Logo showing a blue cup with brown saucer containing bubbly brown hot chcoloate. Above are the words Whitby 2025 and below are the words Hot Chocolate Festival

14th - 28th November 2025

A fortnight of indulgent chocolatey treasures, family fun, Whitby community spirit and life-changing impact

Come and immerse yourself in luxury chocolate tasting, an uplifting chocolate therapies & wellness event, competitions, must-see movies and a free, family-friendly fun afternoon. 

You’ll also discover a tempting, chocolate-themed shopping trail through Whitby’s festive streets - the perfect chance to find special Christmas gifts (and treat yourself), and warm up with delights from cosy family cocoa and chocolatey afternoon tea to sophisticated cocktails.

But it's not just about chocolate. It's about sharing what's best about our community, working together and making something wonderful happen.

This luscious Festival also features opportunities to join free CPR and defibrillator training and gain skills that could help save lives - all while raising funds for Whitby Defibrillator Project, to keep the town's 40 defibrillator units ready for action.

What's On at Whitby
Hot Chocolate Festival?

 

Use this page to plan a delicious visit, visiting our special events and taking time to browse and enjoy the delights of twinkly Whitby streets with family and friends.

 

Scroll down to see the full Event Listings and find out how to book.


Zoom in on the Festival Map below and plan your shopping trail round independent Whitby businesses.

Event Listings

 

Get your chocolate on at these delicious events and discover sweet connections with independent Whitby businesses.

Friday 14th November 2025 - Film: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

🎁 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971) Gene Wilder (U)

⏰ 7:00pm Friday 14th November 2025

📍 Whitby Pavilion Cinema, West Cliff, Whitby YO21 3EN
🎟️ Book your tickets here

⭐ Free CPR & defibrillator training is taking place after the film.

Saturday 15th November 2025 - Film: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

🎁 Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (2005) Johnny Depp (PG)

⏰ 2:00pm Saturday 15th November 2025

📍 Whitby Pavilion Cinema, West Cliff, Whitby YO21 3EN
🎟️ Book your tickets here

⭐ Free CPR & defibrillator training is taking place after the film.

Sunday 16th November 2025 - Film: Wonka (2023)

🎁 Wonka (2023) Timothée Chalamet (PG)

⏰ 5:00pm Sunday 16th November 2025

📍 Whitby Pavilion Cinema, West Cliff, Whitby YO21 3EN
🎟️ Book your tickets here

⭐ Free CPR & defibrillator training is taking place after the film.

 

Sunday 16th November 2025 - Chocolate Therapies, Health & Wellness Showcase

⏰Sunday 16th November 2025, 2:00 - 5:00pm (INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY TIMINGS TO BE CONFIRMED)
📍 YHA Whitby Café Bar, YHA Whitby, Abbey House, East Cliff, Whitby YO22 4JT

🎟️ Free entry (voluntary donation to Whitby Defibrillator Project). No booking needed - it's first come, first served, with a maximum 40 visitors to each activity at any one time. Café and bar will be open as usual throughout.
🔗01947 602878 whitby@yha.org.uk
⭐ Free CPR & defibrillator training is taking place at this event

🎁 Join us for one or all of the activities below:

- Introduction to therapists in Whitby

Browse stalls and meet the people who provide all sorts of chocolate-related therapies and services in Whitby.

- Talk & Tastings: Health Benefits of Good Chocolate

Liz Cooper has been a registered nutritional therapist since 2010, and is also a breathwork and meditation practitioner, a forest bathing guide and an accredited health coach. Join Liz as she uncovers the health benefits of cacao and why it’s more than just chocolate in this enriching and energising talk on behalf of The Dispensary.

Please see our Blog for further insight into this fascinating subject.

- Chocolate Tasting Session

Join Emma Hatchard from The Pot & Pineapple in Whitby for an introduction to an astonishing range of chocolate flavours and textures.

- Introduction to Cacao Ceremonies

Come and be part of a cacao circle and discover the depths of this special practice with Daniel O'Connor from Whitby Wellness.

- Sound Bathing & Chocolate Sampling

Experience this relaxing ceremony with Anna Tennant of Nurturing Rituals, a qualified sound practitioner, mindfulness teacher and sacred ceremony facilitator. She has studied Reiki, reflexology, foraging, herbal tea blending, plant folklore, Tibetan bowls, crystal singing bowls, bio sonic tuning forks and some other things along the way. Nurturing Rituals blends together various techniques to promote relaxation, balance, mindfulness and unlock creativity.

 

Tuesday 18th November 2025 - Chocolate Tasting With Master Chocolatier

🎁 A fine opportunity to experience new chocolate flavours and textures under the guidance of master chocolatier Paul A Young.
⏰ Tuesday 18th November 2025 7:00pm
📍 The Pot & Pineapple, 5B Skinner Street, Whitby YO21 1SU

🎟️Contact the Pot & Pineapple for more details and to buy a ticket.
🔗 hello@thepotandpineapple.com    07786 987134 

Saturday 22nd November 2025 - Family Fun Event

🎁 Games for all the family, including: Hoopla, “Roast the Cocoa Bean”, chocolate painting, chocolate moulding, chocolate chess/draughts, tombola, panel style quiz game plus lots more.
⏰ Saturday 22nd November 2:00 - 5:00pm
📍 Eighteen91, Brunswick Street, Whitby YO21 1RB

🎟️Free entry (with voluntary donation to Whitby Defibrillator Project) - register your interest on Eventbrite
⭐ Free CPR & defibrillator training is taking place at this event.

14th - 28th November - Competitions - Your Turn to Judge!

🎁 Did the judges get it right? Between 25th October and 13th November, businesses will be competing for the coveted titles of Creator of Whitby's Best:

Hot Chocolate
Chocolate Dessert
Chocolate Cocktail
Chocolate Stout

You are invited to make your own judgements and submit your final choices to the poll on our Facebook page, which will be released at the start of the Festival.

📍 Participating businesses - list will be released at the start of Festival fortnight on 14th November 2025

Festival Map

 

Whitby Hot Chocolate Festival's shopping trail. Use this map to plan your own route and take yourself on a chocolatey adventure around independent Whitby shops, cafés, coffee shops, bars and pubs. Wherever you find yourself in Whitby, there will be an opportunity to support local businesses and indulge in something delicious close by!

A huge thank you to all businesses on this map for their donations to Whitby Defibrillator Project.  If you're a Whitby business and would like appear on the map, please let us know via the button on our Contact page.