I left this as feedback on the hotel chocolat website. They didn't allow it on their website which says all you need to know about them. I bring you to their '100% happiness guarantee'; it's a lie. I am now posting exactly the same review here, on my social media accounts, on my NHS work notice board (where I work), the library and other places. Policing people's reviews is the snakes that run this company. Hi Hotel Chocolat, It is upsetting to write this. After researching the velvetiser for a few weeks, and reading almost but almost wow'ing unreal reviews, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by mine. The product is more of a phenomenal marketing exercise than a stand alone great product. Yes I know the vast number of reviews are ecstatic, but then againpeople are ecstatic about watching QVC all day long. I really do not know what to say without sounding too rude, but it simply is not very good at what is meant to be very good at. The drink product is neither frothy or luxurious (a word your website is rampant with), and nowhere near decadent. My first warning bell was the use of the term barista grade. This means nothing. I have tried many hot chocolates around the world, the barista grade ones are usually the worst, average at best. The ones made by grannies in a lovely apron, just before bed, are the best. I am sure Hotel Chocolat has a firm fan base (we should note here so do the Kardashians) and loyal staff so I do not wish to provoke any hostile emotions from my email. I really don't want to, but I wish to return my order. It is an absolute shame. I was absolutely, thoroughly looking forward to the best hot chocolate I had ever tried. That's what you implicitly promised. To me, the product your machine produces is not that, nowhere near that. I have been a hot chocolate drinker ALL my life. As a grown male, I have NEVER tried a cup of tea or coffee. I drank hot chocolate when no one drank hot chocolate. The only other thing I drink is Horlicks (another grandma favourite). Now I want to come onto something which expands on the lack of ethicality. I wrote to the company asking how to return my package. This was their reply: "Thank you for contacting Hotel Chocolat. You have up to 28 days to return your unwanted items as long as you obtain proof of purchase and they are unopened/unused. Please let me know if I can assist you with anything else. Kind regards, Customer Happiness Team" I have deleted the name of the customer service responder. Naturally I asked them, I am not allowed to open the box at all, let alone try it? How am I meant to know if it is what I want? It's not cheap for what it is after all. But that's how they trap you, and trap you is what they want to do. The website goes on about 100% happiness guarantee. But there are no specifics. This is an intentional, unethical, omission. There is no time period for returns, there is no method for returns, there is nothing. This is what it says: 'All of your purchases are covered by our No Excuses Guarantee so if you're not 100% happy with our products or we miss an important delivery date, we guarantee that we'll immediately put it right for you - refunding, replacing or issuing you with a Gift Card as appropriate. In addition, we guarantee to make good any mistakes with honesty and a positive solution that works for you. We never want you to lose faith in Hotel Chocolat and will always go the extra mile so you know how important your custom is to us.' I have to say this is puffed up nonsense, in the true to form hotel chocolat way. They do not care about your happiness, nor putting things right. They only care about keeping your money. They are thieves in this regard. They make promises before sales they cannot keep after sales. Many will say this is true about all companies, but I would disagree. Many companies are trying their best to make a shift to more important customer services and management. This is what makes it more shameful that hotel chocolat promises the same but delivers the absolute opposite. A bit like their product. For example over Christmas the vast majority of stores allow extended returns and refunds. Refunds made to the gift recipient. For money. Hotel chocolat? Oh no. They don't do that. If you have received a gift, you can get a gift voucher for hotel chocolat. So that's basically £100 of gift vouchers (for a unwanted velvetiser) to spend in their shop. Where's that clearly stated in the 100% happiness guarantee? It isn't. Mine was a gift from my uncle. Luckily he can return it, but you should all be aware of that. And the company, if they were indeed ethical as they insist, would make sure you were aware of that. A two faced company? Definitely. Thieves? Given the less than mediocre product, absolutely. Here to help you? Not in the least. I just hope no one squanders their money, be promised 100% happy, and really get nothing. read the negative reviews, they are real. read more

