STEEPED in history, it was the site of one of Britain’s much-loved chocolate manufacturers.

Now a shadow of its former glory days, the Bendicks chocolate factory on Moorside Road in Winchester is on the look-out for a new tenant.

It doesn’t come cheap though, and would cost nearly a quarter of a million pounds in annual rent for the entire 1960's property.

After Bendicks left the purpose built factory they called home for over 40 years in 2011 cutting 84 jobs, and Storck, the German food company that owns them, have continued to operate some of their offices from the site.

The confectioner moved production to its Ohrdruff plant in eastern Germany, and in December 2013 Broadshade Investments bought the 67,264 sq ft factory on the Winnall Industrial Estate.

If there is enough interest and a prospective tenant for the entire property, Storck will relocate, but alternatively up to 49,294 sq ft of warehouse space and 18,000 sq ft for offices is available.

To rent the entire office area would come in at £18,000, and for the warehouse £123,235.

The property is taken to the market by Lambert Smith Hampton, and Adrian Whitfield, director for the south coast office, says they are expecting a lot of interest.

“The Bendicks site is steeped in history as the site of one of Britain’s oldest chocolate manufactures. Today it is the ideal space for office occupiers and businesses looking for industrial warehouse space,” he explained.

“Moorside Road is superbly located close to Junction 9 of the M3 with easy access to London in the north and Southampton and Portsmouth via the M27 to the south.

“There is a current shortage of available warehouse space over 30,000 sq ft in this area, so we anticipate a good level of interest.”

Bendicks was founded by Mr Benson and Colonel Dickson in 1930 who started making chocolates in the basement of their Kensington shop in west London. The business moved to Winchester in 1967.

FACTFILE:

  • 1930 – The confectionary manufacturer is founded by Mr Benson and Colonel Dickson
  • 1931 – Bendicks Bittermints were first created
  • 1933 – A new store opens in London’s Mayfair
  • 1946 – The business was sold to Edgar Lawley
  • 1952 – Bendicks moved to a building which bridge St Thomas Street and Little Minster Street in Winchester
  • 1962 – Awarded the Royal Warrant
  • 1967 – The business moves to Moorside Road in Winchester
  • 1988 – Bendicks became a subsidiary of German sweet producer August Storck
  • 2009 – Bendicks (Mayfair) changed its name to Storck UK, keeping Bendicks as a brand name
  • 2011 – Production at the Winchester plant ended, and moved to Germany