Master chocolatier Paul Young, of Stone-based Chocolate at Home, has helped to organise UK Chocolate Week, celebrating the industry and all things chocolate.
Here, he writes about Staffordshire’s stand-out chocolate shops and producers, why we should be supporting them and the importance of quality ingredients.
“We are coming to the end of UK Chocolate Week 2025 and my first year living and working in Staffordshire. It’s my 20th year as a master chocolatier, and I decided to bring my skills and expertise to Stone.
When I land in a new area, I immediately hunt out the area’s chocolate shops and deep dive into the history of the business, the owners, chocolatiers and the chocolate they use to create their products.
The quality of all ingredients is important, and if I see palm fat/oil or artificial fillings and ingredients, I step away. I’m a purist and I celebrate the cocoa bean, the cocoa farmer and the skill of the chocolatier or chocolate maker. Choosing the right ingredients will make or break you and your product.
Staffordshire has a wonderful array of chocolate shops, some with the chocolates being made on site, some with cakes and bakes and some with incredible hot chocolate.
Real chocolate, so no nasty fats, flavourings and excess sugar, is beneficial to us, with dark chocolate being a natural antidepressant, it dilates our blood vessels and releases dopamine into our brain, which gives us the feeling of love and euphoria, so it’s no wonder we get hooked on the real stuff.
UK Chocolate Week is a week to celebrate all things chocolate and to celebrate our wonderful industry, and to share real chocolate and chocolates. There are events, special offers and new product launches and Staffordshire is no exception.
Seed Chocolate in Stoke-on-Trent is surprisingly Staffordshire’s only bean-to-bar chocolate maker. James Walter, in his micro factory, roasts his beans, grinds and tempers his chocolate to give us the true character of real chocolate.
The Sweet Shop of Whitebridge owner David Wolstenholme not only creates handmade chocolates onsite using only natural ingredients he also has Staffordshire’s only library collection of UK bean to bar chocolate bars.
Daniel’s Delights in Stoke on Trent, started on the kitchen table and is now a chocolate factory creating three brands of chocolate, Cox and Co, HAPPi Chocolate and Danny’s Chocolates using Single Origin Colombian chocolate.
Another chocolate shop making fresh chocolates and chocolate bars is due to open in North Staffordshire early next month.
This is a micro slice of how our county celebrates and loves chocolate, and how we are becoming a county that stands out with the number of chocolate businesses. I also chose to open my new business here, Chocolate at Home, a studio space to teach anyone how to become a chocolatier or just to try and have some fun.
I’m passionate about shopping local. After having four chocolate shops over 18 years in London I relied on local support, and as cacao beans and chocolate are at the highest price in 50 years, chocolate shops need everyone’s support. You are also buying the skill and artistry of the chocolatier, which is priceless.”
- Read the Daily Focus story about the opening of Paul’s Chocolate at Home business here.