Hotel Chocolat is a shop specializing in chocolate, in recent years they have grown, even coming close to Thorntons, who was founded 77 years earlier, and also have a store in the Manchester Arndale, but Hotel Chocolat has a much more upper market, pricier vibe, it makes Thorntons look like ALDI, to its' Waitrose. Hotel Chocolat looks more of a high end store, instead of all being packed in, as it is in Thorntons, it is more spread out, with chocolate packages being smaller, and more expensive. here, you can't expect to get a sample of chocolate as often, as you would in Thorntons. In general, the packaging of chocolate is a lot smaller, and high end too with some cool varieties, but still for the price it doesn't reflect value for money, especially for me, and I'm not a big eater of chocolate in the first place. Chocolate is one of life's naturally gluten free products, and it is only when they go adding lots of rubbish to it (Thanks KitKat) or it is made in a factory that handles gluten (Thanks DairyMilk), it doesn't become gluten free. Most chocolate here will be fine, but I would always recommenced checking first. If your looking for a gift, this is a nice shop to go to, but still it isn't a place you would come, just to pick up chocolate for yourself as it is far too posh and pricey for that, and although it is a reasonable store, I just don't get the hype about expensive chocolate, if this was called Hotel Coffee, I'd probably score a lot more, therefore I feel I can only go to 2 stars. read more

Hotel Chocolat - Photo from www.manchesterarndale.com - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Manchester, XGM

As chain shops go, Hotel Chocolat is pretty much as good as it gets. I have only marked as a 4* on the basis that it is a chain rather than an independent. I have been coming to this shop pretty much as long as it has been there and have tried pretty much the whole range. I love the high cocoa content chocolate, and like that they source the chocolate from their own estate, making it more ethical. The gin chocolates are also pretty special. What I like about HC, is that it doesn't just do chocolate. There are cocoa products that you just wouldn't expect. They have chocolate stout, chocolate port, chocolate red wine and my latest buy - cocoa gin. They also do chocolate spread, cocoa powder, hot chocolate powder, chocolate pasta, to name but a few. They are also really good for gifts for all occasions - I even got a new mum gift here once. Definitely a place for chocolate lovers, though you might want to avoid weekends when the Arndale gets heaving and uncomfortably busy. read more

Hotel Chocolat - Cocoa gin! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Manchester, XGM

A hotel made of chocolate? I'm there! Actually it's a chocolate shop, a little bit posher than Thorntons but not quite on the Artisan du Chocolat supreme level, despite the inclusion of the far superior word 'chocolat'. Just makes you think of Johnny Depp with a ponytail, doesn't it. It's still pretty highbrow, and a great place for gifts if you know a chocoholic. I'm not a chocoholic exactly, but heck, I like my chocolate. And the BF knew this when he got me a little trinket from this particular shop for our first Valentine's Day. You can get everything from a large gorge-worthy feast-box to a tiny little square block of the finest dark chocolate, which was what I received with my flowers, and after all felt a lot more sophisticated than a gargantuan plethora of the stuff to be honest. The big chunky tablets of different varieties of chocolate are almost so stunning to look at it's a shame to eat them (almost, I said, ALMOST), with their marble swirls and biscuit balls and chocolate curls. The shop itself is laid out so functionally and stylishly that you feel far less claustrophobic than you do in Thornton's, and the staff are delightfully helpful. So do something different to everyone else on their New Year detoxes. Indulge! I know I will. read more

Hotel Chocolat - From www.hotelchocolat.co.uk - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Ok so don't go to this place if your on a diet or trying to avoid buying tons of chocolate and having no money left in your pocket. This place is a danger zone for chocolate lovers like myself. This place sells every type of chocolate imaginable and you feel like your a kid again in a big sweet shop. This place is mega expensive though, even the sweets at the back of the store without all the fancy packaging are expensive. You have to consider in this situation- are you worth it? yes you are....INDULGE YOURSELF! read more

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I am a massive chocoholic and when Hotel Chocolat opened I was well excited! Mainly because somebody had bought me one of the giant slabs once and I was well excited that I'd soon be able to buy one everyday! That was until the first time I actually stepped inside and saw the price tags. Wow. The prices in here are stupidly high! It's only bloody chocolate! But it's a very nice shop and if you do have a friend who likes chocolate you're sure to find a good Christmas present in here...but then again you would in Thorntons for half the price! read more

