4 years ago, it all began to get very serious. we closed our shop and re-opened to online orders and phone orders only, and Barnard Castle emptied of cars, with only a handful of businesses able to still operate.   Terms like social distancing, home-schooling furlough and working from home became part of everyday language, and we queued for toilet paper and pasta supplies, clapped on a Thursday and wished everyone well in emails. Zoom became the way to socialise for those who could use it. We got to know our neighbours and helped make sure that our emergency services and key workers were ..read more

Chocolate Fayre has been part of Barnard Castle’s high street scene for over 36 years, and at the core of what we do, it is all about you – our lovely customers! Whether we see you almost every week, just at Christmas time, when you’re on holiday in our area, as a first time visitor, or as an online customer based now where near our corner of the country, we love nothing more than Spreading Happiness with Chocolate. And that’s why it gives us a warm fuzzy feeling when we hear back from you either in person or via online reviews. If you have enjoyed your Chocolate Fayre experience, we’d really ..read more

Updated 7th December PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD OUR LAST ORDER DATES FOR CHRISTMAS TO MINIMISE FURTHER DELAYS FROM POSTAL STRIKES. 2nd Class orders should now be placed by FRIDAY 9th DECEMBER, and 1st Class orders should now be placed by 2pm MONDAY 12th DECEMBER. I thought it would be wise to just give you some advance notice about posting gifts in the lead up to Christmas. I always want to see all of your gifts arriving in perfect condition and on time, especially for special occasions, such as Christmas. However this year, we have a few extra challenges to contend with! As you ..read more

Following the popularity of our Hill Sixty coffee beans and grinds, we’re really pleased to announce that our refreshing range of Hill Sixty loose leaf teas are now available for you to brew and enjoy at home now too. We’ve perhaps become used to the ease and convenience of the tea bag. However, made well, the extra couple of minutes needed to brew a pot of loose leaf tea is therapeutic, setting you up first thing in the morning, or relaxing and rejuvenating you during the day. If you’re new to loose leaf tea, don’t worry – it’s very easy to produce a delicious brew, once you get into the rout ..read more

With the current coronavirus situation playing havoc with life around the world, we have received written notification from the Ministry of Information in Whitehall that Easter this year will be postponed until after the pandemic has passed, taking place now on December 25th. We are working hard to produce have a range of thermal chocolate eggs available for this new date. We also have plans to produce coconut-sized Easter eggs which, when carefully tapped with a hammer, produce deliciously warm hot chocolate from inside them. Prior to the new Easter celebrations beginning, a job swap scheme ..read more

With Easter comes chocolate, and this year, Chocolate Fayre have the largest range we’ve ever had of vegan suitable eggs! Not only are they vegan suitable, but they are also all dairy/lactose free, gluten free and soya free, meaning even more of you can enjoy your seasonal spring goodies without worry. First up, we have the Booja Booja range. These look fabulous even before you open one. Comprising of handmade and intricately decorated papier-mâché card shells, inside each are stuffed with decadently delicious Booja Booja truffles. This year we have three varieties of egg: Marc de Champagne ..read more

As the cold, grey weather and darker evenings of January become a distant memory, we look forward with hope and optimism to warmer days, happy occasions and celebrations. Here at Chocolate Fayre, the shop is decked out in reds, pinks and whites, as we approach St Valentine’s Day on 14th February. There are many legends, tales and traditions around the origins of Valentine’s Day, how it came into being, how it’s been marked in different ways over time and across the world, and what’s led it to be what it is today. From the celebration of a 3rd century Christian saint who officiated over the ma ..read more

May 2022 is a big year for us, as we celebrate our 35th Anniversary! That’s right, Chocolate Fayre has been operating in Barnard Castle for 35 years! 35 Years of Chocolate Happiness In May 1987, a former tobacconist shop situated on the high side of Barnard Castle’s Horsemarket was converted into a new and exciting shop named Chocolate Fayre. Launched by Ken & Hazel Robinson, already well established names through their general store in Staindrop, they quickly established a reputation selling fine continental chocolates and other confectionary (including the famed chocolate animals), and ..read more

I’m sure there will be some of you who have no need to worry about storing your chocolates, as the temptation is so great that they barely last the journey home! However, let’s say you’re super organised and bought someone a lovely gift of a box of chocolates, and their birthday isn’t for a few weeks. How do you ensure that the chocs reach them in perfect condition, especially while the weather is fluctuating between roasting hot and humid, and cool and damp? Here are our top tips: Don’t put chocolate in the fridge! Chocolate soaks up smells and absorbs odours of whatever is around it. In a ..read more

Valentines Day, as most of you will know, is celebrated on February 14th each year. It is traditionally a celebration of love and affection, dating back centuries, when even as early as the 1700’s, gifts of flowers and confectionary were given to loved ones. Over the years, chocolate gifts in particular have become more elaborate, with the first chocolate selections presented in heart shaped boxes becoming popular in the late Victorian times. True Romantics Collection Did you know that, In Wales, they have a separate day marking the Welsh patron saint of love, St Dwynwen, which happens on J ..read more