13th - 15th November 2026

Wander festive streets and enjoy luxurious shopping, heart-warming get-togethers and a world of chocolate

 Discover independent shops | Find the best hot chocolate, chocolate cocktails, stout and desserts | Free events | Big Whitby Quiz | Live music | Wellness

What's it all about?

Fancy a proper excuse to wrap everyone up and make a full day of Whitby this November?

Well, here it is. Whitby Hot Chocolate Festival is your perfect chance to linger and indulge.

Wrap up warm and explore the town, taking part in events and visiting the independent businesses, musicians and wellbeing folk who make the place so wonderful all year round.

It's about wandering twinkly streets with someone special; it's about a plate of chocolate pudding and four spoons; it's about stouts as warming as your big coat; it's about hot chocolate by an open fire with views of the winter sea. It's about handmade mugs, artisan candles, luxurious blankets, hand-knitted socks and lavish Christmas wreaths.  It's about going dancing with friends, laughing over a pub quiz, and taking time out to feel restored.

We want you to go home with a bit of Whitby glow still with you.

What's On

FREE EVENT

Whitby Hot Chocolate Festival Big Whitby Quiz

Various venues and times | 9th - 15th November | Free entry | Brilliant prizes

Grab a team, pick a night... and find out how well you really know Whitby. Local businesses have written all the questions for a fun, Whitby-themed quiz - and put up some excellent prizes too (of course chocolate is included!).

Forget cramming everyone into one big hall. We've teamed up with the organisers of Whitby's regular quiz nights (and a few completely new ones) to create multiple quizzes round town. Look out for our family-friendly venues on Friday and Saturday, and a hearing impaired-friendly quiz on Tuesday.

FREE EVENT

From Beats to Bar
Live Music at Eighteen91

Friday 13th November | 6-11 pm | Free entry  |  No need to book  | Eve Thomas | Bonneville | Skandals

The fun doesn't stop when you leave the Christmas Market.  Keep enjoying the Whitby atmosphere and go dancing at Eighteen91, to a showcase of excellent musicians who just happen to come from the Whitby area.

Grab a front-row seat from 6pm. Otherwise it's just a five-minute walk from the harbourside, and you'll have the added treat of seeing this historic building all lit up for Christmas.  Cosy up with their fantastic drinks menu, including local beers and spirits that bring you the coast and the moors in a glass - and don't miss their award-winning chocolate cocktail! Doh Pizza will be there as well to keep your strength up throughout the night.

Whitby's own Coastguards and RNLI crew are invited as Guests of Honour. There'll be a collection in aid of the RNLI, so bring some spare change (or even some folding stuff) for the bucket.

FREE EVENT

Chocolate & Chill
Wellness Event at Hetty & Betty

Sunday 15th November | 2-5:30pm |  Free entry | Booking recommended - see  below | Come for one session or the whole event

Put down your shopping bags - and also the weight of the season's demands. You can have it all back, but first spend some time  getting your breath back, helping your shoulders drop and allowing your mind to drift a bit.  Enjoy a taste of the wellness expertise on offer in Whitby - including the benefits of chocolate and cacao - and walk away relaxed into a wonderful festive season.

2:00 Nutrition & Nature

Nutritionist Liz Cooper will address the group in her capacity as a nutritional therapist, health coach, an expert in forest bathing and HeartMath. She works on a personal level with particular respect to the heart, the brain and gut.

2:45 Functional Mobility

Aletche De Meyer will demonstrate strength training for a healthy strong life, with particular focus on maintaining strength throughout the aging process. There will be a 30 minute weight training demonstration as strength is important as we mature.

3:15 Pilates

Angela Hutchinson, from Saltmoor Spa near Whitby, leads a demonstration in uplifting Pilates, designed to strengthen, stretch and restore. Gentle yet energising for all abilities.

3:45 Coffee Break

Refreshments provided by Hetty & Betty for all participants.

4:15 Yoga

Michele from Rise Yoga Whitby will be bringing a little calm to the Chocolate Festival with a 30-minute feel-good yoga session combining gentle movement, mindful breathing and relaxation. Come along, stretch it out and take some time to reconnect with yourself - because wellness should feel good.

4:45 Sound Bathing

Anna Tennant, founder of Whitby company Nurturing Rituals, is a sound bathing expert. Even though this will only be a 30 minute taster session, you will surely feel the effects of her art.

Immerse yourself in soothing soundscapes designed to quiet the mind and nourish the soul. Experience deep relaxation as you connect with the healing powers of sound.

Anna will close at 5:15pm with a short appreciation of the health benefits of cacao.

IMPORTANT: sound bathing is NOT suitable for pregnant women in the first trimester or for people with broken limbs still in plaster.

Festival founder Pam Boland will host the event, and Rachel from Senses on Flowergate will be present throughout the afternoon for one-to-one discussion about massage and rehabilitation.

