Thorntons (Shop), Aberdeen

If I could spend all of my life eating chocolate, then I would! If somebody could make a healthy chocolate, I'd be very happy! If chocolate was free, then wayhay! Unfortunately, none of these apply. So I enjoy chocolate now and again as a treat. When I do eat it I like to go for something abit special, which is why I like to go to Thorntons!

There are two main Thorntons shops in Aberdeen, both in the centre of town. I do not tend to go to the one in the Bon Accord Centre, so i shall talk about the one on Union Street. It is wedged between a phone shop and a Zavvi store, an d is not hard to find. It also has little competition around about, whereas the other one has bakers and ice cream stalls nearby. You just need to look for the large brown Thornton sign and you know you have arrived at the right place.

The doors to the shop are quite small so if you wanted to get in with a pushchair or suchlike it would be quite difficult, and when you walk in the store you will see the shop itself is quite small too! Though its quite cute and tiny! On the walls there are rows of chocolate treats covering them from floor to ceiling, and there are a number of stands in the middle. I would say they are actually quite annoyingly arranged as they make maneouvering around the store quite a task. These stands contain little bars of chocolates of various flavours, such as fudge, cappuccino, and strawberry. These cost around 75p-£1.50 depending on what size and kind you purchase.

On the walls there is a large variety. There are the gift boxes or all types of chocolate, in different sizes. They can cost anything from £10 to £30+. It may be a lot but they are indeed ideal for a very elegant and appreciated gift!

If you are looking for a gift which is a little cheaper andmore personalised, you can get an iced feature. You buy the chocolate shape eg teddybear, foot ball, and you can have your own iced message put on. This costs around £5-£10 depending on which shape you get.

There are also chidlrens' chocolates on sale. These include options such as chocolate mice and chocolate coins, as well as delicious strawberry pigs! These little snacksized options never usually cost more than £1.50 and are ideal if you want to treat yourself with a little taste of Thorntons delight. Though if you were buying in bulk, it really is not worth all the money!

Going to the till, you pay for your items but can also create your own treat box, adding your own individual chocolates. There are many flavours to choose from such as cafe au lait, white vanilla truffle, hazelnut slice and lemon merignue. The price of these vary, but can cost anything up to £30+ again!

Thorntons is an amazing store for chocolate, definitely the finest! The staff here are all friendly, and will help you find the perfect gift for a loved one! I find they always seem to be a little older when they work here, whereas in the older store not too far away you are generally served by younger people who clearly do not give a care for your customer needs. This is a wonderful place to go if you are looking to find that perfect present for a chocolate lover, or even if you are just looking for a special sweet for yourself, this is the place to go!

Amy 2009