Paul A. Young
Born
Paul Andrew Young

(1973-07-28) July 28, 1973
Barnsley, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom[1][2]
NationalityBritish
EducationLeeds Metropolitan University
Occupation(s)Chocolatier and pâtissier
Known forPaul A Young Fine Chocolates
Websitewww.paulayoung.co.uk

Paul Andrew Young (born 28 July 1973) is an English chocolatier, pâtissier and television personality.

Image of a Paul A Young Fine Chocolates stores in Camden Passage, London.
Paul A Young storefront in Camden Passage, London. The shop closed in 2023.[3]

Early life and education

Young was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire,[1] Young's parents divorced when he was 18 months old, and as a result he and his brother were raised by their mother in Trimdon Station, County Durham.[4] He attended Wellfield Community School until the age of 15, when he left to attended New College Durham in order to study hotel catering and management.[5] Upon completing his foundation course at New College, Young subsequently attended Leeds Metropolitan University.[2]

Young relocated to London after leaving university and worked as Head Pastry Chef under Marco Pierre White at The Criterion Brasserie and Quo Vadis.[6][7] Young then left Quo Vadis to work as a product developer for Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's,[1] before founding his own company, Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates Ltd, with business partner James Cronin in 2004.[8]

Work

Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates opened their first chocolaterie, in Camden Passage, Islington, in 2006.[7] A second shop would open the following year in The Royal Exchange, and a third on Soho's Wardour Street would follow in June, 2011.[9] The Royal Exchange store closed c. August 2019 due to rent increases.[10]

In 2023, Young announced the closure of his London shops. On 31 July 2023, the final Camden Passage shop shut down permanently.[3]

Young launched his first chocolate cookbook entitled Adventures with Chocolate in 2012 via Kyle Books. His second book Sensational Chocolate was released in 2016 via Clearwater Publishing. The book featured recipes from 50 celebrities including Emma Thompson and Nigella Lawson, and all profits went to the Children's Air Ambulance, of which Young was an Ambassador.[11]

Young has appeared on a variety of cookery shows including Saturday Kitchen and This Morning, typically sharing different chocolate recipes or acting as an expert/judge.

In 2019, Young controversially used the divisive flavour of the Durian fruit (popular in Southeast Asia) in a campaign to draw attention to Domestic Violence on behalf of Woman’s Trust.[12] He subsequently apologised for any offence he may have inadvertently caused towards the Southeast Asian community.[13]

Personal life

Young lives with his partner Luke.[14] In addition to serving as an Ambassador to the Children's Air Ambulance, Young also served as Vice-President of The Sick Children's Trust.[15]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Channel
2013 Paul Hollywood's Pies and Puds Self Episode 6 BBC One
2016 The Saturday Show Self Episode 16 Channel 5
2017 The Sweet Makers Self 1 series (four episodes) BBC Two
2019–2020 This Morning Self 2 episodes (4 Dec 2019 and 12 Feb 2020) ITV
Saturday Kitchen Self 5 episodes BBC One
2020 Snackmasters Self 1 episode Channel 4
2023 Top Chef: World All-Stars Self 1 episode S20 Ep4 Bravo (American TV network)

Bibliography

  • Adventures with Chocolate (2012) ISBN 978-0857830838
  • Sensational Chocolate (2016) ISBN 978-1908337344

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cronuts, Heston and Marmite truffles: Chocolatier Paul A Young is the UK's own Willy Wonka". Daily Express. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates Reviews & News". chocolatier.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 Fiske, David (6 August 2023). "The End of an Era: London's Paul A. Young Shuts Up Shop". chocolatier.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Soul food: Paul A Young on Sunday tea at his grandmother's house". This Is Money. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "A Q&A with chocolatier Paul A Young". Financial Times. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "London: Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates". The New York Times. 13 August 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 "About Paul A. Young". Paul A. Young. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Paul A Young Opens New Flagship Chocolaterie in Soho". Londonist. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Paul A Young Twitter". Paul A. Young on Twitter. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Celebrity friends help Paul's charity chocolate book". Paul A. Young on Twitter. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Award-Winning Chocolatier Equates Domestic Abuse with a Southeast Asian Delicacy". Eater London. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  13. ↑ "Award-Winning UK Chocolatier Faces Backlash For Using Durian To Represent Domestic Abuse". SAYS.com. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  14. ↑ "What Chocolatier Paul A. Young Can't Live Without". The Strategist UK. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "I'm a runner: Paul A. Young". Runner's World. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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