Hotel Chocolat - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I love this place, good quality chocolate in an array of new and exciting flavours! I see something new every time I go in and they offer amazing seasonal ranges, the current Halloween stuff is awesome. There's a smaller store in Manchester Piccadilly station as well as one on Market St opposite the big M&S but I find the service in those lacking compared to this store. Here, I'm offered a sample chocolate on most visits and I'm always greeted with a warm smile by helpful staff. The champagne truffles here are to die for and unlike most, these are made using real champagne :) you can pick up 6 for under £4. A lovely treat and they also make for a nice gift. The gift selection here is HUGE and they do gift cards too. I often opt for gift cards from here as no one is ever disappointed by the prospect of good quality chocolate, that they don't have to pay for! In addition to chocolate they also offer chocolate infused liquors, oils and other bits and bats. read more

Like Agent Provocateur, Hotel Chocolat understand the power of seduction. That's why their shops feel more like boutique hotels than candy stores with slick lighting, black walls and beautifully displayed shelves. To notch up the excitement, their products are wrapped in sophisticated packaging with playful names. Anyone fancy a Dark Adventure, a Peepster, a Goddess tablet, a Chilli & Nib Sweetheart or a jar of Liquid Chocolat Caramel Kiss mix? Yup, me too! The reason they've got 4 stars instead of 5 however, is that I think the dark chocolate tastes much better quality than the milk chocolate. I'm also not a fan of some of the truffles and slab bars. These are minor grumbles however when you contrast one of their chocolates with one of another high street chain like Thorntons. If you're looking to treat a loved one, my tips are the Dusted Champagne Truffles, Organic dark chocolate with chilli and pink peppercorns and the Be Pampered chocolate hamper. read more

Hotel chocolate is located in the Arndale Centre on the ground floor. The shop is very big inside and often they do have samples around the store, being handed out by a staff member. The staff are very friendly and always ask if they can help you. This chocolate is better hands down than Thorntons chocolate. read more

Hotel Chocolat - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I'm a big fan of chocolate and normally my aspirations are quite humble in that I can be very easily pleased with treats for the usual names like Cadburys and Nestle; but sometimes I have a cocoa itch that a Kinder Bueno or Cadbury Giant Button just can't scratch - in these instances I now head to Hotel Chocolat. I'm always impressed with their stores, always well-kept, clean and stylishly presented - staff are knowledgeable and seem genuinely happy to serve you (if you're really lucky you may time it right when they are offering free samples) There is a general feeling of calm giving you plenty of time to choose from their extensive collection. It used to be that the main luxury chocolatier chain in the UK were Thornton's - but Hotel Chocolat takes the experience to a whole new level - any chocolatier that has their own plantation you know is taking their products seriously - but this is also reflected in the expensive price - if anyone gets you a gift in a romantic sense from this places, then they're a keeper! I've tried a several different items from here now and every time I go in, as much as I enjoyed whatever I've bought previously, I'm always eager to try something new! Due to their prices this will never be a regular place for me or somewhere to grab something to take to the cinema - but if you're looking for something special for someone special or if that someone special is yourself, then I cannot recommend the chocolate highly enough (just don't expect large portions) read more

great chocolate, such a shame about the store. The shop itself was not clean, I saw rubbish on the floor. Hotel Chocolat, if you are going sell the most gorgeous chocolates, please give the customer an experience of shopping in a clean store. Such a shame. Attention to detail wins every time. Sorry, just being truthful. read more

Yes they have chocolate but as I discovered whilst changing into my PJs behind one of the display stands, they don't let you stay over. read more

