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Celebrating Double Success at the VisitScotland Thistle Awards

We are thrilled to share that The Real Mary King’s Close has been honoured with two major wins at this year’s VisitScotland Central & East Thistle Awards.

Our attraction was named Employer of the Year, recognising the supportive, inclusive culture we’ve built for our team. Creating a workplace where people feel valued and inspired is at the heart of what we do and this award is acknowledgement of that at our Edinburgh attraction. Whether welcoming guests from around the world or working behind the scenes to care for our historic site, it’s our people who bring Edinburgh’s hidden history to life every day.

Alongside this, our General Manager, Paul Nixon, was celebrated as Individual of the Year. With more than 20 years in Scottish tourism, Paul’s leadership, vision and commitment have helped guide The Real Mary King’s Close through a period of record-breaking success. In 2024, we welcomed over 282,000 visitors from 159 countries, making us TripAdvisor’s number one visitor attraction in the UK. Paul’s award shines a light not only on his contribution, but on the strength of the whole team and the wider Continuum Attractions family.

Speaking about the wins, Paul said: “It’s an incredible honour to be recognised by VisitScotland and my peers in the industry. Tourism in Scotland is built on people – both those who work within it and those who visit – and I’m proud to represent such a talented team at The Real Mary King’s Close and across Continuum Attractions. This award is a reflection of their passion, creativity and commitment to sharing Scotland’s stories with the world.”

The Thistle Awards, hosted at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, are a highlight of the Scottish tourism calendar, celebrating the very best in our industry. To come away with two wins is a huge honour and we are immensely proud of everyone who made it possible.

The Close now goes on to represent Edinburgh at the National Final in Glasgow on 20th November!

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A Sweet Slice of History: Rare Terry’s Chocolate Oranges Donated to York’s Chocolate Story

Continuum Attractions is proud to celebrate the role our experiences play in preserving the nation’s heritage – and this week, York’s Chocolate Story added a remarkable new chapter to its collection.

Former Terry’s supervisor Ian Bradshaw donated a tray of 12 Terry’s Chocolate Oranges, carefully preserved for 20 years since the closure of the Terry’s Bishopthorpe Road factory in York back in 2005. Still in their original packaging and bearing the much-loved “It’s not Terry’s, it’s mine” slogan, the oranges are among the very last ever made in York.

Ian, who worked at Terry’s for 26 years in HR and payroll, explained that the oranges were originally destined for export to Australia. When the order was cancelled, trays were given to staff as a parting gift on the day the factory closed. While many colleagues enjoyed theirs at the time, Ian kept his safe – and two decades later, has ensured they will now form part of York’s Chocolate Story’s growing collection of historic artefacts.

The story has already captured the public imagination, with coverage across BBC News Online, the York Press, and an interview on BBC Radio York with York’s Chocolate Story’s General Manager, Stuart Wood.

For Continuum, Ian’s donation is more than just a box of chocolates. It represents the importance of authentic storytelling and the role our attractions play in safeguarding history. York’s Chocolate Story will now display the oranges as part of its refreshed Terry’s exhibition launching in early 2026, continuing to connect audiences with the city’s chocolate-making heritage.

Moments like this highlight what Continuum Attractions is all about: creating places where memories, stories and heritage are preserved – and where visitors can experience the past in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and, in this case, deliciously sweet.