Pontefract Liquorice Festival

Every July, the town celebrates its leading role in England’s love affair with licorice (known as “liquorice” in the country), in particular through the “Pomfret” or Pontefract cake. Created in 1760, these black, coin-shaped “lozenges” were made of cooked licorice sap and could be dissolved in water. Once used to treat ailments and sweeten other medicines, the cake eventually became better known as a snack toward the end of the 19th century. Licorice-based fashion is a big part of the annual festival, which began in the 1990s, with some years featuring all kinds of wearable confectionery, including dresses, licorice-lined boots, and even a licorice jewelry-making station. For those who might not be interested in candy-coated fashion, the town also provides free travel on the “Liquorice Land Train” to Pontefract Castle, where people can take a tour. For the tried and true licorice lovers, the festival features a vast array of classic licorice savory snacks such as licorice-laden Yorkshire pies and sausage rolls.