Chocolatier Geri crafts a new future for artisans in Castlerock

shutters down to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

Geri had to shelve an imaginative plan to create Northern Ireland’s first chocolate workshop and visitor centre in the seaside village, long a popular choice for holidaymakers.

Geri eventually reopened her new look business on Wednesday after the lockdown. Gone is the idea of a chocolate making and sampling hub for tourists and other visitors and in its place is a new Chocolate Manor Chocolate Shop and Artisan Food Emporium. It’s a radical switch for Geri and will also benefit around a dozen other artisan enterprises in the picturesque Causeway Coast region. She will continue to handcraft chocolate in the store and to demonstrate her expertise to visitors.

“I was due to open my long planned Chocolate Hub in April, but due to the pandemic, I had to rethink everything,” explains Geri.

“During lockdown I had to make a new plan for the business, as we had previously hoped to launch as a chocolate experience venue for visitors. I reckoned there might now be fewer visitors, especially tourists, because of the pandemic. I am so delighted now to be launching as a Chocolate Shop and Artisan Food Emporium, which will not only showcase my own range of handcrafted chocolates, but also the products of my fellow artisans in the Taste Causeway collective.”

The focus reflects her longstanding support for local artisan producers and engagement with the community.

The Chocolate Manor is the only business in the UK and Ireland to have developed a range of exclusive printed chocolates, and for opening of the new Castlerock Emporium Geri commissioned a local artist to create designs for their unique chocolate postcards.

“14-year-old Gurt Chiitayanon, who happens to live just yards away from the premises in Castlerock, has produced some exceptional drawings for me, and I am delighted to be selling some of his stunning photography prints in store as well,” says Geri.

“In addition, my 10-year old daughter Abigail, has designed all the children’s lollipops that we are handcrafting for the shop.”

Another local youngster, Daisy Ridley Anderson, an 8-year old from Portrush, was chosen to cut the ribbon to officially open the new shop.

“Daisy was one of hundreds of entrants in a competition run by Geri to find the VIP guest for the official opening of the new chocolate shop.

“We have always had such incredible support from our customers and network, and so it felt right that they had the chance to play an important role in this next big step for us,” explains Geri.

“I was overwhelmed by the response to the competition and thrilled to see Daisy’s name appear as the winner.

“My artisan business has survived for almost eight years thanks to support of families like Daisy’s, and so it is wonderful to be able to celebrate our special day with them.

“There’s a very supportive business community in Castlerock. For instance, Braemar Farm, outside the village, is launching a special ruby chocolate ice cream to celebrate the opening.”

All the chocolate on sale in the shop has been handcrafted in the on-site chocolate workshop, which was purpose-built earlier this year.

The company is known for its unique chocolate creations, including commissions for a number of members of the Royal Family, and its existing client list includes four and five star hotels including Hastings Hotels, and venues such as Titanic Belfast.  

Geri established the Chocolate Manor in 2012 in the kitchen of her Coleraine home.

In 2014, she moved the business to its first purpose-built production facility in the town, and in January 2020 the business moved to Castlerock, partly supported by a crowdfunding campaign.

The company is one of the founding members of Taste Causeway – a collaborative growth network supported by Invest NI.

Taste Causeway promotes and supports businesses involved in food production, food experiences and accommodation providers across the Causeway area.

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