1.Grease an 8-cup (2-litre) pudding steamer; line base with baking paper.
2.Combine fruit, peel and chocolate in a large bowl. Beat butter and sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer until just combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add butter mixture to fruit mixture, mix well.
3.Add stout, breadcrumbs and sifted flour to mixture, mix well.
4.Spoon mixture into steamer, level top, cover with pleated baking paper and foil to allow the pudding to expand during steaming, secure with a lid or kitchen string.
5.Place steamer in a large saucepan with enough boiling water to come halfway up side of steamer, cover pan with a tight fitting lid. Simmer, covered, for 6 hours, replenishing with boiling water as necessary to maintain water level. Stand pudding for 5 minutes before turning out.
Chocolate stout is available from bottle shops or online. You can swap it for a dark stout if you like. Make sure all fruit is chopped to the same size as the sultanas.