Upper East Side British Candy Store Looks Forward To A Jubilee Year

By: Valarie D'Elia

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It won’t be easy to top last year’s royal wedding but 2012 is going to be another banner year for the British, and New Yorkers can join in the festivities at a unique shop on the Upper East Side. NY1's Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.

Alison Wright, the photographer on National Geographic’s recently released London and Great Britain guidebooks, says 2012 will be a big year for Great Britain.

“There's a lot going on in London this summer. They're celebrating the queen's diamond jubilee, 60 years she's been on the throne, and of course the 2012 Summer Olympics in July and August,” says Wright.

New Yorkers don’t have to go all the way across the pond, however, to lick their "stiff upper lip." The London Candy Company on the Upper East side is like the Grand Central Station of sweetness for British candy.

“We expect to be sort of a headquarters, if you will, for anything British, anglophiles, expats,” says London Candy Company manager Howie Levine. “We do carry one of the most extensive collections of British sweets in the country and a lot of people who come in are surprised to see things that they haven’t seen since they were kids.”

"I bring my British friends here and it makes them feel they’re at home," says a customer.

Levine is now holding down the fort for his British boss, who is on a scavenger hunt.

“At the moment, the owner of the store is in England. He’s out there looking for stuff, be it pillows, as you can see behind me, posters, mugs, any knickknack that would sell well," says Levine. "One company in particular, Prestadt, a premium chocolatier, they have several items coming out strictly for the Jubilee that will be carrying Union Jacks on them, things of that nature.”

That is a sweet treat for travelers headed to London this year.

As is common practice in the travel industry, Travel With Val often receives complimentary travel or reduced "media" rates at hotels, resorts and attractions, including those that may be featured in these reports. Such consideration is not taken in exchange for any express or implied promise or understanding of any nature, particularly regarding the content of these reports. These reports only feature travel providers personally recommended by Valarie D’Elia in the exercise of her independent editorial judgment, and do not represent the endorsement of Time Warner Cable or any third party.