During its four years in New Road, The Chocolate Festival survived rain, wind and even snow. But now it is set to move indoors for the first time with the launch of a new concept at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.

“Being outside was always very limiting,” says organiser Yael Rose, who also runs chocolate festivals in London, Bristol and Oxford. “It’s hard to encourage people to hang around when it’s freezing and raining!

“It’s nice for visitors to take their time and speak to the traders and exhibitors rather than just buy products and run away.”

Adding a roof means there are more options available to visitors than just visiting the many trade stands from professional chocolatiers and confectioners, including Solid Chocolate Company, Yum Yum Tree Fudge, Outsider Tart, Fifth Dimension Chocolates, West Grinstead’s Cocoa Loco and Brighton’s own Roar Chocolate and Betsy’s Bake.

Cocoa beauty treatments will be on offer at The Cocoa Spa, ranging from chocolate shades of make-up to free samples of rejuvenating products. Varieties of raw chocolate and information about chocolate’s positive effects on the body will be on offer in the Health Zone.

More than 15 different varieties of organic home-made hot and cold chocolate are at Jaz and Juls’s Chocolate Bar. There will be a chance to visit the Easter Zone ahead of the upcoming school holidays.

And chocolate expert Martin Christy from Seventy% will be leading tasting sessions throughout the day for those who buy a £16.25 tasting ticket from the website.

“The thing I love about Martin is he makes it all very accessible with fun games,” says Rose. “He has games where you eat chocolate while holding your nose, or you eat it very quickly and then slowly to see how different the chocolate tastes.”

Since running the Chocolate Festival, Rose has become something of a connoisseur herself.

“I was always a chocoholic,” she says. “When I started this I didn’t know anything about chocolate, but now I eat better quality chocolate and my preferences have changed. I would love to take people on that same journey and take their passion for chocolate to the next level.”

For the serious chocolate-lover, the festival offers a selection of single origin chocolates – all with their own distinct notes of flavour similar to wine.

“It’s amazing – when cocoa beans grow next to coffee beans you can taste the coffee,” says Rose. “One of our French chocolatiers has 20 different single origin chocolates and each tastes completely different.

“People can buy chocolate from the people who make it – they will be able to make that direct connection. We are more conscious about what we put in our bodies, so visitors will be able to ask questions about when and how the chocolate was made.”

Anyone with a tasting ticket can also take part in the Chocolate Brownie Trail, which sees five or six different exhibitors at each of the four festivals across the country try to create the best brownie.

“The Chilli-Shop is bringing their Death By Chocolate brownie, Peyton And Byrne are contributing their famous brownie and US bakery Outsider Tarts have got some really indulgent brownies to try,” says Rose. “We want to choose the best of Brighton, and then the best of the festivals overall.”

  • The Chocolate Festival is at the Corn Exchange, Church Street, Brighton, on Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30. Starts 10am, tickets from £5. For more information, visit festivalchocolate.co.uk