Chocolate recommendations please!

[Roverbarks]

I need help finding nice chocolate please!

The first is a box of chocolates to say thank you to someone. Happy to spend a lot of money on this but they need to be nice chocolates (have bought Godiva before and didn’t think they were that good!).

Second is an advent calendar for DH. He likes simple chocolate ones, as in no flavours, etc. Just chocolate on its own. I’ve bought the Hotel Chocolate Milk Chocolate one before but wanted to go for something different but again, struggling to find one!

Any recommendations anyone?

if I want to impress and really like the person https://laderach.com/uk-en/. Second option would be fortnums.

I second the recommendation for Melt. DH used to work next to one and so I can safely say that everything is delicious!

Oh that looks another great option!

As a self professed chocoholic myself, I’m surprised I haven’t heard of many of these brands!

I love Hotel Chocolat, Chococo, and Fortnum & Mason. F&M good for something beautiful and special at Christmas.
Pump House bakery chocolate is pretty good too.
Annalise Barbieri has a chocolate tasting column in the Observer. Might be worth looking at some of her reviews as she generally reviews upmarket, niche chocolate makers.

F&M. It may be fond recollections. Their truffles are delish and I always go before Christmas to get some, and some mice and fondants.

Is Paul A Young still available to buy?
I know his shops have sadly closed…

https://www.thesecretchocolatier.co.uk/

Ritter Sport do lots of lovely chocolates.

Or buy some from Belgium!

Café au Chocolat - based in Tewkesbury but they do deliver.
Their chocolates are gorgeous, and have won awards.

woodrow chocolates
woodrowchocolates.com/
Taste great look fab and are really special

I also come on here to say Melt - https://meltchocolates.com/

(Ive bought myself one of their advent calendars 😛)

For a nice box of chocs there is no better than Be Chocolat in Brighton. They do mail order. Easily competes with the likes of Paul A Young - still expensive but nowhere near as expensive as Paul A Young (or other big brands).

Cocoa Cabana's truffles are incredible and look stunning too. They're Manchester based but I think they post everywhere?

cocoa-cabana.co.uk/product/artisan-truffle-selection-box/

Laderach. They are amazing

William Curley https://www.williamcurley.co.uk/online-boutique/
Darkroom https://www.darkroomchocolate.com/collections
Gabriella Cugno for Advent calendar gabriellacugno.com/product/advent-calendar/

Charbonnel et Walker, in London.

I worked for a wealthy, upper-class English family for a few years, and without fail they bought their chocolates from this company (founded 1875). They shopped at Fortnum & Mason for certain things, but not chocolates👌.

You can order online, a very efficient service. I have never had more delicious chocolates.

charbonnel.co.uk/

Leonidas Belgian chocolates, they are fresh though so would need to be purchased a day or two before at most. They are by far the nicest chocoalates about. I usually stick to the pralines 🤑

I'm not a massive fan of Charbonnel et Walker nowadays.

They were superb when there was one little shop on the Corner of Bond Street/Royal Arcade. Something was lost when they became available all over the place.

I think you probably mean Pump Street Chocolate (not Pump House) https://pumpstreetchocolate.com

Have to agree with this. I know they’ve been mentioned a few times on this thread but I never thought they were that good! DH bought it for me a couple times in the past and I never had much satisfaction from them.

Actually on the subject of Charbonnel et Walker… Hotel Chocolat Pink Champagne Truffles are actually excellent.

I always send gift chocolates from Laderach. There sets of chocolates in the wooden boxes make a truly impressive gift.

Yes, you're right!

How awful that common people can enjoy them now! Much naicer when only available to the late Queen and the nobility!