North Chocolates

19/06/2026

Earlier this month is was ran by the Entrepreneurs Circle and it was estimated that small businesses and the economy got a £12m boost thanks to this initiative and others such as Small Business Saturday UK. Every penny spent locally makes a difference - up to 68% of every £100 stays within our region's economy, compared to the tiny amount the big boys generate. So just a suggestion for this weekend coming and Dad's Day on Sunday. Please think about popping into your local gift shop/ deli/ farmshop / bottle shop or butcher to treat your dad. We've some fabulous stockists if you fancy a bar of chocolate but we guarantee, along with us they'll have some crackers that will spoil the Big Man but will also make a difference to the people who have made them and the people in our local, independent shops who sell them. Use 'em or lose 'em folks.

We miss our Dad, the wonderful JT (see below right, fag in hand), who once dressed up as Noddy Holder for a film thanks to his magnificent ginger sideburns, who was never a drinker but liked a fag and liked his family even more. So we'll be lifting a glass to him on Sunday and for all of you who still have your Dad, Da, Fatha, Papa, Père, or whatever you call him (play nice), give him a squeeze from us.

05/06/2026

So we've gone and been on our holidays with some great chums, lots of Sangria, the odd paella (or should that be odd chums...?) and visited probably one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, in Soller, Majorca where the views were magnificent, and they had one or two Picassos and Miros dotted around and a free exhibition. I kid you not. I think Newcastle's Central Station is pretty swish but it's now my Number 2. We're now back and from the heat and the exotic we came home to the heat and the typically British, visiting the brilliant The Cloth Shed Shop and then Stagshaw House in Visit Hexham as part of the National Garden Scheme. We admired the gardens, watched people play adhoc tennis and lots of folk of a certain age, with very nice titfers drinking gallons of tea and then realised, to our horror, that we were exactly the same. Hey ho. Frankly it's been a delight not thinking about work or chocolate and, especially for anyone running their own business, I really recommend hoying the 'Out of Office' notification on EVERYTHING, switch off, put the phone away and take a step back if they can, as we all need a bit of time out. Now normal service is resumed...

14/05/2026

Well it's been a bit of a heavy couple of weeks and it's been head down, chocolate out but tomorrow sees the start of Belsay International Horse Trials and North will be there! From equestrian competitions (you don't say...), dog shows, a family fun trail, picnic tent and a shopping village, you'll actually find us in the terrific Turnbull's Northumbrian Food marquee, along with a whole host of local producers who will keep the public, the riders and, perhaps, even the gee-gees fed and watered! Giddy up to nab your favourite chocolate bars and hope to see you there!

01/05/2026

The sun has suddenly got our garden going gang busters and it's rather fitting as tomorrow sees the start of 'Castle in Bloom' and we're delighted that you'll be able to get ALL of our floral bars from Geranium (think Turkish Delight without the jelly!), our new delicious Milk Lavender bar, and our 70% dark Rosemary & Lemon Sea Salt from their gorgeous shop. But, as a gardener myself, the joy will be in the blooms. The gardens are already looking pretty magnificent and will only get better, but there's also floral installations including spectacular displays from gorgeous, modern florist Anna Potter from , there's talks and walks, music events, sunset meanders and tonnes more. Go, be inspired, get down and dirty (in the nicest possible way), with nature, and nab a bar of choccie while you're there! From 2nd May until 31st August. 🌸

01/05/2026

Who needs Holland when we have our very own Tulip field at Brocksbushes Farm Shop!? Brand new this year, this weekend is the last weekend to see the gorgeous blooms in action and we're there tomorrow (10am-4pm) to help celebrate, enjoy the display (and the sunshine) as well as bringing our award-winning chocolate! With over 160,000 flowers and 30 varieties it's a gorgeous experience with music, food, photo ops and even sunset tulip nights! See their website for full details and treat yourself to a kick in the pants spring colour explosion!

01/05/2026

Brill news for The Hepworth Wakefield and Experience Wakefield. Another feather in their lovely caps! Hope it's on if I get to be at the next year as I'll extend my stay - it won't be a chore.

Barbara Hepworth, Peter Doig, and Jeremy Deller are among the featured artists in “The Hodge Podge,” which opens at the Hepworth Wakefield next year.

30/04/2026

The sun has suddenly got our garden going gang busters and it's rather fitting as this Saturday sees the start of Raby Castle, Park and Gardens 'Castle in Bloom' and we're delighted that you'll be able to get ALL of our floral bars from Geranium (think Rose and Turkish Delight!), our new delicious Milk Lavender bar, and our 70% dark Rosemary & Lemon Sea Salt from their gorgeous shop. But, as a gardener myself, the joy will be in the blooms. The gardens are already looking pretty magnificent and will only get better, but there's also floral installations including spectacular displays from gorgeous, modern florist Anna Potter from swallowsanddamsons.com there's talks and walks, music events, sunset meanders and tonnes more. Go, be inspired, get down and dirty (in the nicest possible way), with nature and nab a bar of choccie while you're there! From 2nd May until 31st August.

25/04/2026

It's this weekend and fab new Street Food area, loads of chef demos and moi! You'll find us in the Food Hall folks!