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AIBU?

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Original poster

To give Hotel Chocolate as a present

235 replies

Connected1 · 28/11/2025 20:41

Earlier there was a thread about a work raffle where people donated prizes. The OP mentioned Hotel Chocolate as being one of those "junk presents" that people would donate.

I'm feeling a bit sheepish as I would have bought it online to send as presents to friends in UK (I don't live there myself).

What do people think?
IABU - It's got a bit of a crap reputation
IANBU - It's a premium brand that you'd be glad to get as a present.

OP posts:
LeadBubbles · 29/11/2025 19:15

PicaK · 28/11/2025 20:42

I love hotel chocolate. I didn't know it was naff!

I love Hotel Chocolat and I'm from Belgium! I don't think they're naff at all, they're lovely while still being affordable.

Beesevenoaks · 29/11/2025 19:02

two of my girlfriends always request HC when I stay, their boxes are delightful.

Violinist64 · 29/11/2025 18:52

Trampling · 29/11/2025 09:42

Gosh, I can’t stand those seashells. I thought everybody regifted that and that there was one box going round and round people’s homes in perpetual circulation!

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I agree. They might just as well rename it School Tombola/Raffle Prize.

Violinist64 · 29/11/2025 18:49

I like Hotel Chocolat and would be very happy to be given some. The brand l am not keen on is Thorntons as I find it oversweet.

MaplePumpkin · 29/11/2025 18:43

I didn’t know it had a crap reputation- I definitely see it as a more premium brand. If someone bought me a box, I’d be very pleased 😊

PaisleyGilmourStreet · 29/11/2025 18:39

It's a yes from me. I bought my daughter the velvetiser last Christmas, the hot chocolates are lovely. I use it to make frothy coffee too.

Hmmmmwineandchocs · 29/11/2025 18:22

Love Hotel Chocolat. I get it from one of my bosses every year and am very grateful.

bumptybum · 29/11/2025 18:21

GinkoRebelFoxes · 28/11/2025 20:57

Sorry. I ended up throwing a box away last year. And I’d only been given it because a friend didn’t like it. I think it has gone downhill recently - I assume they have cut back on their ingredients to maintain a price point.

So you only eat the likes of Prestat or Charbonnel & Walker?

Worriedatwork1 · 29/11/2025 18:09

Thechaseison71 · 29/11/2025 13:01

If they went to my DD they she would've eaten them PDQ.

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And mine

BobbySox71 · 29/11/2025 18:08

I love it, I work in as a hospital receptionist and was really chuffed when a patient gave me some as I thought it was so thoughtful go get ‘premium’ chocolate (though all chocolate received is much appreciated).
21 yo DD has dropped hints for Christmas 😊

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 29/11/2025 13:01

Sometimes coming on here is actually mind blowing.
Hotel Chocolat is lovely and I don't know one person who would turn their nose up at it.

Thechaseison71 · 29/11/2025 13:01

Trampling · 29/11/2025 09:42

Gosh, I can’t stand those seashells. I thought everybody regifted that and that there was one box going round and round people’s homes in perpetual circulation!

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If they went to my DD they she would've eaten them PDQ.

Curiousrobin · 29/11/2025 12:44

Trampling · 29/11/2025 09:42

Gosh, I can’t stand those seashells. I thought everybody regifted that and that there was one box going round and round people’s homes in perpetual circulation!

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Nah, see you're weird to my family😄 DH and I love the Guylians chocolate, and so does our 3 year old! In fact this has reminded me to get some for both of them as a small gift!

Curiousrobin · 29/11/2025 12:41

Definitely not a rubbish present. It's expensive and I appreciate when I've had it as a gift before, so I've never even thought someone might feel different (anyone that likes chocolate ofc).

Calliopespa · 29/11/2025 12:38

Trampling · 29/11/2025 09:42

Gosh, I can’t stand those seashells. I thought everybody regifted that and that there was one box going round and round people’s homes in perpetual circulation!

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But if you like them, there isn't anything that tastes all that much the same.

People will just have wildly different tastes.

To me it's kind of milky candy not chocolate, but there's no rule that people have to like a dark chocolate.

Calliopespa · 29/11/2025 12:29

MumChp · 29/11/2025 12:24

This!
We are happy to be gifted HC.

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Yes, I agree it is fine for most. And anyone should be grateful for it.

MumChp · 29/11/2025 12:24

LighthouseLED · 28/11/2025 20:42

Hotel Chocolat is fine for most people outside MN.

This!
We are happy to be gifted HC.

Calliopespa · 29/11/2025 12:22

A really good chocolatier in London is William Curley - though it tends towards the dark end of the spectrum. It is also more expensive than HC though, so many may simply appreciate something else for the price, and I wouldn't bother unless I had good reason to suspect they would like it.

For milk chocolate lovers Laderach can be ok, though many would say milk chocolate lovers are candy lovers not chocolate lovers!

ETA Actually, I just looked online to see what the offerings were and to be honest Curley isn't really that much more pricey than HC. If people really want to know what to gift and it really is for someone who likes "chocolate" proper, I would say they are a different class entirely from HC. That would be my suggestion.

VickyEadieofThigh · 29/11/2025 12:18

I love HC stuff. I find the scale on Mumsnet tends to go from Celebrations to HC and whilst I won't eat Mars or Cadbury chocolate (I lost a lot of weight 30 years ago and determined I would only eat 'better' chocolate than that if I ever did), I would never be as snobby as the Secret Santa OP who called HC "junk". If you like something - carry on liking it!

That Op also seemed to think Joe Malone stuff would be rejected by charity shops as "junk", so I strongly suspect she lives inb Knightsbridge and only shops at Harrods...

Calliopespa · 29/11/2025 12:13

HostaCentral · 29/11/2025 09:43

Well my rellies have specifically asked for HC chocolate. Having said that, they want the 70% dark solid stuff, the batons and such like. The wreaths are good.

I like it, but only the plain stuff. The filled chocolates are a bit challenging.

I greatly dislike anything milk, anything Cadburys, anything that comes in a tub. Tony's is vile.

Premium brands are not that different in recipe terms. Most of the difference is marketing.

In all honesty that isn't true.

If you try brands like Maison du Chocolat, Amadei or even Valrhona, it doesn't really taste much like a lot of these other brands.

That is not to say everyone would like it - or even that it is reasonable to suggest as gifts, as the former two, in particular, can be really pricey.

But there is no way it the same quality in a different box with different marketing.

SumUp · 29/11/2025 12:04

I would be pleased to receive it. Some people are so ungrateful!

Of the brands, Ombar is amazing, it melts in the mouth so nicely, but is expensive. Seed and Bean, Equal Exchange, Divine, make good gifts. Something organic / fair trade, then you’re gifting more than just the pleasure of eating the chocolate.

zingally · 29/11/2025 12:04

I like Hotel Chocolat!

But I also like Cadburys just as much, if not more.

I do get a lot of use out of my velvetiser though (I have the hot and cold drink version), as I love chocolatey drinks.

CuriousKit · 29/11/2025 11:43

Love Hotel Chocolat

TrainerBees · 29/11/2025 11:40

Trampling · 29/11/2025 10:34

Because of the spelling, I thought the OP was referring to those chocolates left on your pillow in hotels. Now that would be a crappy gift!

Hotel Chocolat is fine to give as a generic gift ofc.

I’ve not tasted this chocolate but it looks gift-worthy.
I think it’s an odd name for a brand - it sounds like a company that supplies hotels with chocolate for their pillows.

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