To give Hotel Chocolate as a present

[Connected1]

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.

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 😊

And mine

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

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

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.

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 😊

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.

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

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

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.

I personally don’t like their chocolate and think it’s overpriced for what it is. As a chocolate lover, I get piles of it every year for Christmas and tins of their hot chocolate which is bloody rank. Despite telling people not to waste their money on this for me as it’s not my brew, I still get loads. I just give it to my sister and the kids.

If you get some and it says hotel CHOCOLATE it'll be fake
Hotel Chocolat is pretty good

Give it alll to me

I’d be very disappointed if I was gifted it. I find it a bit grainy and gritty. I’m not entirely convinced it’s premium chocolate… a premium price, perhaps, but not premium quality.

I really can’t stand it but not because I’m a snob. My chocolate tastes lie in very much the other direction, and I would much rather receive a bar of Toblerone. Which is ironic because in every other respect I’m a bit of a foodie.

Unfortunately my MIL has got it into her head that I like it and I get massive boxes of it every Christmas and birthday. After 25 years I think it’s a bit late to tell her 😩

I've seen Prestat in TK Maxx.

I actually don't like Charbonnel et Walker. The packaging is very expensive and rather attractive but I'd probably rather eat Hotel Chocolat.

Prestat is nice.

I love Hotel Chocolat. I'm not keen on some of the flavours (the pâtisserie range). Their nutmilk chocolate is really good. I'm not vegan but I just love it.

Never realised people looked down on HC.

You can buy Chanel and Fortnum & Mason wares at St Pancras. Not sure being sold in stations means a brand can't be luxe.

I've always been disappointed with Hotel Chocolat. The flavours are a bit much/ weird in the chocolate boxes. I'd prefer chocolate that was just nice normal flavours without being so try hard to be experimental. But I wouldn't be offended by it as a gift.

There's a Neuhaus at St Pancras too.

They're pretty shit tbh. I buy a brand called Woodrow which are produced locally to me and are outstanding. Everything else, since the introduction of sludgy palm oil products, is quite grim. Therefore, if I want a quick mass produced chocolate hit, I'll spend a quid on a bar of Galaxy and be no less disappointed but much less out of pocket than going to HC. We give it away if we get it. And we're not snobs. Kinder is actually a favourite in our household too.

I don't mind paying for excellent quality. And I love getting good quality at a good price. HC is neither, it's a bit shit but with a healthy price tag because it's been marketed as naice with poncey packaging. I think of it as acceptable as a generic and easy corporate gift.

Yeah but when it’s next to the M&S and Costa in the crummy entrance of Clapham Junction it certainly doesn’t feel very special. I’d still happily eat it though, I’m not a chocolate snob.

I love Hotel Chocolat....I thought it was a premium brand 😂