I visited the new Hotel Chocolat and velvetiser cafe in Market Harborough, where the old wildwood Italian restaurant used to be, tucked in between the White Company and Jigsaw.
It’s Saturday morning and when we opened the door although it’s immediately recognisable as the old restaurant, the brickwork interior and layout remains unchanged it’s alive with the buzz of chatter and most of the table are taken. It’s a first come first serve cafe, like Starbucks, queue for your drinks, cakes, chocolate stirers, ice cream and shakes.
The menu is pretty simple, hot chocolate in every variation imaginable, including Vegan options which include oak and coconut dairy free alternatives. We were asked if we’d like whipped cream on our vegan drinks, no the whipped cream isn’t dairy free the server was just on auto pilot, more interested in whether or not we had a loyalty card and if we didn’t did we want one than actually making the experience less like a conveyer belt.
It’s not on a budget, two drinks to go, a piece of cake and a small packet of chocolate stirrers cost £18, the drinks were delicious and the tiny stirrers were delectable textured melt in your mouth chocolate so for a treat the quality is definitely there.
The old wildwood kitchen has been converted into a chocolate shop and again it was extremely busy with shoppers perusing the chocolate wall and all the different options.
People clearly love this brand, it was very busy, for me it’s obviously a chain, no personal service, chaotic staff and lots of trained up selling, 50p for this, 50p for that, from chocolate sprinkles to flavoured sauces, if we’d said yes to everything offered our bill would probably have jumped from £18 to £25.
I think Hotel Chocolat is the Starbucks for millennials, how long the allure will last, I don’t know but I cannot see it enduring. The interior merchandising minimal, the furniture cheap, the drinks, like the service luke warm, the only thing that really stood out for me was the product, worth a visit if you haven’t been but at the price I won’t be rushing back to re experience. It’s very obviously a mass market chain with more focus on upselling, collecting email addresses and loyalty cards than focus on outstanding 5 star service.
Unwrapping the Sweet Success of Hotel Chocolat Hotel Chocolat, a British chocolatier and a unique type of cocoa grower, has redefined the luxury chocolate market since its inception. Founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris in 2004, Hotel Chocolat has expanded its roots from a simple concept to a complex execution that marries indulgence with ethical considerations.
Origins and Founders
The journey began when entrepreneurs Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris launched their first store in North London. Thirlwell, whose father established the Mr. Whippy ice cream brand, shared a deep-seated passion for innovation and customer experience with Harris. Together, they ventured into the world of chocolate, determined to disrupt the traditional market with premium products that could be traced back to the source. **Growth and Ethos** Hotel Chocolat is not just a retailer but also a grower. The brand owns and operates the Rabot Estate cocoa plantation in St. Lucia, which allows them to control every aspect of their chocolate making process from bean to bar. This direct involvement in cocoa cultivation highlights their commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability – core principles that have been with them from the start. Their mission is clear: to make people happy with great chocolate. Hotel Chocolat strives to innovate, whether through the development of unique chocolate recipes or sustainable farming practices. They aim to deliver luxury without compromise, ensuring that their products are both ethically produced and of the highest quality.
Mission and Vision
Hotel Chocolat’s mission statement revolves around creating a better world with sustainable cocoa, happier farmers, and happier customers. Their ethos is deeply embedded in their business model, which focuses on three main pillars: originality, authenticity, and ethics. These guide their decisions and growth, ensuring that every piece of chocolate not only tastes good but also does good. From its inception, Hotel Chocolat has grown into a symbol of luxury and sustainability, proving that a business can flourish while staying true to ethical values and delivering joy through exceptional chocolate.