Whitby Hot Chocolate Festival is back - with music and quizzes new for this year

The festival originally came about as a money-spinning idea for the Whitby Defibrillator Project – there are 40 defibrillators around town – and last year’s festival made £4,000 which organisers were delighted with.

This year’s event, which is on at various dates throughout November, offers people the chance to discover chocolate offerings and festival specials from Whitby’s hot chocolate makers, dessert creators, bar owners and mixologists, along with independent businesses of all types and free events.

Organiser Pam Boland said she wanted to make this year’s event more about Whitby businesses so a directory has been launched on the festival website, with the idea being that people can plan a shopping route while out and about in town – from chocolate stouts to scarves and gifts from the town’s independent traders.

“Let's encourage people away from online shopping and back to supporting Whitby and its own fabulous businesses,” said Pam.

Also new this year are the Big Whitby Quizzes – from November 9 to 15, 13 quizzes across town will feature special chocolate-related questions, from pictures to trivia, for your chance to win a hamper of goodies donated by local businesses.

Visit https://www.whitbychocfest.org.uk/ for details of quiz dates, times and locations.

On Friday November 13, Eighteen91 (formerly Brunswick Church) is hosting a music event, From Beats to Bar, showcasing musicians with Whitby roots.

Grab a chocolate cocktail and enjoy good food courtesy of D’Oh Pizza.

The fun starts at 6pm.

And on Sunday November 15, Hetty & Betty on Baxtergate will host a Chocolate & Chill wellness event featuring Nutrition and Nature, Functional Mobility, Pilates, Yoga and Sound Bathing, with events starting at 2pm.

These events are now almost fully booked.

The tasting part of the festival runs from November 9 to 20 in which you will be able to offer a judgement and ratings of participating businesses via a QR code in the following categories:

♦ best hot chocolate

♦ best chocolate dessert

♦ best chocolate cocktail

♦ best chocolate porter and stout

Pam added that shoehorning the event between Whitby Goth Weekend and Christmas was no mean feat, but it worked “harmoniously” alongside the town’s Christmas festival and offered something “warm and cosy” around town.

As the festival website states: “It's about wandering twinkly streets with someone special; it's about a plate of chocolate pudding and four spoons; it's about stouts as warming as your big coat; it's about hot chocolate by an open fire with views of the winter sea.

"It's about handmade mugs, artisan candles, luxurious blankets, knitted socks and lavish Christmas wreaths.

"It's about going dancing with friends, laughing over a pub quiz, and taking time out to feel restored.”