..."
I'm absolutely certain that had Hotel Chocolat been around circa 1798, these words would actually have been:
"For he on a Molten Chocolate and Hazelnut slab hath fed
And drunk the milk of Mocha Arabica"
Hotel Chocolat sells dreams. In fact, Hotel Chocolat is what Willy Wonka's ... Read review
Advantages: It sells CHOCOLATE!!! Disadvantages: It sells a LOT of chocolate....
...I'm absolutely certain that had Hotel Chocolat been around circa 1798, these words would actually have been:
"For he on a Molten Chocolate and Hazelnut slab hath fed
And drunk the milk of Mocha Arabica"
Hotel Chocolat sells dreams. In fact, Hotel Chocolat is what Willy Wonka's factory should have been - Heaven - in a High Street near you. I would like, if I may, to share with you my experience of the ... ...Background *
Hotel Chocolat is a British-owned phenomenon founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris over 10 years ago. Disenchanted by the mediocre chocolate commonly available to high street shoppers, they set out to make a better type of chocolate - and boy, did they succeed.
The business started as a catalogue-based selection of exclusive hand made chocolates available to UK consumers. Their award-winning website ... more
If you're on a diet, a healthy eating plan, or are of a nervous disposition, I suggest you stop reading now. This review is about the most heavenly shop I have ever encountered - and all it sells is CHOCOLATE.
Although to describe it as "chocolate" is a bit like describing an Aston Martin as simply "a car". Or a bottle of Chateau Petrus as mere "red wine". I'm sure you're getting the picture.
Anyone who's familiar with Coleridge's "Xanadu" will recall the following words
"For he on honey-dew hath fed And drunk the milk of Paradise."
I'm absolutely certain that had Hotel Chocolat been around circa 1798, these words would actually have been:
"For he on a Molten Chocolate and Hazelnut slab hath fed And drunk the milk of Mocha Arabica"
Hotel Chocolat sells dreams. In fact, Hotel Chocolat is what Willy Wonka's factory should have been - Heaven - in a High Street near you. I would like, if I may, to share with you my experience of the store.
* The Hotel Chocolat Experience *
On entering the store, the first thing to hit you is the smell - think thick, rich, gloriously indulgent and totally unadulterated chocolate, oozing from every crevice. Beautifully displayed products tease you from every shelf, slyly beckoning, daring you to touch them - to actually feel the delicious weight of the treasures within their elegant packaging. Once they've caught your eye, stiff expensive shiny packets let you have just a hint at what's beneath - a glimmer of smooth, glossy darkness reeling you in, drawing you further under it's spell with every chocolate filled breath you take.
It's almost too much to bear - knowing what lies beneath the deceptively innocent looking wrapping. And before you know it, you're trapped - like a weak ineffective fly struggling uselessly in the spider's web - the temptation was too much and now you have to pay the price.
Almost faint with longing - oh, so much to choose from - and so little time…. when you've seen Heaven, there can be no going back. Fumbling with your wallet - forget the coins - only notes count where this exquisite beauty is concerned - after what seems like an eternity - it's yours.
Almost weak with excitement, you scurry from the shop blinking feverishly in the harsh daylight, the weight of your guilty treasure torturing you with every step, desperate to find somewhere - anywhere - until at last you're alone.
In a frenzy of longing, you rip apart the delicate covering, disrobing the object of your shameful desire at last - greedily clasping that of which dreams are made. The scent fills your nostrils, your heart is hammering with desire - oh the passion, the ecstasy that will be yours - with only a breathless pause to savour this moment - then unable to stand the anticipation a moment longer, you give in to your desires. It's yours at last - and, oh bliss - the thick, creamy, warm sensations flood your entire being, you're drowning in a sea of molten chocolate, your very soul being caressed by an ethereal presence.
The taste is like an angel crying on your tongue.
Or is that just me?.
* Some Background *
Hotel Chocolat is a British-owned phenomenon founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris over 10 years ago. Disenchanted by the mediocre chocolate commonly available to high street shoppers, they set out to make a better type of chocolate - and boy, did they succeed.
The business started as a catalogue-based selection of exclusive hand made chocolates available to UK consumers. Their award-winning website followed and the first of the Hotel Chocolat High Street stores appeared in 2004. At the time of writing, there are 22 stores throughout the UK.
* Products *
Apart from your standard packages and boxes of choccies, you'll find a whole range of mouth-watering goodies on offer. This extensive range includes a premium chocolate spread with hazelnuts, hot chocolate flakes, organic cocoa powder, cold chocolate fruit smoothies, cocoa balsamic vinegar - and even chocolate scented perfume!
There's a huge gift selection, with Christmas products including advent calendars, hampers and an all chocolate "alternative" Christmas pudding! I can just imagine Grandma's disapproval - until she tastes it that is.
There are also lower sugar products and a range for vegetarians, vegans and wheat and gluten free. What more could you ask!
* Chocolate Tasting Club *
If you're unfortunate enough not to be within salivating distance of one of their stores, the good news is it's available online - and the better news is that there's a Tasting Club. This apparently has over 100,000 regular members who subscribe to the service and are sent a selection of brand new, delicious chocolates every month. They recently launched an All Dark Club for dark chocolate enthusiasts too.
* Ethical Stuff *
The company's ethical policy has three specific focuses; working with cocoa communities in Ghana, revitalising a newly acquired cocoa plantation in St Lucia and as buying several tonnes of Fair Trade chocolate every year. This has included making direct links with cocoa communities in Ghana, focusing on regeneration of an aged cocoa crop through a seedling development project, which will reduce crop mortality and increase production levels. This has also involved the introduction of hybrid seeds to increase profitability for local farmers.
