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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:
lilkitten · 30/11/2025 12:26

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 30/11/2025 09:58

I also remember Thornton's - there was a shop in Liverpool and you could buy loose toffee and chocolates by the pound.

People are ridiculous on here, OP. I'm middle class and well off and have bought HC for people for years for Christmas and birthdays. Would be delighted with a box as a present for me too.

Edited
Show quote history

Thornton's were made locally to me, and we had a lot of shops here. They were great when I was younger, but don't know what changed when they went mass market and had sell-through lines in supermarkets. It just didn't taste as nice anymore. Used to be more like what M&S chocolate lines are now, I loved it as a kid

MidnightMeltdown · 30/11/2025 12:28

I like it. Usually, I prefer people to buy me something I can use, rather than something I feel obligated to keep.

lolly427 · 30/11/2025 12:39

I don't love them, they often all taste very similar or too sweet I find - but if someone sent them as a present I certainly wouldn't complain!

Snakebite61 · 30/11/2025 13:34

Never heard of it.

H0pscotch · 30/11/2025 16:33

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.

People are stupid. Hotel Chocolat is very nice. So it's not "top tier posh", who cares? It tastes nice, looks pretty and I'd be very happy to win them in a raffle. Also these are donations! People don't have to give anything and having bought something to donate rather than find something in the back of a cupboard past it's best ior gathering dust s a very nice thing to do. Some people are just very entitled. If they win them, I suggest they give them to someone who would appreciate them. YANBU!

Hoolihan · 30/11/2025 16:38

I don't like it. Would rather have proper posh chocolate that actually tastes nice or Dairy Milk. Preferably the latter tbh! HC is not good value for money imo.

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 30/11/2025 21:31

Hoolihan · 30/11/2025 16:38

I don't like it. Would rather have proper posh chocolate that actually tastes nice or Dairy Milk. Preferably the latter tbh! HC is not good value for money imo.

This is exactly it.

It's not about being a "snob". It's about not pretending something that's been marketed very well as naice actually tastes anywhere near the price point.

I'll pay £££ for superb chocs and be extremely satisfied.

I'll pay £ for a kinder egg and be satisfied with what I'm eating for.

What I don't want to do is pay ££ for no better than kinder. That's the worst of both worlds.

Salmonyumyum · 01/12/2025 11:29

Wow seriously, I thought it was a premium gift given the price! I'm always happy with a box of Thorntons myself.

Letthemeatgateau · 01/12/2025 11:40

Daftypants · 29/11/2025 22:41

I haven’t had any Hotel Chocolat for ages
i liked the praline and there is a high cocoa ( illegal gianduja ?? Can’t spell it 🤣)
I wasn’t really impressed by the advent calendars though 🤔
ooh I tell you what’s really very good , Ian Burnett the highland chocolatier now that’s amazing !
I have bought that as a gift and you can select the size of box and exactly which truffles you like

Edited

I recommended the Highland Chocolatier up thread too, lovely. The chocolates are also very pretty.

MrsSkylerWhite · 03/12/2025 11:48

DiscoBeat · 29/11/2025 09:16

What do the people who dont like HC eat?

Cheese 😁

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