Hotel Chocolat - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Hotel Chocolat is a shop tailor made for indulgence. Indeed, from the first moment you step through its doors and allow that delicious cocoa scent to waft towards your nostrils then you know you're somewhere where you're going to spend a lot of money on stuff that tastes really really REALLY good. The thing I like most about Hotel Chocolat is that it really does stock enough different types of chocolate to satisfy any appetite. I'm a particularly huge fan of their slabs - huge blocks of chocolate which are usually rippled with all manner of delicious ingredients, such as marshmallows, raspberries, orange peel, white chocolate or even hundreds and thousands! However, their hot chocolate isn't so good - I've always found it to be thin and watery, and not a patch on that provided by retailers such as Charbonnel & Walker. However, all of its offerings are relatively well priced and you should be able to find something special, no matter what your budget. If you're looking for a present for a relative or loved one who has a sweet tooth then I could think of no better place to go - they do wonderful mail order boxes of goodies which are just the thing to show someone special that you care. Awww. read more

Some seriously indulgent treats to be found in this shop to sway even the most determinedly heath-conscious mind! Perfect for finding a gift for a friend or loved one, there's a great variety of chocolates available here - from giant slabs (about £12 a pop) to miniature boxes (around £3-5). Free tasters are sometimes offered up, so it pays to hang around with puppy-dog eyes! I personally have a thing for the champagne truffles they sell as they're the best I've ever had - though for quality you can't go far wrong in here regardless of what you pick up. read more

Situated in the Arndale Centre this shop is temptingly welcoming. The chocolate here is undeniably great. The shop is beautifully set out with a gorgeous array of flavours and shapes to choose from. Its also a bonus to go on a day when they having tasting trays available! However, you do pay more for this, a lot more, and with some really lovely stuff available from cheaper stores, i'm not sure its worth it. The slabs of chocolate would make a lovely gift, but you could get far more for your money elsewhere. read more

I'm not a huge chocolate fan but I must admit to be taken in by Hotel Chocolat. My young daughter is almost obsessed with this place - it's literally a palace to cocoa addiction, a post Victorian opium den for sweet toothed addicts. I intend to go and buy one of the huge chocolate monoliths which remind me of biblical stone scrolls but with the 'thou shall not over indulge in the sweeteth' bit scratched out. Perhaps these are elements from the house in Hansel and Gretel, old doors and bits of wall? Who on earth would scoff one of these in one fell swoop I wonder? Rusty Lee? Russell Grant? The legendary 'Wild Samoan's' from the World Wrestling Entertainment? I like the small bag pick n mix section - these of course make ideal gifts given that almost everybody finds it hard to not to take chocolate under their wings. I was given some recently as a gift but slightly concerned that I was given the 'boobie' shaped nibbles? Not quite sure what they were trying to say. The store design is quite possibly referring to a sleek hotel somewhere exotic in the world, but with the cocoa candy undertones. If the Brothers Grimm chose the field of upmarket hotel interior design over fairy tales and the art of linguistics then this would be their first projects. Fathers days coming up.aside from a pleasant bottle of wine I'd also be rather keen on accepting the champagne truffles (in the nice paper bags) sold here. read more

Hotel Chocolat is located in the Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre and it is a Mecca to anyone who loves chocolate and a great place to buy gifts. It has a wide variety of chocolate including hot chocolate and chocolate based cooking ingredients. It also sells chocolate for special diets such as vegan and diabetic. The prices are quite high but if you go in to browse they often have free samples to try. They also run a chocolate club that you can sign up to and recieve monthly tasing samples. If you love chocolate as much as I do it is worth a visit and they do sell stocking fillers if their regular boxes of chocolate are too pricey in the current financial climate. read more

Hotel Chocolat looks just like that; a Hotel with Chocolate in it! I applaud the format of the store; the open spaces, the slabs of chocolate that you can just bite into and the flavours are equally interesting; chilli chocolate anyone?! The prices are not cheap but not much more than the likes of Thorntons (and it is more innovative). I would highly recommend a visit and for trying the chocolate but in terms of taste, there is Godiva & Leonadis in Selfridges which are the creme de la creme of Choc. read more