Communities are being taught about their crop and the suitable farming practices that will help them get the best from it. Local schools have been supported by providing text books, stationery and syllabus materials as well as new school uniforms.
In St Lucia, Hotel Chocolat acquired an historic cocoa plantation where the co-founder Angus Thirlwell grew up. With St Lucia's agricultural sector in severe decline and with 30% unemployment across the island, Hotel Chocolat is revitalising the plantation with much needed investment and replanting, with the intention of employing local labour and using local sugar to make the chocolate, well as buying cocoa from neighbouring farmers at a rate that enables them to make a profit and re-invest in their cocoa farm.
* Conclusion *
This shop - and indeed this company is just brilliant. Stylish, welcoming, ethically sound, British owned - even if it didn't sell chocolate I'd be impressed! The only slight downside is the cost of the stuff - cheap it certainly isn't. At the bottom end of the price range there's a chocolate reindeer for £3.95 and an advent calendar for £6.95. Boxes of 40 chocolates (420g) are £24.95 and at the other end of the scale, the Chocolatier's Table Selection (100 chocolates or 1.5 kg) will leave you very little change from 70 quid. If you ever get the chance I strongly recommend you go in and have a browse. Bet you buy something!Hotel Chocolat stores are located in:
...made out of chocolate? Hotel Chocolat - Hotel Chocolat is a British luxury chocolate brand founded over 15 years ago by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris. It started as a catalogue based business and now has a number of outlets across the country. Walking into a Hotel Chocolat shop is an adventure in itself. The stores are decorated very simply and classically in my opinion. They are quite bright and welcoming and have a black trimming in the decor ... ...What I love about Hotel Chocolat is that they have some beautiful looking chocolate which has unusual tastes. One of their famous product lines they have is a chocolate slab range. These are thick slabs of premium chocolate, made with natural ingredients and covered with delicious topping. The chocolate is either dark, milk or white and toppings include Rocky Road, Strawberry Creme and Chilli & Orange. The slabs come in different sizes, the big ones ...
Spottydog11 29.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hotel Chocolat
Advantages: Some good products, friendly and informed staff. Disadvantages: Scandalous prices, some dreadful products.
Hotel Chocolat sells, you guessed it: chocolate! Today I'm reviewing the branch in York; will you find a sweet treat, or leave with a bitter taste in your mouth?
-Shop-
The shop itself is quite classy. It is much bigger than it looks from the outside; something that i like to call the 'TARDIS effect'. The colour scheme is mainly black and everything is well spaced out so it is easy to find what you are looking for. This sort of layout is also a ... ...all.
-Products-
Hotel Chocolat, like Marks & Spencers, sells nothing but its own products, and a lot of them are undeniably good. I thought that nothing could be better than Thorntons, and a quickly ate my words after taking the first bite.
They sell a huge range of products from alcohol soaked chocolate dipped fruits, truffles, and chocolate slabs, to drinking chocolate, chocolate fondue, and chocolate syrups.
Out of the products that I sampled, ...
LegalEagle247 14.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hotel Chocolat
Advantages: The best chocolate in the UK for the price! Disadvantages: Im not sure there are any, perhaps the prices....
Hotel Chocolat has become my all time favourite chocolate shop in a very short space of time. Ever since I read 'Chocolat' by Joanne Harris, I longed to find a place that met the exquisite description created by Harris in the book. While hotel chocolat does lack the personal 'coffee shop' element (something that they may want to consider adding) it does appear to follow some of Harris' descriptions in the book. Or perhaps it was the other way around? ... ...for a gift for someone, Hotel Chocolat does stock the usual boxes of chocolates in a variety of sizes and their small bags of chocolates (normally about £3 each I think) are really good as stocking fillers (was given quite a few last year!).
The only down side appears to be that although they are a chain there isnt one on every highstreet. I do know however that there is one in Watford town centre (in the Harlequin) and one in Moorgate in London ...
Lexi26 21.12.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotel Chocolat
Advantages: chocolates contain no artificial ingrediants Disadvantages: a bit expencive
...same - think again
Hotel chocolat is probably one of the best chocolate shops in the UK. The chocolate sold here contains no nasties like hydrogenated veg oil or artificial flavours. It may be more expencive than the mass produced stuff but it tastes far better too.
They have an ethical policy and own some of the cocoa plantations which they source their cocoa from.
My favorite things are the 500g slabs of solid chocolate mmmmm just curling up ... ...is also much richer than the cheap stuff so you want less of it. May favorite of these is the praline and milk chocolate which have been swirled together.
They have a wide selection of boxes of chocolates and the selection of the season changes regularly. My all time favorites are the 'just truffles' selection. Trust me when the say 'rum truffle' they mean rum truffle not 'flavoured to taste like rum then passed over the bottle so it's a bit alcoholic' ...
madabbafan 05.05.2008 (19.02.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotel Chocolat
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Disgraceful Service
We received a box of Hotel Chocolat chocolates as a wedding present and LOVED them, so decided to join the chocolate tasters club. For £17 a month we would receive a box of different chocolates....or so they said. We moved just after joining and called to change our address, that was 16 months ago and many phone calls of complaints, £200 lost and no chocolates later we are at the end of our tether with Hotel Chocolat. We haven't received any cholcolates ... ...paid for! We are currently awaiting a return phone call but we have waited many times previously. I can not stress enough how much I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND Hotel Chocolat. The customer service is apalling and as far as I'm concerned what they're doing amounts to theft. ...
Marscara 12.09.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotel Chocolat
Value for Money
Layout & presentation
Selection & range
Availability
In store customer service
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