Simon Dunn is a god. He must sit on his cloud over Mount Olympus looking down at us mere mortals…read moreon Earth with smug satisfaction that we cannot live without him and worship at his holy feet. His chocolate is a modern day religion with thousands of followers, so for the unconverted and chocolate atheists amongst you, I will attempt to knock on your doors, Jehovah Witness style and preach the teachings of this guru. I first stumbled upon this chocolatiers in leafy Wilmslow when my friend's little boy Ethan was celebrating his third birthday there. What a great idea! Why haven't I ever held my birthday party in a chocolate shop? I walked through the doors and entered a paradise where the aroma of home made chocolate being prepared on this heavenly premises drifts in clouds around the shop. Everyone seemed entranced in a chocolate stupor. This is DAMN good gear. I know a lot about eating chocolate and not too much about making it, but the chocolatier informed me that Simon Dunn's chocolates have over 70% cocoa and this my yelpers makes it divine.So the party was located upstairs and Simon Dunn's had done all the catering. It was absolutely excellent and we all remarked that it is rare to attend a toddler's party and the food is directed at children and adults alike. This was no regular party food consisting of a few sandwiches and jelly and ice cream. Oh, no, there were chicken wings, humus and crudites , samosas, pickles, fruit, olives, ...the list goes on. fantastic fare and everyone loved it. As this was a chocolate party, the owner Simon's delicious son gave a demonstration of his chocolate making prowess and I have never seen so many mothers pay attention so avidly in my life! Melted chocolate was poured into moulds, chocolate heart lollies were personalised by the children themselves. Simon Dunn also takes his chocolate parties on tour and will come to your home or place of work providing you own a microwave for melting and the parties are priced at £12.50 per person. This is an interactive Willy Wonka of a chocolate factory and I urge you to go.

A small but cute coffee shop based on the busy Burton Road in Didsbury right by the metro link shop…read more- I've heard mixed reviews about this place so didn't really know if it was worth a visit, however a friend and I decided we should give it a go and decide for ourselves. There's just enough room for two tables, but if it is full you can order drinks to go. We were lucky enough to arrive when one of the tables was free so we sat down and browsed the menu - this didn't take long as there are only a few basic coffee options. The decorations in Cocoa Cabana are very pretty, there's lots of chocolate sculptures and wonderfully decorated cakes, most of which are for sale, however from what I saw, at exceptionally high prices. I ordered a latte from the very grumpy lady behind the counter and we were told they would be brought over to us when ready. My latte was served in a tall glass which didn't have a handle (photograph posted), this made it extremely difficult to drink as the glass was so hot I couldn't keep my hands on it for long. I ended up having to wrap the glass in napkins so that I could finish it. As well as the poor choice of glass, the drink was poor quality, the milk was not foamy and the coffee was rather bland. After we'd finished our drinks we got up and went to pay. This was when we were told by the lady behind the counter that she was recovering from a heavy night of gin and that she thought she was coming down with something. After proceeding to cough she then took our payment. An absolutely horrific experience and so so unprofessional. I will not be returning here, there's so many other lounges, bars and cafes in the area that serve a much better selection of drinks with much more friendly staff. I was disappointed to say the least.

This place is so gorgeous that it pains me to say anything negative at all, because it really is…read morevery sweet (just like the chocolate). So bearing that in mind... the actual shop is beautiful, with fantastic gifts and knick knacks, all chocolate related. If you've got a chocolate-loving boyfriend/ girlfriend/ wife/husband/ step uncle twice removed in law/etc/etc, then this is the place to go. It also means you're avoiding the hideous Manchester City centre crowds around Christmas which I personally love! Now as a cafe, again the place is adorable, the staff are super friendly and the brownies have already been awarded the best in Manchester at some point, but the coffee wasn't up to the high standard that everything else was. I opted for a mocha and they put the most amazing truffle sauce in it, which was definitely the saving grace. It wasn't a bad coffee, but when everything else is just so amazing, I was just a little disappointed. This place does afternoon tea as well , and even though the shop is teeny, I would imagine it would be ultra cosy and charming! Cocoa Cabana = Chocolate lovers heaven!

I left this as feedback on the hotel chocolat website. They didn't allow it on their website which…read moresays 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.

Hotel Chocolat is a shop specializing in chocolate, in recent years they have grown, even coming…read moreclose 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.

Lindt are are a large company now for chocolate, with their products in most of Britain's major…read moreretailers, with 9 stores around the world including their newest branch here in Manchester. They have branches around the UK in Cheshire Oats, Wembley and York, and two stores in France, including one in Paris. This store is quite small, and they seem to do a good job in fitting a lot of flavors into one place, including some interesting flavors, with a large range of small chocolates, like what you'd find in a Quality Street box, but with a wider range of flavors The staff here seem nice, they was an area to personalize your Lindt chocolate bunny, and I was greeted with a free sample when I entered. The store its-self is quite narrow, and is really not wheelchair accessible with small isles, especially when it is busy, such as in this Easter period. I don't like Lindt Chocolate, despite them having some flavors which sound amazing, mainly because it isn't natural chocolate, as in all their flavors they do add barley. This is a nice store with some great sounding chocolate, but still it is too small of a store to walk about, and spend some time in. They is a good enough range to fill a larger store, and considering they are a big brand I'd have thought they would have wanted this store to be better, to stand out especially as they only have 7 stores in the UK, and a Lindt store is quite a shock to see for a tourist in Manchester, due to how rare they are, but still it doesn't live up to expectations and how it looks on paper, therefore sadly I can't go over 2 stars.