The worst place to go if you're a chocoholic as you'll come out of this shop pretty skint! It's the adult version of being a kid in a sweet shop, as soon as you step through the doors it's 'wow'. Beautifully packaged and indulgent chocolates with a very wide price range, yes they may be expensive for a large box of chocolates but they look and taste fantastic. They do all kinds of different things here, chocolate lollipops, giant slabs of swirled chocolate, fondue sets etc so if you're looking for a gift for a chocolate lover you're going to find something they'll love, in fact the hard part might be choosing what they'll love the most. My parents highly recommend the champagne chocolates, they find them a far better quality than the ones done by Thorntons, the box set with the bottle of champagne makes a lovely gift. read more

Like some kind of chocolate brothel, Hotel Chocolat parades itself before you like a cortisan. It's beautiful, it's delicious, it's forbidden. The place is laid out like an exclusive boutique or a jewellers with chocolate in glass cases and piled high in displays. The chocolate here is top notch, with everything from white chocolate champagne truffles to 100% pure cocoa nibs, the shop has a range to suit even the most deiscerning chocoholic's tastes. My personal favourites are the 180% dark chocolate with chilli, and the rocky road slab which is a gorgrous swirl of white and milk chocolate, caramel, biscuits and marshmallow. The slabs are particularly good as gifts as they look great in their packaging and are far more interesting than a regular box of chocolates. There are two main let-downs for me. The shop is really expensive, even a small bar will set you back £2.95 and there isn;t an oppourtunity to pix and mix individual chocolates for a box so you don't get the tailor made service you would at most chocolatiers. This aside, my key issue is that they only stock a few fair-trade chocolates. This is entriely unacceptable for somewhere which already has a high mark-up and clearly makes a good profit. The ethos of Hotel Chocolat is quality and taste, and you would think a key ingredient to this would be well sourced fair trade cocoa. They do sell a few chocolates which are fairly traded but I think that as other big chocolate makers are turning to fair trade Hotel Chocolat should do too. read more

We get regular deliveries by post and these are the best chocolates about and no mistake. They are on the expensive side. Their macadamia nut and their boozy chocolates are fabulous and they have one advantage over the rest; you can't tire of eating them. Also their gianduja or gianduia are also moreish. Just think in terms of food history gianduja was invented in Italy a few hundred years ago because of a blockade. It is a sweet chocolate spread containing about 30% hazelnut paste, invented in Turin during Napoléon's regency (1796-1814), when the Mediterranean was under a blockade by the British. A chocolatier in Turin named Michele Prochet, extended the little chocolate he had by mixing it with hazelnuts from the Langhe hills south of Turin. Based on Gianduia, Turin based chocolate manufacturer Caffarel invented Gianduiotto in 1852. It takes its name from Gianduja, a Carnival and marionette character who represents the archetypal Piedmontese, a native of the Italian region where hazelnut confectionery is common. Anyway back to this place; as well as chocolates of every variety it is a homage to cocoa with fruit based, pesto, chutney and liqueur based, beer based, wine based, balsamic based, and oil based products and on and on. read more

Overwhelming range of chocolates. Personal favourites are the rum and raisin (the raisin being soaked to bursting with rum) and the chocolate buttons which are silky smooth with a caramel taste. Love the look of the slabs but have only ever given them as gifts though they've been gratefully received. read more

Well, I seem to be in the minority here. I find Hotel Chocolat to be a disappointingly overpriced version of Thorntons. Basically, the chocolates are okay, but that's about it. For some reason they never taste as good as they look. Don't be fooled by the stylish packaging. read more

The name of this place is a pretty big giveaway of the shop and what it sells! This is heaven for any chocoholic!!!!!!!! They sell every kind of chocolate you could think of, dark, milk, white the list is endless and it really does come in all shapes and sizes!!! This is a perfect place to get a gift for someone, the presentation is really good and the stuff isn't too expensive! When you walk past you can just smell the aroma of warm chocolate and I'm pretty sure they have a chocolate fountain in full operation too!! Its like going around a bit of Willy Wonkas chocolate factory, you just marvel at all the luscious chocolate!! read more

I totaly agree with cheryls they are over dressed over priced plain jane chocolate. While they look and sound great they taste pretty average. The chocolate slabs are rediculous £12 and I could achieve the same thing by pouring melted chocolate to set with things like marshmallow fudge and chocolate drops on top. read more

