Easter is on the horizon, and we all know what that means – chocolate eggs for all! But dark, milk or white? Dairy or gluten-free? Sustainable? Ethical? There are so many questions when it comes to making your choccy choices.
The Lakes are a hub for independent businesses, and that’s no different when it comes to great places to buy chocolate. So we’ve compiled a list of our favourite chocolate shops in Cumbria.
Chocolat, Kirkby Lonsdale
Enjoy handmade goodies from the shop upstairs, but descend the tight twisting staircase into the dark downstairs, and you’ll find the supernatural creatures behind the recipes! They may have just downed tools and gone for a cuppa, but your kids will be enthralled by the fairy grotto village downstairs – which makes a trip to this chocolate shop a double treat.
The Blind Chocolatier, Staveley
These beautiful, bespoke chocolates are handmade by Stuart Hann, a pastry chef in the Lakes since 2007. Diagnosed in 2015 with a rare eye condition, he is now legally blind. But that doesn’t stop him from fashioning the most beautiful chocolate creations, following his dream of opening a chocolate shop in his hometown of Staveley. The finest selection of top quality chocolate graces the shop in Staveley’s Mill Yard, from beautiful bars to amazing artisanal gift boxes of exquisite chocolate creations. One for the grown ups (but don’t think you’ll get away with not treating the kids too!)
https://www.theblindchocolatier.co.uk/
Old Bank House, Ambleside
This charming old Lakes institution based in Ambleside is a one-stop-shop for all the classics of confectionery. When owners Mark and Michelle Farran took the old bank unit over 32 years ago, they emulated past generations of the Farran family, following Robert Farran who established himself as a well-known Blackpool rock maker and travelled to the US and Spain with his work in the candy industry. Family recipes were passed down, and this small business has built up a large reputation for a friendly welcome and tasty treats.
https://oldbankchocolates.co.uk/
Temperly
These beautiful and contemporary artisanal chocolates are all handmade, hand-piped and handpainted in the Lakes by Jodie Groves herself – and have been dubbed ‘too pretty to eat’! Using the finest product, she uses her culinary education to create chocolate that tastes as good as it looks.
The Famous 1657, Kendal
Built in the 1630s, this chocoholic haven and selling other products perfect for gifting. The Famous 1657 Chocolate House started as a chocolate shop in 1984 as the Chocolate House and has been through several reincarnations since. Choose a personalised selection of luxury chocolates and box them up for a loved one – they’re bound to go down a storm.
https://www.chocolatehouse1657.co.uk/
Castle Chocolates, Carlisle
RIght in Carlisle’s city centre, Castle Chocolates is a hub for the chocolate fan. Freshly made everyday in store, they use only the highest quality ingredients and traditional techniques to fuse time-honoured tradition with modern twists. Watch the chocolate being made in front of your eyes, and possibly pick up a fab ice cream too. Whether it’s traditional truffles or something a bit new that tickles your fancy, you’ll find something to tick the box at Castle Chocolates.
https://www.castle-chocolates.co.uk/shop
Tempered to Taste, Keswick
Using premium ingredients which are ethically produced and sourced locally wherever possible, these beautiful handmade chocolates combine tradition with new flavours. Chocolatier Dora learnt the art of chocolate making through the pandemic, and this one-woman business has continued leaps and bounds ever since. As the seasons change she tries to bring in new flavours, so there is always something new to tempt your tastebuds.
https://www.temperedtotaste.co.uk/
Friars, Keswick
Established in 1927, the Friars business remains with the same family to this day. With stores in Ambleside and Keswick, Friars stocks great quality chocolates, and all their chocolate gifts are designed inhouse – you won’t find them anywhere else! With almost a century under their belts, Friars are Lakes choccy royalty. When William Long opened up in 1927 between the wars, I doubt he dreamed his business would still be there almost a century later. But his founding principles of innovation, quality, and heritage remain. They are one of the first chocolatiers to transition to 100% biodegradable packaging, and they also pioneer vegan milk and white chocolate creations. Their exacting panel judges every new recipe, and if the score comes out at below 9/10 it just doesn’t meet their exacting standards.
The Winter has been long and grey, and Easter is on the horizon – both call for a chocolatey indulgence in our opinion! We hope the list above has brought some of the Lakes’ inspiring chocolatiers to you, and that you can bounce through Easter with a hop from the Easter bunny and his sack of chocolate goodies!
Find some great ideas of things to do in the Lake District with Easter in the Lake District.
