boston, where the menthol sweets were made using hand presses and individually wrapped by hand.  Over the years there were changes of owners and a move to Wormgate.  As the business expanded it always stuck to it’s Boston roots and In 2000, the Jakemans Factory was moved to Sutterton Enterprise park where it still resides today.   In 2006 there were 21 members of staff at the Sutterton based factory hand producing 16 tonnes of sweets every week.  In 2007  family business,LanesHealth, those original founder, Gilbert Lane had an interest in both health and confectionery, acquired Jakemans.  In 2010 they invested into the business to automate the sweet-making process.  I was very interested to hear how rather than replacing the staff, this state of the art machinery actually improved work conditions for the current factory workers and also allowed Jakemans to create more jobs in Bosto n.  Thanks to millions of pounds of investment in “world-leading, technologically advanced equipment” the workforce has expanded to over 55 and the business can now produce 17 tonnes of sweets a day.  

Visiting The Factory

As we drove across the flat lands of Lincolnshire to Sutterton Enterprise Park, we knew we were getting close to Jakemans thanks to the wonderful menthol smell that hit us-I’ve never known a factory to smell so good!  

We were greeted to a warm welcome from all the staff.  We met with plant manager Tony Bradshaw, the team from Speed Communications and Liz Hughes-Gapper, Jakemans Brand Manager.  We learnt lots about the history of Jakemans as a business and took part in a blind taste test of the different Jakemans flavours- my favourite is still cherry!

It was then time to get all kitted out and to see where all the magic happens and just how the natural ingredients of sugar, glucose, water, menthol crystals and flavourings are mixed into the soothing sweets that we come to rely on to treat our cold symptoms.

Factory girls- here I am with Sarah, Boo, Roo and Tigger Too , and Sabina, Mummy Matters , all looking the part and raring to go.  My family had joked that I would be like an Oompa Loompa, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as I explored the factory and I can see that I did indeed look like one with the green hair net (and red rather than orange face as we explored the warmer areas). Making Jakemans Menthol Sweets

It was time to see the factory in action.  To make a batch of Jakemans Menthol Sweets 68 kilos of sugar and glucose are automatically weighed out.

Water is added and mixed.  At first it looks white and creamy like making syrup.

The mixture drops into a holding tank ready for the steam to be extracted.

We also got to see the flavours, menthol crystals and colours being added but can’t share that with you as it’s top secret ( no Arthur Slugworth, I will not reveal Jakemans secrets to you ).

We made our way up steps to a platform where we had an incredible view of the maze of pipes that the mixture travels through.  Our eyes began to water as the menthol smell was at it’s strongest up here and my nose and head had never felt clearer.  

Our tour guide, Ian, informed us that they make a different flavour during each 16 hour day depending on demand.  During our visit they were making the Original Throat & Chest variety.  The black mixture looked like tar.  We found out that in America their “Anise” flavour is caramel coloured ( if any Americans are reading I’d love to see what your unwrapped Jakemans sweets look like ). The mixture was poured into the funnel ( shown above ) ready to be deposited into moulds.

I loved the sticky tar substance and it all smelt so lovely too.

The moulds travel through the wall to complete three cooling cycles and are conveyed to a cooler part of the factory ( this was so refreshing after being in the hot process part ).

Look at all those shiny new sweets!

The cooled sweets are ready to be wrapped!

Packaging the Bagged sweets

As part of our factory visit we also found out about waste management at Jakemans.  Their aim is to get their waste down to 0%.  I was pleased to hear that all of their packaging is recyclable and made from degradable plastic.

As Jakemans is made a batch at a time the information is programmed into the packaging machines and the packaging is printed appropriately.  You can find the Batch Number, Line Number, Time and a Best Before End printed on the back of every Jakemans bag ( take a look while enjoying your next pack ).

The wrapped sweets travel through a wall and up a conveyor to the bagging room above.

The sweets are divided into two rows as they travel towards the red buckets.  The buckets weigh out 15 sweets per 100g (I will be counting the number of sweets in every pack from now on ).  

In a very clever system the two machines talk to each other and work together.  As the red buckets measure the sweets the machine below makes the bags ready to package them. 

