Chocolate Fayre

12/09/2026

As summer comes to an end, and term begins, it’s time to say goodbye to our wonderful student team members, Georgia and Flo, who both had their last shifts this week. Georgia is off to do a post grad in Liverpool, while Flo begins her university experience in York.

A huge thanks to both of you for your enthusiasm, energy and eternal happiness! It’s been an absolute pleasure having you both on the team. We’ll miss you, but look forward to having you back on the team over the Christmas holidays. All the very best of luck with your adventures! Make the most of every opportunity!

11/09/2026

“What was the best bit about school today?” I asked our youngest, who began Reception last week, and isn’t sold on the idea of school yet!
“Pudding!” came the response “It was ice cream.” then a considered pause “Only it wasn’t as good as the ice cream in your shop!”

Still, any ice cream’s better than no ice cream!

10/09/2026

Always love to hear when our customers and visitors have a great Chocolate Fayre experience. Thanks very much very much Jewellery By Silvana for your lovely comments. Look forward to seeing you again in the future!

We've had a few days break in the North East and came across a really lovely cafe in Barnard Castle - Chocolate Fayre . On the main thoroughfare called Horsemarket, it's super-dog-friendly, inside and out (and a Secret Garden at the back too) and the selection of chocolate drinks, cakes and to-go chocolates was wonderful! 🥰😋😋😋In you're ever in the area, it's so worth a stop-off.

08/09/2026

One of our red kites surveying the land below with beautiful poise and grace. A stunning site which we are very fortunate to see on a regular basis.

If you’ve not visited Barnard Castle and the surrounding Teesdale area, you really must. We may not have a wide range of instant delivery services, but we don’t have to, as life is unhurried here, and there’s always time to take in the world around you.

05/09/2026

The shelves in the stock room have been emptied in preparation over the summer, and today the first products got stored away carefully, ready to go on display in the shop in around 2 or 3 of week’s time…. 🎃 🦇 🍏 🦔 🍄 👻 🧛🏻‍♂️ 🍄 🍁 🍎 🍂

🎃 🍁

02/09/2026

As the intermittent drizzle suggests, summer has drawn to a close, and it’s time for our younger customers to head off to school this week. Whether it’s your first first day, your last first day, your first day in seniors, first day at a new school, or just the start of another academic year, we hope you have an amazing time!

Just remember to have a go at everything! You don’t have to be good at it. You don’t necessarily have to think you’re going to like it. Just have a go. Try it. You never know where it might lead to.

And always try your best. Sometimes things seem tricky for quite a while, and you perhaps don’t understand what they are about, or find it tricky to remember what they are about. But just do your best and enjoy the bits that you do like and are better at.

And of course, we’re always here to make the end of any day brilliant! 🪴 ☀️ 🍦 🏃🏻‍♂️



Photography by Claire Collinson Photography

01/09/2026

Just a quick reminder that tonight (Tuesday) is the deadline for applications for our seasonal Christmas staff roles.

Full details and how to apply in comments below.

(Please note that this is NOT a role that you can do while in full time education, as shifts are spread across weekend and midweek days during term time as well as school holidays.)

24/08/2026

Despite the fact that we are due yet another heatwave, apparently. we are recruiting for Christmas! We are looking for two friendly and enthusiastic people to join our team at Chocolate Fayre, Barnard Castle for the build-up to the busy Christmas season.

- Hours: 24 hours per week, part time roles (3 x 8 hr days a week, usually 09:30-17:30, including a mix of weekends, midweeks & school holidays, all on a rota basis, additional hours may also be available)
- Renumeration: £12.71/hr (£10.85/hr if aged 18-21 years old) plus rolled-up holiday pay, company pension scheme, 30 minute paid lunchbreak every day, in-store discounts, and potential opportunities to extend contract beyond Christmas
- Starting Date: As soon as possible/as soon as available
- Finish Date: 3rd January

Business Overview

Chocolate Fayre has been established in Barnard Castle for almost 40 years. Known for selling fine chocolates, ice cream and quality confectionary, alongside coffees, teas, hot chocolates, cakes & bakes in the coffee lounge and Secret Garden, we pride ourselves on the quality of our products, our customer service, knowledge and experience. In addition, Chocolate Fayre has a website with an online shop, providing customers with chocolate gifts all across the UK, and another dimension to what is already a very busy shop.

Chocolate Fayre may look calm from the outside, but it is an incredibly demanding place to work, especially at Christmas time. This is not a role where staff are able to sit down for a coffee and a chat between tasks. However if a busy, vibrant retail and hospitality environment suits you, then this could be for you.

Job brief

This is a position based mainly behind the scenes during the very busy Christmas season at the Chocolate Fayre shop. The role involves

- Packing stock ready for the shop floor (this will involve following our existing training, procedures and plans to pack loose chocolates into gift boxes, other loose confectionary such as fudge and Turkish Delight into bags, finishing with ribboned bows and wrapping as required, to produce perfectly presented products. Do not underestimate the scale of this – we pack thousands of products for Christmas!)
- Packing customer orders to be sent out from our online shop and phone orders to be posted out (this often includes bespoke choices by customers, and again must be finished to a high standard to give a luxurious and appealing appearance)
- Helping with setting up and cleaning down the shop daily (this involves all staff working together to setup and clean down both back shop areas and customer areas, including the toilets)
- Assisting the established staff team with serving customers and restocking the shop displays, processing customer transactions through the till system, handling cash and card payments.
- Assisting the established staff team with table service of drinks to our Coffee Lounge customers, washing dishes and generally helping where required.

Applicants must:

- Be able to learn quickly, work accurately and follow both written and verbal instructions consistently and well
- Be able to perform repeated tasks multiple times not only to a high standard, but quickly and consistently.
- Be enthusiastic and positive in their attitude to work
- Be polite and friendly
- Be reliable and trustworthy
- Be fit and capable of being on their feet for the 8 hours while working each day.
- Be able to work independently with minimal supervision, once trained.
- Be available to work during school holidays and weekends
- Take pride in the work they do and have a good eye for detail.
- Have the ability to remain calm under pressure during exceptionally busy periods.
- Be a team player, but also be able to carry out independent tasks on their own
- Be flexible and be able to juggle and prioritise different tasks at the same time while remaining calm and effective
- Be confident in dealing with customers and the general public, and have excellent people skills
- Love chocolate, ideally enjoy coffee, tea and good food in general.

If this sounds like something you would be excellent at and would enjoy, please email your CV (maximum of 2 sides of A4) and brief covering letter (including confirmation that you can work Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays)outlining how your skills and experience meet the above criteria to Kenny Walker at [email protected], or post or hand in in person to Chocolate Fayre, 10 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, DL12 8LZ. Deadline for applications is midnight on Tuesday 1st September, with next stage interviews for selected candidates taking place on Monday 7th September.