Well, what can I say about this place. At first glance it just look like your typical shop but I…read moreassure you it is not. The best way to describe this place is original and unique. They make everything from flowers to cakes and sandwiches. And these sandwiches are the best especially if you have had a wild night out and need a pick me up. I always go here Saturday morning and whilst getting myself a breakfast on a baguette, I pick up homemade cakes and a cheese and onion pie for tea! The shop is tiny but it is elegant in its service. It is not a typical shop in the slightest, and the only way I can describe it to you is being a boutique food shop. It belongs in Harrods honestly! Homemade biscuits and jams are a popular thing of mine but also they cater which is fantastic. If you find this shop, then go and have a sandwich and fill your bag with goodies while you are there!

A Fantastic sandwich shop - sells EVERYTHING - often have goodies to try before you buy - also do…read morehomemade evening meals on a friday ....And ... great sarnies for functions !!

Walking around Manchester's NQ and in need of a sugar fix I decided to try BonBon for a hot…read morechocolate. The shop is tiny! Definitely couldn't swing a cat (not that I would do, or ever have done, that) but it has that unique and homely NQ feel that makes MCR amazing. It was busy, so we managed to grab a small table for 2 in the corner and peruse the chocolates on offer whilst we waited. I chose 4 little chocolates - pistachio, dark chocolate, salted caramel and a weird, yet lovely stilton truffle. At over £1 each for a small, round chocolate that can easily be swallowed in one, the chocolates aren't cheap here - but they are hand made by the lady owner on-site in the workshop in the back. The chocolates on display can be chosen and devoured in the shop like we did, or you can box them up to take away or box them up as a gift! I ordered a salted caramel hot chocolate and spent a while enjoying it and chatting away. The hot chocolates are made with 66% melted dark chocolate with water - and are all dairy free. They don't fill you up and don't lie heavy on your stomach later on in the day, it's just an excellent, chocolately sugar fix.

Ok, who doesn't love chocolate right..! This little neat store tucked in the NQ has amazing…read morechocolate bars and bites. Some are handmade by the owner, others are factory bred but still delish. They are known for their hot chocolate but recommendation is, if you get one, stick to the regular flavour. I purchased an orange flavour one, simply because I love citrus. A bit disappointing though as the drink was flavoured with little orange bits, almost like little pulp pieces. Other than that, it was a nice and warming esp for the frigid Manchester weather. It was nothing fancy but sometimes all you want is soothing chocolate to get-in-yo-bellllaayy! Drinks are around £3.50 and the chocolate bars vary in price but definitely a good idea for a brief chocolate indulging or simply as a nice gift.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Chocolate. Well, there is only one thing I can say.... Delicious…read more As a incredible chocolate fan, I adore shops that smell great a million miles away and they draw me in. I am addicted it is a problem I will never get fixed. Here, is some of the greatest chocolate around. Yummy chocolate and they even have fountains of chocolate and ice-cream. I like buying boxes of choccie from here as gifts and also for myself. Great!

After a disappointing trip to the Sweet Emporium I was further let down by Cadburys! Like Michael…read moreB, I also left without buying anything even though I actually got as far as the till, but as in Sweet Emporium they don't take cards for transactions under £5. What is this? 1995? Unacceptable. Ok so the main problems are: unexciting range, totally unbargainous prices. You can DEFINITELY do better in Tesco Express on chocolate deals. I know, because I buy chocolate in Tesco Express almost every day owing to Some Problems I Have With Sugar. Tesco Express isn't even a supermarket! Bear in mind also this is not a price for gifts, as Michael B also found - it is factory style so things are in very boring plastic bags. Lowry Outlet Mall betrayed me twice in one day. Never again shall I darken its doors.

Cadbury's is one of the biggest chocolatiers in the UK, hence I had big expectations for this…read morestore. It is located in the Manchester Lowry, a "shopping centre", I find simply a waste, and something bad in a really nice, modern area, this store is no different. Cadbury's shop, actually sells products, from companies other than Cadbury and most of the items here, including their own are far too overpriced. They do sell chocolate machines, and sort of toys for kids, but they don't seem sturdy enough to last long, and they are just a token, rather than a long lasting gift, and as far as I remember, they are pretty pricey too. " Cadbury Factory Shop " makes me think it would be a chocolate heaven, with chocolate, fresh, directly shipped from the factory, (which is a fantastic gift and can be bought online), although a little pricier, but this store isn't that, it just sells items from other companies (sweets etc) and overpriced Cadbury's souvenirs, whether it be chocolate or stupid, poor quality machines. Even though I'm not a chocolate lover, I do like Cadbury's as a company (some of their products anyway), I think they need to just stick to that, what they are good at, rather than ruin their profits and reputation by opening a poor store like this. Cadbury's need to leave sweet / chocolate stores to Mr Simms and selling their products to the supermarket giants and local newsagents, so I do feel this store deserves one star.

When the Market Hall was destroyed by fire a few years ago, one of the stalls I missed most was…read moreGleaves. Whether buying broken biscuits, exquisite handmade Easter eggs or weird sherbert concoctions, this wonderful confectionary stall was a huge part of my childhood. And I'm sure loads of other people feel the same. Luckily, though, Gleaves returned when the Hall reopened. The new stall is a little smaller than the old one, but it's still pretty wonderful! Many of the products are loose and sold by weight, which makes them really cost effective. And all the staff are lovely!

Slightly more expensive than the usual bakers but the quality more than makes up for it…read more With a recent closure of Hampsons on Copson street, this is now the flag bearer for fresh bread and cakes on that strip. I must say the standard of freshly made sandwiches and rolls is a slight cut above the rest and the quality of cream cakes, and provision of choux pastries are very good. I tend to occasionally treat the kids to a visit here knowing full well that they'll never finish their treatsand waste not want not.

Martins are one of the few bakeries which are like the traditional local bakers. Their cake…read moreflavours are just fresher than a place like greggs and its just so satisfyiing!