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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Moonlightfrog · 28/11/2025 21:37

I wish someone would gift me hotel chocolate. Only on MN would hotel chocolate be a rubbish gift. The only chocolate I get gifted (from family) is a £2 selection box or a tub of celebrations, I would much rather have hotel chocolate.

SocksAndTheCity · 28/11/2025 21:32

HangingOver · 28/11/2025 21:17

I adore their vegan box! I get at least one a year for my birthday

If you haven't had it already, get somebody to buy you the HC extra thick vegan Easter egg next year ☺️👍

Londonrach1 · 28/11/2025 21:32

LighthouseLED · 28/11/2025 20:42

Hotel Chocolat is fine for most people outside MN.

Sorry not a fan. It's almost as bad as the inedible tony chocolate.

Gottabeehonest · 28/11/2025 21:30

It's a very individual thing. I love chocolate, but I loath Hotel Chocolate as it's far too rich for my uncultured palette. One of my clients buys me a box most years, and has done for the thick end of 20 years. I only ever remember eating some of it once, and it is immediately regifted.

It's not snobbery for me, if anything it's the opposite, and it grieves me to think how much Cadburys chocolate I could have had for the price of the latest Hotel Chocolate that comes my way.

shhblackbag · 28/11/2025 21:25

LighthouseLED · 28/11/2025 20:42

Hotel Chocolat is fine for most people outside MN.

This. I have a friend who buys me HC for Christmas. It's a kind thing to do, and I'm appreciative. I like it fine, although I agree the taste is different from what it used to be. They must have changed something.

gillefc82 · 28/11/2025 21:22

Tigerbalmshark · 28/11/2025 21:03

I don’t like flavoured chocolate so I’m not the target market! I’d rather have a bar of Lindt (or Montezuma buttons).

HC isn’t high luxury but it’s not shit either. It’s Molton Brown versus Baylis and Harding, just not Diptyque. If I was buying it to impress I’d go with Neuhaus, if I was buying for a friend or family member I wouldn’t expect them to turn their nose up at HC.

This is the perfect description as a comparator.

I’m not fussed on chocolate personally (from the age of 6/7, I used to get a book for Easter from my DPs instead of a chocolate egg) but I’ve been gifted HC stuff as a Christmas gift from a work colleague in the past and certainly didn’t ever think it was a cheap/crap present.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/11/2025 21:21

I like it and often buy it for my children and family - had no idea some people were snobby about it!

I expect it’s just because it’s very well known and people dislike anything well known.

CindyCuthbert · 28/11/2025 21:21

i know loads of people who love HC, but I actively hate it as I can’t taste anything! If I’m having the calories then I’d like the enjoyment. But tastes like cardboard to me.

Original poster
Connected1 · 28/11/2025 21:20

Happyjoe · 28/11/2025 21:15

It's expensive so you always look generous at least! 15 years ago I really liked it and would be pleased to have a bit as a gift, then they changed it. It's quite plasticy tasting now. The last lot I was given some years ago I threw out for the mice living under our shed and they wouldn't eat it either! Same can be said for montezuma's choc, their giant chocolate buttons were so nice. Now, yucky plastic.

Unfortunately a lot of chocolate has really declined in quality recently.

I can't believe even the mice wouldn't eat it though! Fussy wee rodents 😁

OP posts:
Cyclingmummy1 · 28/11/2025 21:19

I love it! We went to the plantation in Saint Lucia. I get an annual update on the tree I planted.

pizzaHeart · 28/11/2025 21:18

Questioningnamechange · 28/11/2025 20:47

I like Hotel Chocolat and would be pleased to receive something from there as a gift. Chocolate is always well received here and we'll always eat it. People are oddly snobby about Hotel Chocolat on Mumsnet but I've never experienced that kind of attitude in real life.

This^
from the other side MN full of people who like Cadbury and advise you their selection boxes as a go for present for anyone. I can’t understand how it’s even possible.
I wouldn’t put Cadbury’s dairy milk even in brownies.

HangingOver · 28/11/2025 21:17

I adore their vegan box! I get at least one a year for my birthday

LarryIsMyRomanEmpire · 28/11/2025 21:16

It's the new Thorntons, perfectly nice but nothing to get excited about.

ThatCyanCat · 28/11/2025 21:16

It's only on MN that chocolate is a terrible Secret Santa/work raffle gift. In reality it's absolutely fine.

Happyjoe · 28/11/2025 21:15

It's expensive so you always look generous at least! 15 years ago I really liked it and would be pleased to have a bit as a gift, then they changed it. It's quite plasticy tasting now. The last lot I was given some years ago I threw out for the mice living under our shed and they wouldn't eat it either! Same can be said for montezuma's choc, their giant chocolate buttons were so nice. Now, yucky plastic.

Pistachiocake · 28/11/2025 21:14

I'd be happy enough to get it. The first time I bought it (years ago) I was surprised at the small size for the price (yes, I should have paid more attention), but it tasted fine IMO.

TheGrimSmile · 28/11/2025 21:13

Id be delighted with Hotel Chocolat chocs.

DeedlessIndeed · 28/11/2025 21:12

My low-stakes conspiracy theory is that no one actually likes boxes of chocolates.

I think that people like the idea of eating them - the marketing is glorious. They are also a handy generic gift to give as people can be funny about alcohol or flowers.

But, I've never found a box of chocolates I've ever enjoyed more than an everyday bar of chocolate. They are very rarely not a massive anti-climax. And that is before you get all the really weird tasting ones that only 1% of the population would ever like.

Give me a Twix or Cadbury's Whole Nut anyday!

PersephoneParlormaid · 28/11/2025 21:11

It’s crap like Thorntons, and expensive crap,

Tigerbalmshark · 28/11/2025 21:11

EchoedSilence · 28/11/2025 21:08

I still love Thorntons.

Their toffee was always much better than their chocolate (again possibly because I don’t like flavoured chocolate!)

Bloozie · 28/11/2025 21:09

I’d love to receive it as a gift.

EchoedSilence · 28/11/2025 21:08

I still love Thorntons.

JLou08 · 28/11/2025 21:08

First time I tried it was when I got it for a gift. It was really appreciated!

Candleabra · 28/11/2025 21:06

I love hotel chocolat. The fruit fillings are lovely.
They definitely took over Thorntons market share when they went downhill (I used to love Thorntons too in the old days when they were nice)

TheChosenTwo · 28/11/2025 21:06

I think the quality of the chocolate has drastically declined in the last 5-10 years, hard to pinpoint as I’ve stopped bothering with it now, more oil less cocoa.
Someone bought our team at work one of the giant boxes recently as a thank you, I enjoyed a couple of the filled ones as they sort of give it a bit of flavour!
My family would happily share a box though, I think they’re fine as a collective present.