Carlisle newsagent Billy Bone will be at the centre of a golden wonderland on Thursday morning (27 August) when the residents of Carlisle descend on his Foreways shop to get their hands on the first Wispa Gold bars to go on sale since 2003.
Billy, whose shop has been serving the people of Carlisle for 21 years, won the chance to be the first to sell the bars in the UK. He was chosen from a shortlist by a specialist panel at Cadbury keen to reward retailers who had demonstrated a real love for the bar.
Golden ‘Vegas girls’, giant balloon sculptures, a golden DJ booth and an all important gold carpet will be added extras as his shop becomes the focal point for impatient Wispa Gold fans across the country. Billy is clearing the confectionery aisle to stock 5,000 of the limited edition velvety chocolate bars with a cheeky caramel layer.
Billy said: "We’re expecting a lot of fans and a lot of fun. I’m going to see if I can hang onto the gold carpet – I think the locals would like a sprinkle of magic every day!"
Ross Farquhar, Wispa brand manager, explained the decision: "We were determined that the first shop in the UK to sell Wispa Gold should belong to someone who really loved the bar and would get behind it in the way our fans do."
Billy has a head start on the rest of the country - Wispa Gold will go on general sale from September. Fans need to snap them up quick because once they’re gone, they’re gone.