Construction to commence on new York city centre chocolate factory

Evora Construction, the York-based construction company, has been awarded a contract to fit out of the new York Cocoa Works in the city centre.

Evora Construction will begin work on the 3,000 sq ft chocolate factory at 10 Castlegate next week, with completion of the building phase expected mid-February.

The project, which raised over £311k in a recent crowdfunding campaign, is being led byl entrepreneur and chocolate enthusiast, Sophie Jewett, who owns York Cocoa House on Blake Street.

Richard Elam, director at Evora Construction, said: “We have worked with Sophie at the York Cocoa House since its inception in 2011, where we helped fit out the shop and café.

“We’re looking forward to working with Sophie again at the start of another promising business venture.”

Ms. Jewett added: “We’ve had a long relationship with Evora Construction, and as a trusted York firm with a fantastic reputation, I am confident that they will deliver our vision for a community facility in York.”

Evora Construction will transform the single-storey building into a chocolate production, chocolate academy and chocolate development centre.

Using partition walls, the firm will create several areas designed to house the equipment used in each stage of the chocolate making process, as well as a café, shop and academy space, which will be followed by a full fit out with associated finishes.

Ms. Jewett explained: “Bringing this project to life has been a really exciting experience. We’ve received outstanding enthusiasm from the local community and the support has simply been overwhelming.”

Mr Elam concluded: “Evora Construction is now in its 9th year of business. We work in various sectors across the region, including education and commercial, but it’s always good to work on local projects and help create new facilities in our wonderful city.”

The centre aims to be open by Easter 2018.

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