I am a blatant and self confessed chocoholic, always keen to try anything chocolatey and especially if it looks pretty too! Having seen several of these Hotel Chocolat stores, i ventured into the Basingstoke store, as it felt less intimidating than some others, perhaps because it felt light and airy and yet I still had somewhere to hide behind a fixture while i viewed my potential puchases!
The staff vary dramatically in how helpful they are, personallly i have found the younger staff more helpful (even though i feel rude interupting their conversations about what they did last night..) they are genuinely enthusiastic and don't try to push me into buying a box of chilli flavoured chocolate - instead they thrust caramel chocolate buttons into my hand in a cute mini paper cup style packaging decorated with spots, and i melt immediately adding them to my purchase.
So what are Hotel Chocolat good for? Days when you need a pick me up, gifts (great new mum gift set which i think any new mum would love especially at 2am..) and even wedding favours! They seem to offer alot of corporate gifts, although i have had not experience of these!
What to buy..they do a seasonal box which i think changes every month, it is fairly pricey but the quality of chocolate is divine! Worth a try if you like me fancy something a bit nicer than you average chocolate box once in a while! Other recommendations.. the chocolate buttons, caramel buttons, rocky road giant slab, and of course the chocolate labrador - cute toy and yummy chocolate bones! read more