 The bags are filled, heat sealed then sent along the conveyor belt to be boxed by hand ( which the experienced factory workers have down to a fine, fast art).  

Ten bags per box are placed face down within the boxes ready to be transported to the shops ready to be displayed on the shelves and for us customers to come along and choose our pack.

Jakemans Traditional Jars

I was very excited to spot Jakemans Traditional Jars.  I love it when I find a find an old fashioned sweet shop that sells menthol sweets in jars and always buy “a quarter” of Originals if I do.

When filling their 2.75 kg  jars they weigh and fill them manually using scales.  I have since discovered that jars of Jakemans can be purchased online and in different flavours.  I feel an order for a jar of Original and Cherry may be purchased in the near future!  

Jakemans Stick Packs

Next it was time to see how the convenient stick packs are made.  These are currently available in Original and Honey & Lemon Menthol flavour but Jakemans hinted that more flavours may be coming soon ( fingers crossed for Cherry ).

The sweets are sorted and quality checked before packing.   Broken sweets will be removed.

Then the individually wrapped sweets are packed and sealed into 41g stick packs.

These packs move along the conveyor ready to be hand packed into boxes.  The stick pack machine can wrap 1500 sweets in a minute and 150 sweet packs (with ten sweets in each) in the same time.  That’s pretty impressive.

The conveyor was slowed down to allow us some time to pack a couple of boxes.  I was all fingers and thumbs and I can’t blame the gloves!

Here are some of the boxes the real factory staff prepared earlier (and at a lot faster speed than I managed). 

A Working Lunch

We were treated to a huge buffet for lunch and I was also served vegan plates of food ( I forgot to take a photo of my own lunch ).   Over lunch we spoke to the management team.  As mentioned previously I was very impressed with their commitment to reducing waste in the factory. Just from spending time in the factory it was also clear how well trained and knowledgeable the staff were.   “We have a motto: the more you learn, the more you earn, and we really invest heavily in the staff with training. We want them always to be ready for that next stage.” Jakemans are also willing to listen to their staff and over the years engineers have made improvements to the machinery based on ideas from the factory floor staff who see how the well designed equipment works in action. It was great to see that despite the expansion there is still a friendly, family feel within the workforce. The Warehouse and Distribution

After lunch we walked across to the warehouse to find out more about distribution.

This picture only shows a small amount of stock one one side of this warehouse and there were two more warehouses on site.  Jakemans currently export to Eire, the Middle East, Asia, the USA and South America.

The Future for Jakemans

In 2015, Jakemans purchased over six acres of land adjacent to the current Sutterton site which will allow the factory to expand even further while remaining in the area.  It’s certainly an exciting time for Jakemans!

I will certainly never look at a pack of Jakemans Menthol Sweets in the same way now I know all the processes and people that are involved in making them- I will appreciate them even more!

Do you have a favourite Jakemans flavour?  Look out for a video coming soon!

Thanks so much to Jakemans for inviting us to the factory for the day.

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Swizzels offers Manchester fans ‘real life Willy Wonka experience’ with sweet factory tour

Five golden Love Hearts rolls have been hidden inside Swizzels’ variety packs. Find one - and that's your ticket to the tour.

Confectionary giant Swizzels is offering people the chance to win a VIP trip to the country’s “magical” sweet-making headquarters this year.

The manufacturer is offering what it calls a “once in a lifetime, money-can’t-buy experience” for sweets fans: A Willy Wonka-style whistle-stop tour of the Swizzels sweet factory.

Five golden Love Hearts rolls have been hidden inside Swizzels’ variety packs. Find one – and that’s your ticket inside.

Five lucky winners will have exclusive access to the sweet creation centre alongside three friends or family members – enjoying the opportunity to work with Swizzels experts to create their very own sweet s.

Swizzels is the country’s largest family-owned independent sugar confectionery business – making well-known products including Love Hearts, Refreshers, Drumstick Lollies, Rainbow Drops, Double Lollies, Squashies and Fruity Pops.

The five winning golden Love Hearts rolls are hidden in Swizzels’ variety pack range which includes Loadsa packs, Lots of Lollies, Chew Crew and Bumper Bag packs, now on shelves in major retailers nationwide.

