For over a century, Thorntons chocolate shops have been a familiar fixture on high streets across Merseyside and beyond.
Specialising in crafting high quality chocolate, sweets, toffee, fudge and more, the business dates back to 1911 when travelling confectioner Joseph Thornton opened a sweet shop in Sheffield. Joseph's sons Norman and Stanley ran the business, originally selling sweet treats such as Violet Cachous and Sweet Lips, before expanding to make their own hand-made truffles and fondants in 1920s
By 1922, Thorntons was personalising chocolates, with the brothers hand-icing Easter eggs. And before they knew it, their first purpose built factory was opened and shops starting popping up all over the country - including in Liverpool.
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Archived Old ECHO advertisements suggest that Thorntons came to Liverpool around the 1950s. An ad from March 6, 1961, for a special toffee or continental chocolates Mother's Day treat box states there were 'Thorntons chocolate kabins' in Whitechapel, Bold Street and North John Street.
Fast-forward to the 1980s, the ECHO reported how Thorntons were merging two of their existing shops to be "conveniently located for everyone." The advertisement reads: "Thorntons close their shops in St. Johns Precinct and Bold Street on Saturday November 5.
"(Although, of course, other shops in Whitechapel and North John Street will continue trading as usual.) And their new shop opens at Central Station, Ranelagh Street, on Wednesday November 9. So now, quite literally, if you want irresistible sweets and chocolates there's only one place to go. Thorntons."
What are your memories of Thortons in Liverpool? Let us know in the comments section below.
Images, recently unearthed from our archives, Mirrorpix, capture life in the Liverpool stores back in the 1980s. Some photographs show Brenda Dakin of Thorntons with a display of Easter eggs in March 21, 1986.
You can see the style of the products on offer at the time at Thorntons, with small chocolate eggs with caramel filling costing 19p each, a 200g milk chocolate Easter chicken costing £2.99 and which chocolate Easter eggs on display in the background shelf.
In another photo we see Michelle Barton, the new Thorntons Champion Toffee smasher from the St James precinct store of Thorntons chocolate cabins. Taken in November 1988, we see Michelle working with the toffee using her little hammer.
For many children in Merseyside, visiting a local Thorntons branch was a special treat and had a magical feeling. You'd scour the shelves looking at everything to offer and many will have had their first Valentine gift, Easter eggs, Christmas chocolates and more from the stores.
Like many businesses, Thorntons developed over the years bringing in new products and a new style. In October 2019, Liverpool One's Thorntons store reopened it doors after a huge makeover.
The South John Street store was closed for six weeks ago for a total revamp. In pride of place was the 'create your own' craftery counter where customers could build bespoke gift boxes choosing from the 18 best-loved Thorntons chocolates and ranging in price from £3-£12.
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At the time, new to the Liverpool store was 'Thorntons Chocolate Blocks Library' - individual blocks of flavoured and plain chocolate - curated into a £15 five-bar pack. The shop's signature ice-cream selection also had its own counter while its range of hot and cold chocolate-themed drinks and shakes were available from a new take-away station.
But in recent years, the city and beyond have said goodbye to the physical Throntons shops as we knew them. In March 2012, the ECHO reported how Thorntons would close all 61 of its UK stores, putting more than 600 employees at risk of redundancy.
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The chocolate brand, which had multiple outlets in Merseyside, said the coronavirus pandemic influenced its decision. However, Thorntons has remained online and products are available to purchase in grocery stores.
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