Cocoa Black Chocolate Shop

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From their Chocolate and Pastry School to a confectionary-focused shop, and now a cafe serving chocolate afternoon teas, Cocoa Black are living up to their strapline 'everything chocolate'. Founder and former Australian Pastry Chef of the Year Ruth Hinks has been running classes for everyone from kids to professional chocolatiers since 2009. Now, the Peebles shop she and her husband David opened in 2010 to sell their award-winning handmade chocolates has started serving afternoon teas. For £15 a head, diners can expect wraps, sandwiches and scones, as well as chocolate and patisserie numbers like Florentines, macarons and white chocolate and rhubarb tarts. The teas are currently running on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons.

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By her own admission, chocolatier and pastry chef Ruth Hinks has the best job in the world.'I get to mess about with chocolate all day,' she says. 'Can you think of anything better?' It's a natural enthusiasm that comes in handy for teaching at her Chocolate and Pastry School in Peebles, which she runs with her husband David. Behind the child-like joy there's a solid 20-years in the industry: a former Australian Pastry Chef of the Year and Culinary Olympics winner, Ruth's no stranger to Michelin-starred kitchens. It follows that the school, which opened in 2009, attracts all levels from kids and keen home cooks to professional pastry chefs and chocolatiers honing their skills. Ruth and David also sell their luxury, hand-made chocolates by post and recently opened a shop in Peebles selling chocolates, French-style patisserie, coffee, ice-cream and sundaes. Cocoa Black won ‘Best Chocolates’ at the 2010 UK Chocolate Masters.