Claire Lee, senior brand manager at Swizzels, said: ‘”We’re so excited to be able to offer fans this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit our wonderful world of Swizzels.

“It really is a magical experience to see how our most-loved sweets are made – the winners are guaranteed to have lots of fun on the day.

“The search is on to find the golden rolls which are out there in packs right now, so hurry!”

If you’re lucky enough to find a golden Love Hearts roll, snap a picture and enter the lot code on the back of your Variety pack online .

Those who don’t find a golden roll can still be in with a chance of winning one of thousands of runner up prizes. Simply enter your lot code number on the Swizzels website to find out if you’re a winner.

The competition closes on 31 May 2022 and is open to residents within the UK.

England supporters are already getting very excited to see Jude Bellingham in the starting 11 ahead of Euro 2024 but the midfielder is winning over even more fans after a clip of a wholesome moment between him and a young mascot went viral.

The Three Lions ended up drawing 2-2 in their second friendly of the international break against Belgium (losing 1-0 to Brazil in the previous game) with Bellingham scoring the equaliser in the final minute of stoppage time.

However, as much as the home fans are looking forward to the Real Madrid star rallying his teammates at the Euros this summer, it was this small but touching interaction with a young kid as the two sides lined up with their mascots just after the walkouts.

Seeing the rain falling and quickly checking in with the small boy sitting in the wheelchair below him, Bellingham rightly offered his pre-match jacket to the little lad to keep him warm.

You can watch it here:

@uvader21 #judebellingham #bellingham #england ♬ original sound – uvader21

Such a sweet moment.

The reaction online was just as heartwarming too, as countless people jumped on social media to leave comments like, “This is how you know he is Brum, what a nice fella”, “makes me proud to be English” and “Classy as ever from the 20-year-old”.

One person even went so far as to add: “Make this guy captain, wrap him in bubble wrap and take care of him. All youngsters should watch how he conducts himself, absolute professional.”

He wasn’t the only one either, as many eagle-eyed viewers also noted that Manchester City stars Phil Foden and John Stones also gave their jackets to the young mascots standing with him prior to the match. We really do have some lovely lads in this team, don’t we?

Absolutely class from Bellingham, Stones & Foden giving their jackets to the kid mascots as pissing down! 🦁🦁🦁👏🫶 — SUTTS (@007Sutts) March 26, 2024

Jude Bellingham generously gave his jacket to a young player mascot to shield him from the rain before the England vs Belgium match 🥹 ⁰𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 👏 pic.twitter.com/PayhsWayFR — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 26, 2024

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Elsewhere, another Greater Mancunian player once again delighted those in the stands and watching back home as Kobbie Mainoo not only made his second appearance and first full start in an England shirt but also earned himself the man of the match award.

The Man United starlet was a late inclusion into Gareth Southgate’s provisional Euros squad , which is likely to change again before the tournament starts, but you won’t find many fans Reds or otherwise wanting him anywhere else other than in the starting lineup.

We’re starting to really like the look of this squad both on and off the pitch and one thing’s for sure, they aren’t just nice blokes – there’s plenty of talent amongst them to win something.

You can watch the highlights of England vs Belgium in full down below:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester,  subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE .

Featured Images — uvader21 (via TikTok)

In a gutting bit of news, Indy Man Beer Con have revealed that they will not be returning for 2024 and that last year’s edition of the beloved local festival was their final outing.

Coming to an end after more than a decade of delighting beer fans around Greater Manchester, the North West and the UK as a whole across what they have now looked back on as “10 incredible festivals”, the organisers of Indy Man Beer Con are bringing their successful run to an end.

Following the announcement on Monday, 25 March, founder Jonny Heyes – one of the brains behind Common, Nell’s and Port Street Beer House – said, “The last 12 years have been an amazing journey”.

The independent beer and brewery convention confirmed the news on social media, admitting that it was a “difficult decision” but that they worked with “some of the world’s best breweries” and are full of gratitude to everyone who came through the doors and helped make the festival so popular.

