Chocolate Factory in Wood Green, London N22.
Both the Chocolate Factory in Wood Green, N22 and its sister building, Chocolate Factory 2, are a landmark development and hub of excellence for the creative industries in the UK.
The project started in 1996 when Collage Arts, an arts development agency, moved into the Chocolate Factory on Clarendon Road and converted several derelict floors of the factory into artist studios. What followed was a high demand for creative space and in 2002, Collage Arts renovated Chocolate Factory 2 on Coburg Road, next door.
From a few artists’ studios in 1996, the Chocolate Factory has grown into a hub of over 100 studios with over 220 artists and creative companies providing employing some 800 people, covering a range of art forms from visual arts, new media, music, sculpture, jewellery, fashion, photography, ceramics and performing arts.
The Chocolate Factory of today is a far cry from the original Barratt’s and Caxton’s Factory of 1880s which produced famous brands like: Liquorice Allsorts, Aniseed Balls, Jelly Babies, Dolly Mixtures, Sherbet Fountain and chocolates; the new Chocolate Factory continues to make a vital contribution to creativity, innovation and to the economy in London UK and to linked developments across Europe.
