The chocolate artists of Choccywoccydoodah have moved into the full-of-character home they have spent years searching for.

The much-loved Brighton chocolatiers have left their Middle Street cafe of 27 years and Duke Street shop of ten years to open a new premises in Meeting House Lane.

The new store, which opened on Saturday in the former Naked Tea Company shop, will give chocolate lovers a much bigger retail space to walk around, a larger cafe and new features.

The firm’s founders say Brighton and Hove remains the centre of their world but they have one eye on a possible international expansion following the success of their TV show.

For the first time the chocolatiers, who have designed cakes for Kylie Minogue, Elton John and Boy George in the past, have a dedicated room, The Empire Room, which is available to hire out for private events.

Another room, The Witches’ Kitchen, will be used to hold classes where customers can work on “interesting spells and make alchemy” with the Choccywoccy staff.

The company is also very proud of the new “amazing toilets” with a disco ball and glitter finish in 1970s style.

The previous cafe had an official capacity of 30 but co-founder Christine Taylor said that “everybody had to take their turn to breathe” with so many people in.

The new cafe will seat 36 with an additional 25 seating in the Emperor Room.

Miss Taylor said their new home was “a beautiful building” which dated back to 1795.

She said: “It would have been much easier in a new building but we still want to be in the heart of Brighton.

“I have been looking for many, many years for the right building with the right character.

“It will be quite emotional because we have been in Middle Street since 1987 so it will be like leaving home.”

Choccywoccydoodah’s move will see the loss of one key player from Brighton’s chocolate heaven in Duke Street.

Miss Taylor said: “I think Montezuma’s were the first in Duke Street and then we moved in and we have always had a lovely working relationship with them.

“Hotel Chocolat and any other businesses just followed in on our coattails so it will be interesting to see how our departure will affect the street.”

The firm’s TV show is screened in 43 other countries and the founders often receive letters asking them to open up in foreign climes.

Miss Taylor says the firm has never worked to a plan but the possibility of opening up in Beverly Hills or Sydney appeals.

She said: “I think we can’t stand still, it’s not in our nature, but we never want to be corporate and we don’t want to be in every high street.

“But Brighton is our mothership, if it wasn’t for Brighton we wouldn’t exist and everywhere else will be our satellites.”