We have made the difficult decision that IMBC will not return for 2024. We’ve enjoyed 10 incredible festivals, working with some of the world’s best breweries. We want to say a HUGE thank you to all involved, and all who have come along to support independent craft beer with us. pic.twitter.com/NQwOWPTBp3 — Indy Man Beer Con (@IndyManBeerCon) March 25, 2024

As per Beer Today , Heyes added: “It’s been a huge privilege to witness the UK craft beer scene blossom in front of our eyes, to work with so many fantastic breweries, and witness their creativity, industry, and growth.

“I am humbled that lots of people have taken a great deal of joy and satisfaction from the little event that we’ve spent over a decade putting on. I am beyond chuffed that you chose to spend your time with us deep in the pool at the incredible Victoria Baths.”

The festival went on to note highlights from down the years and urged previous festival-goers to do the same in the comments, citing instances such as the year of the giant cheese wheels, the ‘Beer Trumps Hate’ foam fingers from 2017 and those extremely stubborn temporary tattoos from last year’s festival.

We’ve certainly created plenty of our own memories in our years attending the festival too, and if we had known 2023 was going to be the final one we certainly would’ve poured one out in its memory.

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Having made a home at the iconic Grade II-listed Victoria Baths in Chorlton-on-Medlock for four days every year, the Manchester beer festival truly was one of the most highly-anticipated events on the calendar and we’re are genuinely gutted to see it go.

Seeing the reaction from countless other fans online, it’s clear we’re by no means the only ones either.

From one group of fellow beer lovers to another, thanks for the memories and we sincerely hope to see Indy Man Beer Con make a glorious comeback one day.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by IMBC (@indymanbeercon)

Featured Images — Indy Man Beer Con/The Manc Group

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Jakemans Factory Tour

April 5, 2018 | Leave a Comment

On Monday 19th of February, I had the exciting opportunity of visiting the Jakemans factory in Boston, Lincolnshire. When you have these little delights, you don’t realise all of the hard work and dedication that staff put into the product that you’re buying and I had a wonderful experience and learnt a lot!

The history of Jakemans

First of all, the past. Jakemans started off as a tiny shop in the East of England and has now turned into a well-known brand internationally. It all started in 1907 when the first ever shop was set up in the street called Red Lion Street in Boston. The famous sweets were made using hand presses and wrapped by hand. Pretty impressive, right? Skip a decade or so, and we were now in 1920. The original owners retired, and for short periods, there were two other owners that took on Jakemans. In 1928 though, the Rapsons took over and moved the business to Wormgate. In 1967, Stan Greensmith joined as confectionary buyer who then took over in 1990 and was joined by his son and son-in-law. During the millennial year, the business moved to Sutterton Enterprise Park, and by 2006, the company had 21 employees which hand produced sweets (16 tonnes worth, HOW?!).

Four years later, LanesHealth invested in the business to automate the manufacturing process. Thanks to the local community, advertising got around as Jakemans sponsored Boston United FC. By 2011, the English company had made contact with the US and secured 40 listings in the states. In 2014, the company decided to up their game and invested in super-duper magical technology which had a new stick pack machine. This piece of art can run 1,500 sweets per minute. This story is never ending, right?! Because by 2015, Jakemans purchased many acres of land allowing the Lincolnshire based factory to expand more and by 2016 it grew its international portfolio and is now known in the Middle East, Asia and South America. YAY!

So, thanks to all of this magic, you can now enjoy your favourite flavours in a convenient ten sweet stick pack which offers a handbag friendly way to enjoy menthol while on the move! Not only is this a family based company which is heartwarming to hear but it also secured many jobs for local people, and with Lincolnshire being a rural county, it helped massively. The company has doubled their number of employees since 2010 and skill level, and productivity has increased due to machine training and equipment operating. If you think the goodness stops there, then you’re wrong. Jakemans pass on rewards to their employees due to their success. Quick fact time: did you know that Jakemans is the second largest menthol confectionery brand in the UK?

As you read from the company’s history, Jakemans is all for expansion because the bigger, the better. 6.722 acres of land was purchased to expand the factory, so that is a lot more sweets for your tum! Due to all of the expansion, the company has grown by nearly £10 million with consistent yearly growth. The high commitment to Boston and growing is definitely something close to their hearts.

