The Steeple Story

Steeped in history

At the river end of Inverness High Street, the Town Steeple has watched over Bridge Street since 1791.

It is one of those buildings that feels woven into the city. A landmark people arrange to meet beside, walk past on the way to town, photograph on holiday, or glance up at without even thinking.

For years, many people have known The Steeple from the outside.

Cocoa Bothy at The Steeple is about inviting people back in.

A landmark with a new chapter

The Steeple was once part of the former Inverness Tolbooth, placing it right in the civic heart of the town.

Over time, the building has seen Inverness change around it: the river, the bridge, the High Street, the castle skyline and the rhythm of city life all shifting while the clock and stonework remained familiar.

More recently, the ground floor was remembered by many as a well-loved jeweller’s. A small shop with sparkle behind the door.

That idea stayed with us.

We loved the thought of bringing that feeling back: the little pause, the curiosity, the sense that something special might be waiting inside.

Only this time, the cabinets are filled with chocolate.

Why The Steeple?

Cocoa Bothy was built through online drops, seasonal boxes and a growing community of people who love handmade chocolate with a bit of story behind it.

Opening inside The Steeple felt like the right next chapter.

It is tiny, unusual, dramatic and full of character. Exactly the sort of place that deserves more than plain walls and ordinary shelves.

So we have leaned into the building rather than trying to hide it.

Navy walls. Dark wood. Warm light. Tartan backdrops. A preloved chandelier. Gold details. A Bothy Bar Library. A wall of historic dates. Handmade chocolate sitting inside a piece of Inverness history.

A tiny shop with a bit of escapism

The dream was never to create a big, polished high street shop.

The dream was to create a small moment of magic.

A place that feels a little theatrical, a little nostalgic and a little unexpected. Somewhere that honours the building, celebrates beautiful chocolate and gives people a reason to step through the door of a landmark they may have walked past for years.

Cocoa Bothy at The Steeple is small by design.

A little chocolate hideaway in the heart of Inverness.

Visit us

Cocoa Bothy at The Steeple is open Friday and Saturday, 11am to 3pm, at 2 Bridge Street, Inverness.

Come for the chocolate. Stay for the story.