Wear comfortable clothes, and bring a yoga mat if you wish.  With only 25 spaces per session, we recommend booking, either by visiting Hetty & Betty in person or through their website.

SELF-GUIDED

Find your perfect chocolate spot

All weekend | Find great places to eat, drink & shop chocolate

When your feet feel frozen to the ground after the Christmas Market, it's time to find exactly the right spot for that first perfect sip of hot chocolate, chocolate stout or cocktail, or bite of homemade chocolate dessert.

Follow the link below and browse all the Festival  businesses offering chocolate-y treats. Fancy a hot chocolate by an open fire? Chocolate pudding with Whitby views? Somewhere that does vegan chocolate cake? Let's see what's on offer!

Not keen on chocolate?  Don't worry: everywhere has plenty more on the menu and there's something for everyone.

And these aren't pop-ups; if you find something you love, you can come back and visit whenever you like.

SELF-GUIDED

Plan a festive day out around town

All weekend | Discover independent businesses

It's Christmas shopping time, and Whitby's the perfect place to find something for the person who always says, 'oh, don't get me anything...'

Find hand-made, artisan, ethical, small-batch, unusual, luxurious, thoughtful gifts from lovely independent shops.

Track down stockists of independent bean-to-bar chocolate bars, cacao, hot chocolate powders and flakes, handmade confectionery, baking, and chocolate stouts - perfect treats for the hard to please.

Wherever you end up, you'll find a bit of Whitby warmth and comfort to take home with you. (If you miss anything, it's a great reason to return; these shops aren't just for Christmas).

GET INVOLVED

Judge this year's showstoppers

Rate your chocolate treats | 9th-13th November

The Festival started with one simple question: 'who makes the best hot chocolate in Whitby?'

Last year we decided to find out. One thing led to another, and  judges also crowned the makers of Whitby's best chocolate cocktail, chocolate stout and chocolate dessert .

This year it's the same four categories... but judging's over to you.

Look for the competition QR code in participating businesses - scan it to jump to our judging page and rate each thing you try, out of five stars, based on how much you enjoyed it.  Every rating counts towards the 2026 crown.

Watch our Facebook page to see the winners when the Festival ends.

Why are we doing this?

It is with just a little bit of pride that I announce this year’s Whitby Hot Chocolate Festival. As with last year, we are presenting a series of competitions, events and guided shopping adventures, and again, this will run alongside the Whitby Christmas Festival. Together, we aim to shine a light on the wonderful businesses and organisations who put so much into our town year after year and make Whitby a great place to live.

I feel I am someone who can vouch for Whitby. During the back-to-back heatwaves I travelled round town and had the absolute pleasure of meeting so many amazing people: inventors, scientists, boat builders, photographers, carers, charity workers, and countless small business owners and service providers, many quietly working away, doing their thing, away from the spotlight. I see you, Whitby -  and this year's Hot Chocolate Festival has been built around you. Let's get this done; let's encourage people away from online shopping and back to supporting Whitby and its own fabulous businesses. 

The festival will always have chocolate at its core, but the fruit is Whitby itself. We can't wait to see you this year.

Pamella Boland, Festival Founder

With thanks to...

Firstly, I would like to thank all those who participated in the very first Whitby Hot Chocolate Festival.  You have inspired this second run, and helped us create a smoother and more focussed experience. In particular I would like to thank:

Paul Armstrong from The Artistic Lens. Thank you, Paul for your photographic and organisational skills.  Thanks also for being an honest and trusted sounding board. 

Sam for your genius mind, and making the Big Whitby Quiz the huge success that it is!

Hannah for calmly and confidently taking charge of our social media. You just make things happen!

Alan, for your patience and loving support.

Councillor Phil Trumper: you have given us authenticity and the confidence to push for more. People listen when I say that I have your support.

James Wallis from North Yorkshire Council, who provides our funding and encouragement. You were my armour when asking for the support of Whitby businesses.

Thank you to Lois of Hetty and Betty's for providing a warm and cosy venue for our Wellness Event, and for going over and above to oversee the bookings.

Thanks to Liz, Aletche, Angela, Michele and Anna for your contribution to our Wellness Event. Your collective expertise is both inspiring and strengthening in equal measure.

Thank you to Eighteen91 for hosting the Music Event, You have the most beautiful venue in Whitby and it's always a pleasure to work with you.

Thanks to Bonneville, Skandals and Eve Thomas for bringing together our first Hot Chocolate Festival Live Music Event and for the support of Whitby RNLI and The Coastguard. 

Thanks to those venues who allowed us to hijack your regular quiz night and put on The Big Whitby Quiz. Thank you to all the businesses that provided the questions for The Big Whitby Quiz

Thank you to The Whitby Advertiser and Whitby Foghorn for supporting us.