It’s crazy to think our well-known menthol sweet is available worldwide! Jakemans has been with the US for six years now and has a base in New Jersey and shares a distribution centre in New Jersey. Impressive! The US Jakemans has a brand value of $2.5-3m (we always knew the UK could do better). It doesn’t stop there though because growth is in the works. I’ll let you in with a little secret here, new markets with potential for Jakemans include Indonesia and Brazil. Yes for success.

So, that was all I learnt on my journey to Boston. I went away full of knowledge and very full from the amount of menthol. I think I ate my body weight if I’m quite honest! There’s something about watching those machines that are very satisfying; I don’t know if it’s the magical presses or the fact that they wrap so many sweets at once. Therapeutic indeed.

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About Rachel Marsden

A parent to 3 children ranging from 6 to 27! I love to write about parenting topics, Interior design, beauty and Money Saving Tips.

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About Sweet Factory

Founded in 1986 in the UK, Sweet Factory is currently the world’s leading brand for Pick ‘n’ Mix sweets. We combine fun and excitement with colourful confection with a self-serve “mix, weigh, pay”, one price concept.

We are a truly global brand

Sweet Factory’s worldwide success is attributed to good business sense, careful planning and attention to detail in all aspects. By offering our customers the finest quality sweets coupled with a comprehensive franchising program, we continue to experience excellent global growth.

At present we have franchisees in many countries around the world who have achieved success utilizing the designs, intellectual property, manuals and training provided by our comprehensive Sweet Factory Franchising Program.

At present Sweet Factory has Master Licensees in the following regions:

• The Middle East and Indian Subcontinent
• America and Canada
• The Pacific Rim
• Europe: UK and Ireland

The Sweet Factory Story

Long, long ago a race of robots called the “Tin Men” discovered sweets and candy far, far away. Here is the story of how they brought Sweet Factory to Earth…

When Planet Earth long, long ago was young and having little life; living at the bottom of the primeval swamp eating mud, the robot traders of Orion had already been spreading sweets across space and time for a millennium.  

We are the Tin Men. Captain Pickmix of Heavy Sweet Freighter Gobstopper 10 told us about his team. When Prof. Humbug first struck candy on the Homeland he knew no intelligent life form would be able to resist them.

He constructed our ancestors the first Tin Men and we follow in their noble traditions of carrying sweets through space. We Tin Men consume photons not candy: THE SWEETS ARE SAFE WITH US .

We are the Tin Men, our mission is to offer candy to Earthlings and spread the word “ EAT SWEETS, BE HAPPY ”.

The sweet factories which made Yorkshire the UK's confectionery capital

From Bassets to Terry's we were the sweet centre of Britain and we still are, kind of

• 05:00, 1 AUG 2021

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From Liquorice Allsorts to Terry's Chocolate Orange, many of Britain's most widely enjoyed sweet treats have their origins in Yorkshire.

The Kitkat? Yorkshire. After Eights? Yorkshire. Pontefract cakes? Do you really need to ask?

Yorkshire was once the confectionery capital of Britain where sweets and chocolates that became household names were invented and produced.

READ MORE: 11 more utterly brilliant creations Yorkshire gave the world

Some of these sugary classics are no longer made in God's Own Country following mergers and buyouts by multinational firms.

But Yorkshire still has its fair share of independent sweet producers and suppliers.

Indeed one colossal, world-famous manufacturer has its UK operation right here in Yorkshire.

We are to some extent, still the sweet capital of Britain.

Here's a little bit about the sweet factories that put Yorkshire on the map and the ones which are still on it.

Bassett's

The company that invented Jelly Babies was founded by George Bassett in Sheffield , in 1842.

Its other most famous creation, Liquorice Allsorts, was invented by accident when a Bassett's salesman dropped his samples in front of a client.

The salesman, Charlie Thompson, hastily attempted to reassemble the sweets creating some far-out flavour combinations which his client loved.

Bassett's brand is owned by American confectionery uber-corporation Mondelez.

