The UK town that 'always smells like biscuits' thanks to incredible 123-year-old factory
This much-loved factory makes some of the UK's favourite biscuits, and the local residents in Harlesden, north west London, love it.
This historic North London factory produces around 27 million biscuits daily, wafting the freshly baked aroma throughout the neighbourhood in Harlesden. The area has changed a lot over the past century, but the famous McVities factory continues to generate thousands of packets of biscuits every week.
Ever since it was built in 1901 the much-loved factory has produced some of Britain's most popular biscuits every week, including the digestive, hobnob, and rich tea - but you’d have thought the constant smell of these sweet treats would eventually put the people of Harlesden off them, surely?
Across the train tracks from the factory is Milton Avenue, where the residents' gardens look directly onto the factory.
Zack, 48, has lived on the road for 20 years, and he insists the smell is “really nice, I love it”.
Speaking to MyLondon, he said: “When they are baking you can smell it across the whole area. [It] doesn’t put me off, it makes me more hungry”.
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He has recently discovered that he could purchase biscuits directly from the factory, after clocking one of his neighbours carrying boxes of the yummy treats.
Zack said: “I asked what they were and he told me they were all from McVities and anyone can go there. They don’t give a discount to us but it’s very cheap, much cheaper than the supermarkets. I had been living here for such a long time and I didn’t know about it!”
The factory employs more than 600 people and at 48,800 square metres, it is the largest biscuit factory in Europe.
Samer, 20, has lived opposite the factory his entire life and is definitely not put off. He even has a favourite biscuit at the factory.
He said: “The basic digestive is my favourite, that’s what I use for my cup of tea anyway. You get the smell of biscuits daily, I wake up to it every morning.”
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Many see the factory's aroma as a huge plus to living in the area. Beverley, 60, who has been a Milton Avenue resident for 15 years, admits she still loves the “sweet smell” coming from the factory.
She jokes: “That's why I bought the house!”
Beverley added: “I do my own baking, people say they like the smell and I have to tell them it’s not McVities. My baking is better". Although Beverley doesn't eat biscuits herself she buys them for her much obliging grandchildren. Her grandson 10-year-old grandson Devari is another big digestive fan.
However, not all the residents love biscuits. 65-year-old Juliette has also lived on Milton Avenue for over two decades, and she said: “It’s ok. For those that eat it, it’s more than fine, but I don’t mind it.”
Shockingly though, she isn’t a fan of the factory’s product, adding: “I don’t really like biscuits, but sometimes I might manage one. Not McVities though, maybe a custard cream.”
Even the local government thinks it’s "great" that the local community continues to support the Harlesden factory.
A Brent Council spokesperson said: "We welcome all businesses that contribute to the local economy and provide employment opportunities for our residents. Millions of biscuits are produced daily in the factory and I’m sure that many of us at the council are partial to a digestive or two.”
