It's currently early 2026. Since our last update there has been a lot of change and it's hard to know where to start!
In 2019 Goupie opened its first cafe. Located in Ely Court, outside Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, The Goupie Chocolate House was our first foray into hospitality. A fully plant-based cafe, we sold coffee and tea, as well as the hot chocolates that are now permanent fixtures in our online shop. We also sold fresh home-made treats like carrot cake, scones, ginger cake, cookies, and seasonal goodies. Local reading groups met up at the cafe, at Christmas we hosted cosy movie nights, and combined with our neighbouring food businesses we became a go-to hub for locals and visitors alike.
Furnishing the cafe was a family affair. Joe (dad) made the tables out the wood of a tree from the garden. Janet (mum) created cushion covers for the bench seating. And everyone chipped in to paint, create the bar, and organise the layout.
Despite the horrors of 2020 we kept afloat, offering breakfast deliveries and drinks to go. In 2021 the Chocolate House was still there, run by Grace and supported by a fabulous staff. But in 2022 changes came to Ely Court and we were no longer able to afford to stay. The Goupie Chocolate House closed its doors in June, living on only in the happy memories of those who visited.
Since the closure, Goupie has been extending its online offerings, creating various delectable treats to suit everyone. Our newest permanent flavour (White Chocolate & Raspberry) was released in June 2023, we brought out adorable chocolate Rudolphs for Christmas that same year, Jen the Hen came out in 2024 followed shortly by our Giant Coconut & Mango Discs, and a whole bunch more!
Now it's 2026 and we've got even more plans. I've come on board as the youngest member of the Simpson family to help run the socials, work on the website, and be an extra pair of hands in the factory during busy seasons. We're hoping to follow our heart this year, creating new products for fun and doing limited releases to inject a sense of play into Goupie as costs go up and the world seems to get a little darker.
We hope you enjoy what we're bringing! And if you have any ideas and suggestions we'd love to hear them.
