How long is the event?

The tasting runs about 1 to 1.5 hours.

Meet at The Gin Bar, 444 Abbeydale Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1FR.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, the event is suitable for vegetarians; allergens include lactose.

How many wines and chocolates are tasted?

You’ll taste one gin-based welcome cocktail, three small-producer wines and three Bullion chocolate bars.

Can I buy wine or chocolate at the event?

Hosts often provide recommendations and local shops to buy featured wines and Bullion bars, but on-site sales depend on the night.

Is the event wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility details were not provided; contact the host or The Gin Bar directly to confirm access arrangements.

Nether Edge Festival: Chocolate and Wine Pairing at The Gin Bar, Sheffield

On a cool evening in Nether Edge, Sheffield, a narrow shopfront on Abbeydale Road becomes the kind of place you go to slow down and learn something delicious. The Gin Bar at 444 Abbeydale Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1FR hosts a compact, convivial tasting: Bullion Chocolate Factory’s bean-to-bar chocolates matched with three small-producer wines and a gin cocktail. It’s part of the Nether Edge Festival and it runs about an hour and a half, perfect for food-minded travelers or anyone who wants a low-key, locally rooted night out. The room is intimate, bar stools and dim pendant lights, and the tasting is deliberately hands-on. When you arrive you’ll be greeted with a gin-based welcome cocktail produced by Locksley Distillery paired with one of Bullion’s enriched chocolate bars. From there the leader walks the group through three wine flights supplied by Starmore Boss alongside three chocolate bars from Bullion, stopping to talk about flavour chemistry, the bean-to-bar process and why specific wines push chocolate’s fruit, acid or bitter notes forward. What makes this evening stand out in Sheffield’s busy festival calendar is its tight focus on provenance. Bullion Chocolate Factory is a craft maker rooted in the region; the wines are from small producers chosen for contrast, and Locksley’s gin adds a regional spirits angle. The tasting isn’t a passive pour: hosts explain how cacao origin, roast and cocoa percentage shape pairing choices. For visitors this means you leave with vocabulary as well as taste notes — the ability to pick a chocolate bar and a wine that actually improve one another. Practical details matter here. The event holds about 20 guests, costs £29 per person and is suitable for vegetarians; allergens include lactose. It’s light on standing room and heavy on tasting notes, so arrive a few minutes early to settle at the bar. The setting on Abbeydale Road places you a short walk from Nether Edge’s Victorian terraces and independent shops, so this can be the start or the cap to an evening of local exploration. Book ahead for festival nights; seating fills quickly. The tone is friendly and instructive rather than formal, and the pairing format is designed to teach as much as please. For anyone visiting Sheffield who wants a compact, tasteful lesson in chocolate, wine and local craft spirits, this event at The Gin Bar is the sort of guilty pleasure that actually improves your palate. Expect clear, approachable guidance from hosts who encourage tasting notes and questions; many attendees leave with bottle and bar recommendations to seek out in Sheffield stores. Whether you treat it as a date-night indulgence or a solo palate-education stop, it’s an efficient, convivial lesson in pairing and memorable evening.

Difficulty

easy.

Duration

1–1.5 hours.

Fitness level

Minimal physical exertion; suitable for most adults who can stand or sit for an hour.

Wildlife

urban fox
songbirds (robins, sparrows)

History

Part of the Nether Edge Festival, this event highlights Sheffield’s growing craft-food scene and Bullion Chocolate Factory’s bean-to-bar approach to chocolate making.

Conservation

Bullion and the small-producer wines emphasize traceability and ethical sourcing; prefer businesses that reduce packaging and prioritize local supply chains.

Bullion Chocolate is a craft chocolate maker and visitor destination based in Kelham Island, Sheffield. The business runs Bean-to-Bar factory tours at its Kelham Island factory, offering guided insights into cacao sourcing, roasting and conching. Guests join expert guides on a Chocolate Factory Tour to learn the art of chocolate-making, taste exceptional and award-winning chocolate, and enjoy a complimentary hot beverage at the on-site café. Hands-on experiences include a Chocolate Making Workshop and Truffle Making Workshops. The Truffle Making Workshops run as a 1.5-hour hands-on session where participants learn the Bean-to-Bar method, taste award-winning chocolate, and create six unique flavoured truffles with expert guidance, plus a complimentary drink. The Chocolate Making Workshop offers practical instruction in crafting chocolate products on site. Family-friendly options include a Parent & Child Chocolate Making Workshop designed for children aged 5–12. In this session, participants taste three chocolate varieties, learn simple bean-to-bar techniques, and decorate a chocolate coin — a creative, shared activity for parents and children. Bullion Chocolate emphasises transparent production and visitor education. Tours and workshops take place at the Kelham Island factory, giving guests direct access to production areas and trained staff. The combination of guided tasting, practical chocolate-making instruction, and café hospitality makes Bullion Chocolate a trusted Sheffield destination for chocolate lovers, families, and groups seeking an immersive, educational food experience. Visitors also sample chocolate during tours and workshops, receiving step-by-step guidance from trained staff who explain Bean-to-Bar production, flavour profiles, and responsible sourcing at the Kelham Island factory onsite.

Base locationSheffield, South Yorkshire

Tours offered4+

Specialtyothers

StewardshipLeave No Trace