A popular chocolatier has announced plans to move away as it outgrows its inner-city space.

The team behind Darkroom Chocolate, Mike Sweetman and Natalie Stringer, has announced that the hit chocolate factory would be moving away from its current Anglia Square home in a few months.

The duo ran the Timberhill Bakery from 2016, announcing at the start of 2020 that they would be handing over the keys to bakery chain Two Magpies.

North Norfolk News: Mike Sweetman is part of the team behind DarkroomMike Sweetman is part of the team behind Darkroom (Image: Darkroom)

Since then, the couple launched their online vegan chocolate bar brand made from only two ingredients in 2023.

The brand grew quickly, gaining a cult following for its monthly Bun Club, in which the former bakers serve laminated buns, croissants, pain au chocolates and cruffins in a nod to their roots and which saw people queuing all around Anglia Square for a taste.

 

North Norfolk News: The Bun Clubs see people queuing all around Anglia SquareThe Bun Clubs see people queuing all around Anglia Square (Image: Newsquest)

Now, the pair have announced they will be leaving their Norwich factory, saying: "After an incredible few years at Anglia Square, it's finally time to move to a more workable space.

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"For a while, the dream has been a bigger chocolate factory to allow us to supply more cool shops with chocolate, and have space for new stuff - chocolate tastings, tours, a hot chocolate bar - alongside the buns, pastry and coffee that have made Bun Clubs such a buzz.

North Norfolk News: Darkroom specialises in vegan chocolate made from using only two ingredientsDarkroom specialises in vegan chocolate made from using only two ingredients (Image: Darkroom)

"To get a place big enough for all that at a sensible rent, we've taken the tough decision to move out of Norwich to north Norfolk, to a quirky, potentially very cool former bakery in North Walsham.

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"Not an obvious choice clearly - but then who'd have thought hundreds of bun lovers would have regularly rammed out Anglia Square the way they do!



"You guys have helped build something very special in Anglia Square, and have made working out of here a total - and totally unexpected - blast.

"We hope to go out on a high, with all ovens blazing, and do you proud."

Darkroom Chocolate is yet to reveal when it will be leaving Norwich but has promised two more bun clubs - one on June 1 and one in July - before it moves.