Essex chocolatier Sarah Knights confirms Easter, and of course Christmas, are the busiest periods in her line of work.

She tentatively set up Chappel Chocolate House about eight years ago, but things have really taken off, with the establishing of her shop and workshop space at Poplar Nurseries in Marks Tey, near Colchester.

It is all a far cry from her previous career working in accounts, but Sarah would not have it any other way.

“At first it was a hobby which came out of my signing up for a level 2 NVQ course at Colchester Institute,” she says.

“As part of that, which was food-based, I did a module on chocolate and just really fell in love with it.

“I kept signing myself up for courses after that, including at the UK Chocolate Academy in Banbury, and then within a year I had been asked to do a kids’ party.”

Sarah was soon invited to take a stall at a farmers’ market, but was already keeping an eye out for the chance to move her creative empire out of her kitchen.

“It was taking me over all the space and even if my family wanted to come and cook dinner for themselves, there often wasn’t any space because all the chocolate equipment was everywhere,” she says.

Fate stepped in when Sarah’s husband, Bruce, spotted the perfect premises.

“He runs the miniature railway at the nurseries and so he told me as soon as the chance for the space at the nursery came up.

“Work began to transform the space and the Chappel Chocolate House shop officially opened.

Sarah uses a specific Belgian chocolate for her creations and specialises in the fillings she creates to go in them – working specifically with what might be deemed unusual flavours.

“I like to experiment with things like herbs and spices. So I use aniseed and home-grown fruit for examples,” she says.

In fact, this has already won Sarah plaudits, with her plum and orange chocolate earning her a Great Taste Star in August.

“I also have an orange and cardamom chocolate and we always use fine Belgian chocolate to make a range of chocolates for children and adults which include truffles, pralines (moulded and cut), moulded chocolates, bars, lollies, solid and hollow shapes and confectionery using both traditional and my own recipes.

“Customers can choose their own flavours or pick up assortment boxes from the full-stocked fridges, but there are also specially made gifts including bespoke chocolate shoes and even handbags.”

You can also have a go at creating your own with a series of workshops run by Sarah.

These include a chance to learn how to make your own Easter treats as well as workshops for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Visit chappelchocolatehouse.co.uk.