Heaven on Ecclesall Road

It's not strictly art, but 'Cocoa' on Ecclesall Road is certainly a feast for the eyes.

Bought by two young graduates several years ago Cocoa is a chocolate shop, cafe and now the setting for the latest trend in lock-ins. Nestling snugly in the middle of a long terraced block, Cocoa is certainly the jewel in the crown where Sheffield's sweet treats are concerned. As we arrived the baby blue shop front glowed enticingly in the dark, its chequerboard tiled steps and candy striped awning winking at passers by. 

Once you've pushed open the door, it's a bit like stepping into Kath Kidston's larder. The shop is overwhelmingly 'vintage' but in a charming and somehow unpretentious way. The front room is where the goods are kept, row after row of glass jars full of sweets, shelves of truffles and countless boxes and bags of chocolate. The products look expensive and so do the fittings and fixtures, large wooden counters fill what little space there is and enhance the painstaking detail that has gone into the displays. Hand written labels, pretty bags and flyers all add to the comforting atmosphere.

Greeted by big smiles we were ushered through into the back room and the setting for Cocoa's new tasting evenings. A rather clever concept which allows groups of people to learn about and taste different types of chocolate. The evenings are not exclusively for women but I'm guessing very few men succumb to such indulgence in public. Much like the shop floor the second room is crammed to the ceiling with trinkets, teapots and cake shaped gifts. The walls are lined with frames full of vintage prints, packaging and adverts from yester-years and bring a certain retro charm to proceedings.

The session itself was as nostalgic as the decor. Sat on pastel wicker chairs and a comfortable old settee, our host for the evening introduced herself and the shop before launching into the history of chocolate. The chatter that accompanied the evening was informative, interesting and lovingly executed. Kate and Anne seemed dedicated to their enterprise, demonstrated in particular by a recent trip to Grenada where they have forged links with a self-sustaining chocolate factory. Chocolate samples were served in delicate teacups and each was explained with care, we were teased with chilli, strawberry and liquorice flavours and appalled by the Cadbury bars that we previously enjoyed with X-Factor. Saturated by Black Forest Gateau tea, all six of us were converted by the end of the night. A group of rather loud Rotherham ladies seemed equally as transfixed by their evening in the larger room upstairs.

Leaving the shop clutching our party bags (a selection of the shops truffles in case you wondered) the autumn air felt a bit less sharp. I'm not sure whether it was the warmth of the tea or the lingering impression of hard work and excitement that put a smile on my face, but I do know what everyones getting for Christmas.

Cocoa Wonderland can be found at:
462 Ecclesall Road
Sheffield
http://www.cocoawonderland.co.uk/

...and I thoroughly recommend it.