Cadbury World is marking its 200th birthday by launching the first phase of its brand new Bournville Experience. The world-famous chocolate factory, located in Bournville, Birmingham, has unveiled a chocolate model of its original Victorian shop for public viewing to celebrate its opening on March 4, 1824.

The chocolate model of the 1824 Cadbury shop located on Bull Street, Birmingham, stands at 85 cm tall and weighs a total of 30 kg, the equivalent of 667 average-sized Cadbury Dairy Milk bars. Made over five days by Donna Olubant and Dawn Jenks, each part of this magnificent culinary creation was delicately and precisely handcrafted. The chocolatiers used milk and white chocolate ingredients to produce a meticulously detailed reconstruction of the historic site.

This new attraction is part of an £8 million investment by Merlin Entertainments, the British entertainment company responsible for tourist attractions such as Alton Towers and Legoland. Merlin Entertainments acquired ownership of Cadbury World following its historic takeover operation in January 2023. Cadbury World plans to open the new Bournville Experience, featuring the Cadbury Chocolate Quest, later in Spring 2024. This attraction will replace the former ‘Cadabra’ ride. Visitors to the multi-sensory, visual Cadbury Chocolate Quest will be tasked by Freddo, Cadbury’s signature frog character, to collect the ingredients needed to make a Dairy Milk bar.

The expansion will also include a new interactive ‘have a go’ area and an updated Advertising Avenue detailing the history of Cadbury’s adverts. Colin Pitt, education and heritage centre manager, stated to Birmingham Mail: ‘We are always so impressed by the stunning creations our chocolatiers create here at Cadbury World, and with such an important milestone year for the brand this one had to be extra special. 

‘We’re proud of the Cadbury story and guests of all ages really enjoy learning the heritage of the brand here at the attraction, so what better way to honour the 200 years of Cadbury than with a throwback to where it all began, the Bull Street shop!’.

The global Cadbury brand grew from the shop opened by Birmingham-born businessman John Cadbury on 93 Bull Street in 1824. Cadbury’s shop began as a grocer’s which amongst its products sold cocoa and drinking chocolate. After retiring in 1861, Cadbury’s sons Richard and George took over the family business and built the original Bournville factory in 1879. From there, Cadbury developed from a local West Midlands shop to become a nationally recognizable Birmingham brand. Cadbury is well known for its chocolate products and historically innovative, philanthropic business ethos, which invested in its Bournville factory workers to provide education, holidays, and sites of leisure for its employees.

Today, Cadbury World welcomes an average of over 600,000 annual tourists and continues to be one of Birmingham’s most popular attractions. Guests can discover the inspiring story of the Cadbury family, learn some traditional chocolate-making techniques, and walk amongst a reconstruction of Victorian Bull Street.

Read more News updates here:

Trump’s Final Republican Rival Drops Out of Presidential Race Following Super Tuesday Disappointment

Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens to Rehome its Bird Collection

CQC Report Highlights Urgent Improvements Needed in Birmingham A&E Departments