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AIBU to ask for your recommendations for best chocolates available in UK.

163 replies

LadyMacbethWasFierce · 16/01/2026 15:55

I have recently had a huge life changing bereavement (loss of my daughter - I have posted about this on other threads).

The point of this thread is something quite superficial. I have barely eaten for 3 months and have lost lots of weight.

I never had much of a sweet tooth, but think I might fancy some really delicious chocolates and my wonderful friend has offered to buy me some and, on this occasion, cost is not really material.

I like milk and dark chocolate (not white), cream and truffle and ganache. I quite like a crispy coating. And fruit flavours. Do not want alcohol in them. So no champagne truffles. I like peppermint. And marzipan. And coconut. I like nuts ordinarily, but am struggling to swallow food (only eating soup) so probably best to avoid nuts at the moment.

I once had some Leonidas chocolates that I liked. My friend suggested Godiva or Audreys. Neither of us have ever had those.

Can anyone help me please with a suggestion for some really lovely chocolates that are readily available for the UK and that might restore a bit of my appetite.

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
PatheticDistraction · 16/01/2026 22:40

LaurieFairyCake · 16/01/2026 16:06

If you want the absolute best you want the award winners like the Highland Chocolatier or Adam Handling.

I had Adam Handling chocs for Christmas, unbelievably good 😊

good luck with your recovery

I'll second the Highland Chocolatier - he lead an online tasting for my work do, and the chocolate was sensational

Wearescrewed · 16/01/2026 22:39

I’m very sorry for your loss x
You mentioned you are in the South West.
Theres Chococo, all of them are lovely.
Also in Bristol, Zara’s Chocolates.
Also find M&S great across the board, their Xmas Chocolate box was delicious and they do small boxes of artisan chocolates, they are £4 for 3.
Hey, check out this M&S product:
Collection The Caramel Collection
https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/collection-the-caramel-collection/p/fdp60754307

Collection The Caramel Collection | M&S

Our exquisite selection of milk and dark Belgian chocolates each contain a smooth, caramel centre. These intricately crafted chocolates are created by our renowned chocolatiers using the best-quality, responsibly sourced cocoa.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/collection-the-caramel-collection/p/fdp60754307

Caerulea · 16/01/2026 22:29

Lots of big brands out there but for something really unique & artisan I wholly recommend Dark Sugars, run by an African woman in London. Everything about them is very special indeed.

AIBU to ask for your recommendations for best chocolates available in UK.
WolfinSheepsDress · 16/01/2026 22:23
  • my kenndys is the same as the Penrith one above actually. Kenndys fine chocolates.

I love you can choose your own.

WolfinSheepsDress · 16/01/2026 22:21

Op.sympathies.

You want handmade chocolates. I very much enjoyed a box of self selected Kenney's chocs Orton ...about 30 for 30.

No...bloody palm oil !!

Make sure you get the correct one there are two kenndys .

Comefromaway · 16/01/2026 22:11

Are Whitaker’s meant to be luxury? I’d consider them to be along the same line as After Eights. Nice enough, but nothing special.

RottenBanana · 16/01/2026 22:02

I am so sorry.
All I can say is Läderach.
x

JudgeJ · 16/01/2026 21:57

My suggestion would be Whitakers. They are a family run UK company. I absolutely adore their coffee chocolates

I'd forgotten Whitakers, we used to go into their shop in Skipton, it's no longer there sadly, and buy bags of 'seconds', especially the coffee creams! They produce those little pillow squares for companies, hotels etc., we once bought a bag of those and a lot of them were from the Royal Yacht, obviously a long time ago.

Shufflebumnessie · 16/01/2026 21:49

I am so sorry to read about the heartbreaking loss of your daughter. I'm not surprised you've been struggling to eat and I hope you find something to tempt you soon.
My suggestion would be Whitakers. They are a family run UK company. I absolutely adore their coffee chocolates but they also do a dark chocolate mint version too. Put them in the fridge to give the chocolate a little extra snap.
https://www.whitakerschocolates.com/products/dark-chocolate-mint-fondant-creams-tub

Theses M&S dark chocolate marzipan are delicious too
www.ocado.com/products/m-s-chocolate-marzipan/520709011

Whitakers Mint Creams | Refreshing Dark Chocolate Fondants

Bite into the freshness of Whitakers Mint Creams, where dark chocolate and cool mint fondant meet, all encased in elegant green foil

https://www.whitakerschocolates.com/products/dark-chocolate-mint-fondant-creams-tub

MammaBear1 · 16/01/2026 21:46

I’m so sorry for your loss.

My favourite chocolates are Monty Bojangles or any of the Tonys Chocolonley bars.

nondrinker1985 · 16/01/2026 21:42

Kennedys in Penrith have amazing chocs! but also 1683 chocolate place in Knowle, West Midlands are amazing.

reluctantlogin · 16/01/2026 21:40

LadyMacbethWasFierce · 16/01/2026 15:55

I have recently had a huge life changing bereavement (loss of my daughter - I have posted about this on other threads).

