The High Sheriffs of Bristol and Somerset ride into Keynsham for topping out ceremony at £60 million retirement community.

The topping out ceremony at The Chocolate Quarter will mark the highest point in the redevelopment of the former Cadbury’s factory by Bristol-based charity, the St Monica Trust.

Due to open in summer 2017, The Chocolate Quarter will be home to 136 stylish apartments and a 93-bed care home, as well as office space, retail outlets and leisure facilities for the local community, including a 50 seat cinema, swimming pool, dance studio and pizza restaurant with a wood-fired oven.

Two High Sheriffs

The High Sheriff of Bristol, Ms Helen Wilde and the High Sheriff of Somerset, Edward Bayntun-Coward will gather on the roof of the Brookmead building to fit a specially engraved ‘top hat’ to a gas flue 85 feet above ground level.

Said St Monica Trust’s Chief Executive, David Williams: “While the Trust has been a part of life in Bristol since 1925, The Chocolate Quarter represents our first foray into Bath and North East Somerset, so we’re delighted to welcome the respective sheriffs for both counties.”

High Sheriff of Bristol, Ms Helen Wilde, said: “It’s fascinating to see the progress of the build and the speed at which the retirement community is taking shape. I’m sure that the wide range of facilities that will be available at The Chocolate Quarter will be of great benefit to the communities of both Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset.”

Formerly known as Block B, the Brookmead building was once the centre of production for Cadbury’s Caramel and Mini Eggs at the factory and will now house a specialist nursing care home and retirement apartments. Planning permission for the eight additional apartments which make up the sixth floor of The Chocolate Quarter was approved unanimously by councillors in April of this year.

Open summer 2017

The Chocolate Quarter’s marketing suite and show home will open at the beginning of October. Apartments will be a mixture of one and two-bedroomed properties and prices will start at around £240,000.

The tradition of the topping out ceremony stems from the Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits disturbed by its construction.

If you would like more information about The Chocolate Quarter call 0117 949 4004 or email info@chocolate.cosmic.hosting. You can also request information here.