A CLASSY stop off for chocoholics and cafe lovers has been welcoming its first customers in Bournemouth town centre.

When you step at the new Barrocoa in Richmond Hill you could be in Paris or Vienna due to the gorgeous decoration and stunning baroque style furniture.

The eaterie has a chocolate lab for workshops where chocoholics can learn how to make their treats as well as a children’s party room.

The cafe is also currently doing lunches as they have proved popular but self-confessed “chocolate geek” Andy Cunningham said the aim for his new venture is to keep its heart in patisseries and chocolate.

Andy has visited chocolate plantations and travelled the world picking up inspiration.

He ran the award-winning Salcombe Chocolate Academy in Devon but has come back to his home town.

“This is like a dream of mine as it’s taken me two years to find the right place and what I’ve done is a bit out of the ordinary to say the least and I’ve had some fantastic comments,” Andy said.

The chocolate workshops are proving popular with couples and families and vouchers are available to buy sessions as gifts for loved ones.

Workshop attendees go away with the knowledge and skills of how to make chocolate and they leave with the bouquet of chocolates they made.

Diners who have eaten out in the town centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays can visit Barrocoa for a change of scene and to enjoy a dessert.