LOCAL HERO: JENS KNOOPS

Knoops had humble origins in Rye - a historical town right on the border of East Sussex. There founder Jens Knoops opened his very first speciality hot chocolate shop, despite the initial misgivings of the local townsfolk about the unconventional chocolate shop with the “foreign name nobody can pronounce” (like “kuh-nups” if you were wondering, and in Dutch means buttons!). Jens is quick to assure me that once the locals of Rye got their heads around what he was doing, and how much passion was behind it, they quickly fell in love with the idea of Knoops - and the man himself. Jens whole-heartedly returns their love, stating that “without them, he would never be here” in Brighton with his second store, or indeed in Kensington.. or Richmond or any one of his 7 other stores!