Good chocolate in here, great looking gifts, especially the chocolate slabs with fruit and nits artistically splodged about. This place is a little on the expensive side but it offers a uniquely packaged product and gives chocolate back some of the class that Cadbury's has robbed it of. The shop has friendly staff and accepts card even for small purchases. At Christmas they see a brilliant huge cracker filled with chocolate treats for the whole family. The only shame is that you have to go into the Arndale to get there. read more

What can I say? A shop dedicated to chocolate. You can smell the chocolate from a few doors down the shop and when you enter it is like heaven! They do every type of chocolate you can think of-mint,chilli,rasberry ect. They specialise in 'slabs' where you buy litterally a slab of chocolate- a must for chocoholics! They also do small packs of truffle type chocolates, chilli is my favourite! The staff are friendly and the prices are a bit dear but because it is so specialised I would be prepared to pay a little extra. If you love chocolate- you will love this! read more

Oh this place should be called Chocolate Heaven. I LOVE it. I could spend hours there. It just would not be possible to come out empty handed. I love the atmosphere, the smell, the staff and of course the HUUUGGGEEE choice of chocolates. Something for everyone. read more

Hotel Chocolat is to die for..... I have never seen so many different types of chocolate all under one roof. If you enjoy good chocolate all you need is this store, the chocolate is not cheap but you wouldnt expect it to be once you see it. From boxes of chocs to slabs, to truffles and edible books this is something even willy wonka couldnt excell on!!! read more

This place is for REAL chocolate lovers, and not really for those who are fans of the sugary, Nestle/Cadburys, workaday stuff. Expensive, and more the kind of place that you buy chocolates for someone else (!) but for a little sumptuous treat, you can pick up one of the small packs of chocolates for around £3.00. Their easter eggs are amazing looking and really tasty. read more

This is simply the best chocolate shop I have EVER been in. They have a huge selection of chocolates, and I have tried most of them over the last year or two! They are ridiculously expensive, but such a treat, and definately superior to Thorntons etc. The whole shop layout is beautiful, and the smell when you enter the store is unbelievable. Perfect for present-buying, but equally perfect for self-indulgence. At the back of the shop they sell the same chocolates without the fancy packaging and these do work out cheaper, though still not cheap. Try it, you'll love it. read more

If you are wanting some high quality chocolate for a high price, this is the place to buy your wares! Perfect for valentines day gifts, birthday gifts. This large shop in the Arndale Centre is definitely worth a look into, a window shop into or just a smell in with the waft of the varying types of chocolate available in this store. read more

Scrummy chocolate and the best, friendliest staff ever. The rum soaked raisins are awesome

A rich chocolate lovers dream come true or a poor chocolate lovers nightmare. There is also something for everyone including 100% pure chocolate for vegans. Stop by here if you have a strange perversion and need to inhale the rich aromas of chocolate. This is Charlie's adult chocolate store and it is very pleasing on the eye. Prices are inevitably high because the finer things in life are never cheap. Get your gifts here and treat yourself once in a while. Melty good! read more

Chocolate! If I have to die it must be here! Please Please pretty please!! Gifts or indulgence you cannot go wrong! Every type of chocolate gift you could imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

pretty average. was expecting a lot more for my money!

Being a bit of a chocoholic I thought id venture into this store whilst in the Arndale and oh yeah it certainly is a chocoholics paradise! What I like about Hotel Chocolat is that it is and doesnt hold back from being a more upmarket high street chocolate store with a sense of style. It can be pricey but after tasting much of the product (begining with the free samples the staff dish out) I didnt feel guilty paying for it. Plus it has so many varieties of chocolate..fantastic! Like many people who hit the high street I do like good customer service and I have to say the customer service in this store is excellent. The staff really know their chocolate and are extremely helpful. I will be back for my chocolate fix! read more

hotel chocolat is situated in the newly opened 'northern extension' part of the arndale centre, it has everything you need to buy that special gift or to treat yourself! read more