Whitby Chocolate Festival Plans Progressing

Whitby is set to host its first-ever chocolate festival in November to raise funds for the town's defibrillator project.

Hot chocolate making in Whitby is about to get competitive.

The town will be staging it's first Chocolate festival later this year with local firms being pitted against each other to see who has the best hot chocolate experience.

The event is being staged as a fund-raiser for the town's Defibrillator project.

Pam Boland came up with the idea.

"I love hot chocolate . Wouldn't it be fun to have a competition to see who actually does do the best hot chocolate in Whitby? 

There's two competitions. One is to find out which is the best hot chocolate. And one is to find out which is the best chocolate cocktail.

It's about ambiance and the history of the building. 

I want to emphasize. What Whitby has to offer regarding nice places, sit down and have a hot drink so I think it's about so many things, not just knocking back a cup of hot chocolate. It's knowing, a little bit about where that chocolate came from. It's a little, deeper than that."

The festival is being organised by the Whitby Defibrillator Project (WDP) to help fund the maintenance of 40 defibrillators in Whitby and the surrounding area. Organisers highlighted that each defibrillator battery requires replacement every four years at a cost of approximately £165, or sooner if a unit is used on a casualty. Funds raised will come from the participation of local businesses and donations from the public.

Around 50 businesses have already expressed interest and registered to take part in the chocolaty endeavour. These venues will offer a variety of "chocolate elements", including artisan chocolates, bean-to-bar chocolate, as well as items like brownies, ice cream, and milkshakes. Mixologists are also expected to create chocolate cocktails. Any local business interested in taking part in the event can email WDPchocfest1@outlook.com

Participating businesses will donate a £40 registration fee directly to the defibrillator project. According to organisers, each registered venue will display a film window sticker informing passersby that they are taking part in Whitby's first chocolate festival.

Plans also include the creation of a printed route map of all participating venues. These maps will be available in the venues themselves, as well as at the Tourist Information Centre, The Library, and via social media. Organisers also plan to provide some venues with loose change collection boxes to further boost the WDP batteries funds.

The festival will feature two main competitions: one to find the best hot chocolate and another for the best chocolate cocktail in Whitby. The festival is set to conclude with customers casting votes to decide which venue offers the 'best hot chocolate in Whitby'.

Pam says the event is planned for November

"Whitby Town Council suggested that we launched it alongside the Christmas markets, which is the 14th of November, for three weekends. 

I'm currently formulating a map. That will tell the public which which businesses are doing what.

I'm hoping that people will use that roadmap to have a wander round. Go to some really nice businesses and find some different chocolate elements.

The businesses would donate 40 pounds registration fee to the defibrillator project. We're going to have some little film stickers on their windows, so that passes by and see that they're taking part in Whitby first Hot Chocolate Festival."

The proposal has received backing from Whitby Town Council.

At a meeting on Tuesday, March 4, councillors supported the "non-commercial, non-profit idea". Mayor of Whitby, Coun Bob Dalrymple, stated the proposal was "well received by the council", with several councillors voicing support before a motion for Whitby Town Council to support the idea of a Whitby Chocolate Festival 2025 was carried.