In the 19th century, East London was the heart of the UK’s sugar refining industry with associated factories and manufacturers growing up around the numerous ‘baking houses’ where the raw sugar was refined.

Shepherdess Walk was home to Barrett & Co confectioners – London's largest sweet maker with 2,000 workers in 1899. In 1966 the firm was bought by George Bassett and the brand most associated with Liquorice Allsorts was born.

Chocolate Studios on Shepherdess Place, is one of the remaining Victorian factory buildings from that era, situated in a conservation area to the north of City Road on the Hoxton, Shoreditch, Islington borders.

Chocolate Studios was created in 2002 when the factory was redeveloped into loft-style apartments and a number of small businesses are now based on the lower ground floor.

An apartment at Chocolate Studios received the 2003 Evening Standard New Home Awards for Best New Apartment.