25/09/2026
So, how did Chocolace become G. Hatfield’s sweet shop?
Step Back in Time with us — Part 2
At the beginning of February, we were contacted by Katy, Location Manager for All Creatures Great and Small... and that's where the story begins.
The story of sweet shop owner Geoff Hatfield and his beloved cat Alfred is told in James Herriot’s book All Living Things. His shop is tiny and tucked away on a side street in Darrowby.
Playground Television, the production company behind All Creatures Great and Small, had never used an actual shop before as a location — and Chocolace was just what they were looking for. They liked the views from our front and back windows, and the position of the shop was ideal.
Malcolm has always supported ACGAS, so he agreed. I was a little more skeptical! I worried we'd be closed just before Easter, our busiest time of year, and I worried about flimsy shelves and losing too much of our precious chocolate space!
But Malcolm kept telling me to trust the process.
Then came the meetings with the heads of departments. Oh my goodness, we had no idea how many people it takes to make the ACGAS magic happen! At one point, we had over 34 people in the shop, measuring, discussing designs, layouts and camera angles — all while we were sworn to secrecy.
The makeover began in mid-March and lasted two and a half weeks. We made the most of the time, decorating Malcolm's living room, days out and, of course, sourcing 1940s items for what would come next.
Every night when the workmen went home, Malc and I would sneak down to see the progress, like giddy children on Christmas Eve.
It soon became clear that master craftsmen were at work, and all my worries disappeared.
Then the day of filming arrived...
But that's a story for another day. 🤎