Cravens, famed for its humbugs, toffees and secret-recipe Original French Almonds, was founded in York in 1822.

The business boomed under the stewardship of Mary Ann Craven, one of York's first successful businesswomen, and became one of Britain's biggest producers of boiled sweets supplying M&S, Harrods and Fortnum and Mason.

Cravens was sold in 1985.

Unless you're from Pontefract , the name may not be familiar but its principal product, the Pontefract cake, will be.

The Dunhill family had been growing medicinal liquorice in Pontefract Castle since at the latest 1720.

George Dunhill's claim to have invented the first liquorice sweet is probably fanciful; he would have been seven at the time and sweetened liquorice had been enjoyed in the area long before his birth. But George Dunhill was the first to make a real business out of selling liquorice sweets.

In 1994 Haribo (see below) bought the remainder of shares in the company.

Farrah's

There's a good chance the fudge and toffee you see in the giftshops of famous attractions is made by Farrah's of Harrogate .

The company, which also makes sweets, chocolate and biscuits, began in earnest in 1840 when Ann Farrah assisted with the making of toffee at another company.

Her grandson John Farrah established himself as a bonafide toffee maker in 1873.

The business still has its factory and its Olde Sweet Shop in Harrogate.

The German giant has had a stake in Pontefract since it bought shares in Dunhills (see above) in 1972.

Haribo has a £92m factory, which opened in nearby Castleford in 2015, as well as an outlet shop in Pontefract town centre.

Joseph Dobson

Dobson's began in Elland in 1850 producing bridal cakes and funeral biscuits.

Later Victorian sweets included Voice Tablets and Conversation Lonzengers which were embossed with moral messages such as 'honour thy parents' and 'take ye not to strong drink'.

Like Bassett's Allsorts, Dobson's Yorkshire Mix was created by gravity and accident when Thomas John Dobson (one of Joseph's sons) fell down the stairs carrying various sweets causing them to mingle.

Dobson's is still based in Elland.

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Again the name Mackintosh won't mean much to anyone aged 60 or younger, but its invention Quality Street will.

This selection tin was invented in Halifax in the 1936 by Harold Mackintosh. Boxes of chocolates at the time were expensive to package and therefore out of the reach of all but the well-off.

Mackintosh, whose parents who founded a toffee business in Halifax 38 years earlier, dispensed with the costly packaging to create an affordable variety tin.

The business was acquired by a merger with Rowntree (see below) and then by the world's biggest food manufacturer Nestlé in 1988.

Rowntree's

Aeros, After Eights, Fruit Pastilles, Jelly Tots, Kitkats, Smarties, Yorkies; the list of household name confectionery invented by Rowntree is near endless.

Henry Isaac Rowntree founded his self-titled company in 1862 in York.

In the 1890s, Rowntree's grew from a small family business to a major player in Britain's booming sweet industry, equipped with a lab for analysing rival products.

Rowntree was acquired, controversially, by Nestlé in 1988 following a bidding war between Nestlé and German-Swiss rival Jacobs Suchard.

Terry's

With its distinctive shape, box and orange-infused taste Terry's Chocolate Orange is the occassions chocolate for regular folk.

Terry's began as a sweet shop in York in 1767, although it didn't become Terry's until Joseph Terry became the company's sole owner in 1828.

Its most famous product, the Chocolate Orange, was created in 1932, six years after the Chocolate Apple which was dropped in 1954.

After a series of takeovers in the 1970s and 1980s, Terry's became the property of American giant Kraft, then Mondelez, then Eurazeo, then Carambar & Co. Phew.

Terry's Chocolate Orange is now made in Strasbourg, France.

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Wicked Little Letters

When people in Littlehampton--including conservative local Edith--begin to receive letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting that ... Read all When people in Littlehampton--including conservative local Edith--begin to receive letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting that something is amiss, the town's women investigate. When people in Littlehampton--including conservative local Edith--begin to receive letters full of hilarious profanities, rowdy Irish migrant Rose is charged with the crime. Suspecting that something is amiss, the town's women investigate.

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• Rose Gooding

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[to her daughter, looking at the words Die Slut on her door]

Rose Gooding : It's German.

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