The point of this thread is something quite superficial. I have barely eaten for 3 months and have lost lots of weight.

I never had much of a sweet tooth, but think I might fancy some really delicious chocolates and my wonderful friend has offered to buy me some and, on this occasion, cost is not really material.

I like milk and dark chocolate (not white), cream and truffle and ganache. I quite like a crispy coating. And fruit flavours. Do not want alcohol in them. So no champagne truffles. I like peppermint. And marzipan. And coconut. I like nuts ordinarily, but am struggling to swallow food (only eating soup) so probably best to avoid nuts at the moment.

I once had some Leonidas chocolates that I liked. My friend suggested Godiva or Audreys. Neither of us have ever had those.

Can anyone help me please with a suggestion for some really lovely chocolates that are readily available for the UK and that might restore a bit of my appetite.

Thank you in advance.

I am very sorry for your loss.
i have similar taste to you . I like leonidas select your own pralines. You can make boxes to suit yourself.

Papyrophile · 16/01/2026 21:37

PortSalutPlease · 16/01/2026 21:19

I’m so sorry. The best chocolate in the world is Belgian chocolate, and the best Belgian chocolate is Neuhaus, although Pierre Marcolini is also delicious.

The Belgians do make superb chocolate, but their frites are even better. I like Neuhaus, but the plain chocolate bias of Pierre Marcolini is my preference. And I like the dainty size of Marcolini chocolates.

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 16/01/2026 21:31

My heartfelt condolences to you! Please do take care of yourself. Grief is a difficult one. This is something someone sent me after I lost my father. I hope it helps you too. Take care! Xx

“The thing with grief is that it doesn’t suddenly stop one day. We carry it with us always. It changes us.

But grief is also a gift, and we shouldn’t lose sight of that. For without it we would not have experienced the love that made the letting go so hard.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~ Winnie the Pooh”

My favourite chocolates are www.amazon.co.uk/Mathez-Dusted-Truffles-Perfect-Gifting/dp/B09GPMFFK8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=27SY919QOM97H&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5DH4C_C2iIB0sjNmuOYk1tv5J_jsxi9gVjhI8nCgapK3NCy5HFT4HNsNEMqfa3jnFOJPSIq53K6GOfoB-1x2KUPZLbLkyLsbR2p-KjKXGNFZP4ejx4xBHfZXedAz5M_kPcWvWIkd9HXU1jiyncxE9G_v74nXdnZufI03yjZ-dHEGDawnhscLGLDmQrPjIwhX7IBNCMfQxpZoLHgsxMyKLA.uOhajU_CibeH03ThPXQj6dY_wIFduwEEUqenYd72fRc&dib_tag=se&keywords=french+truffles+chocolate&qid=1768599055&sprefix=french+truff%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-4

Imupforthat · 16/01/2026 21:27

I’m so sorry for your loss OP. You are in my thoughts.

I just wanted to second the recommendation for Harry Spectors. I bought myself a monthly subscription after a particularly hard time and they’d fit your brief nicely.

Otherwise any of the Belgian ones mentioned up thread are really lovely.

Soupdragon41 · 16/01/2026 21:25

So sorry for your loss.

My favourites are from Kennedy’s in Orton in Cumbria. They do mail order and you can choose which chocolates go in your box so you can avoid the ones you don’t fancy. They are rather lovely and a special treat.

www.kennedyschocolates.co.uk

PortSalutPlease · 16/01/2026 21:19

I’m so sorry. The best chocolate in the world is Belgian chocolate, and the best Belgian chocolate is Neuhaus, although Pierre Marcolini is also delicious.

HeyThereDelila · 16/01/2026 21:17

Also to say, I’m so very sorry for your loss, OP.

AnotherEmma · 16/01/2026 21:17

Papyrophile · 16/01/2026 21:13

Hobbs knock most of these mass market commercial recommendations out of the ball park. Not quite willing to claim that they are better than Pierre Marcolini (Belgian) who IMO make the world's best chocolate, but definitely the best the UK made chocolates t I've ever eaten.

They're so pretty! They look almost too good to eat. Almost!

HeyThereDelila · 16/01/2026 21:17

Are you sure Beech’s have stopped @Buscobel? I saw theirs in an old fashioned sweet shop near me recently.

Audrey’s are very good, and Chococo.

BlueEyedBogWitch · 16/01/2026 21:16

Friar’s of Keswick are absolutely delicious, and they are available online.

I’m so sorry for your loss, OP. If I had your address I’d send you some.

Flowers
JudgeJ · 16/01/2026 21:16

fashionqueen0123 · 16/01/2026 20:48

I’m sure hotel chocolat did a subscription type thing at one point. So lots of nice surprises in the post

Oh I remember those, you got a big box, the £24 one, for about £6, they would then send a full price box every month but you could opt out after the £6 box, all you needed were a lot of email addresses! I still like Hotel Chocolat, I've gone through a box recently.