Valentines’ gift ideas at Hotel Chocolat to make hearts soar

This article is sponsored by Hotel Chocolat.

If there’s one thing you can’t go wrong with on Valentine’s Day, it’s a box of chocolates.

Well, unless it’s a box hastily purchased from the petrol station the night before.

But even then, it’s the thought that counts, right?

Fortunately there is no need to get to that stage, as Hotel Chocolat has launched its Valentine’s Day collection for 2022.

There really is something for everyone this year, from a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates (because sometimes we love a bit of nostalgia) to luxury hampers and quirky love potions.

A selection from Hotel Chocolat’s Valentine’s Day collection.

Hannah Cosgriff, manager of Hotel Chocolat Harrogate, which moved to bigger premises on James Street in October 2021, said:

“Typically Valentine’s Day tends to be a last-minute holiday. What we are finding now we have moved to the new site is that, because the café is bringing people in, people are being organised. So actually our sales during January have been up this year.

“This year we also have a lot more new products in the Valentine’s Day range.”

Hannah said her favourite chocolate this year was a limited edition Baklava Selector, inspired by the traditional Turkish treat.

She said:

“It’s in a little pack of six and it’s amazing. It’s a honey, pistachio and pastry blend. It has a real traditional flavour to it, which I actually love. We do a honey and pistachio slab all-year-round which is fabulous, and this is like a deep-filled, soft centre version of it.

“We’ve done a Cherry Bakewell Selector too and it really does taste just like the real thing. They have managed to create the illusion of pastry in the chocolate.”

Hannah has found that there is often no expense spared when it comes to buying chocolates for loved one on Valentine’s Day.

She said:

“I still remember we had one customer come in one year and say they had already got their partner a card for Valentine’s Day and just wanted ‘a little token’ to go with it.

“They asked what our biggest box of chocolates was and they bought one of the Large Chocolatiers Table boxes, which are £120. They are sensational.”

However, she added that there were always people who dashed into the store at the final hour.

She said:

“There are two really distinct groups.

“So you have the people who come in and get everything in advance. Or there is a particular product they know they want to get before it sells out.

“You then get a lull before you get all the people who come in last minute and grab lots of different things like the night before.”

However, it’s not all about the loved-up couples this year. Following a tough few years, which saw us spend last Valentine’s Day in lockdown, Hotel Chocolat has created some ‘With Love’ products that can be bought for any special person in your life – including yourself!

The Just to Say chocolate collection.

Hannah said:

“It’s themed towards Valentine’s Day, but I think it can be anyone you’ve not seen in a while. Or if could be a birthday, an anniversary or a best friend.

“Our Valentine’s Day message tends to be, sharing love with your close ones. It’s not necessarily aimed at romantic partners in particular.

“You can also obviously treat yourself – especially now we have the Valentine’s Day limited edition Selectors.”

When it comes to gifts, Hannah said her top three were the Velvetised Chocolate Tasting Experience, priced at £14.95, which includes two cream liqueurs, a Hotel Chocolate coupe glass and chocolate caramel batons.

She said:

“This is what I want to get for me. I’ve earmarked this for myself. The chocolate liqueurs are fantastic.”

He second choice is the Straight from the Heart box.

She said:

“I’ve always loved it. It just encapsulates that traditional Valentine’s Day feel. I think they are always a really good choice.”

But it’s the special edition Valentine’s Day Selectors that have really captured her heart this year.

She added:

“They are really colourful and nice for a self-treat as you can mix and match. Although obviously I would treat myself to a big box as well!”

My top five picks from the Hotel Chocolate Valentine’s Day collection

It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it. I tried a selection of chocolates from the new collection, here are my favourites:

Amaretto chocolate heart from various selections

The Straight From the Heart selection.

This is available in the With Love Sleekster, H-Box and Straight from the Heart selection. If you’re a fan of the warming almond flavour of amaretto, this is the one of you. As with all the boozy chocolates, Hotel Chocolat certainly doesn’t scrimp on the alcohol, and this one certainly packs a punch in the best way possible. Tastes just like the real thing, with the welcome addition of a chocolate hit. And with it’s pink topping, it looks pretty too. If you would prefer an alcohol-free option, the banana or raspberry smoothie chocolates taste just like you got the Nutribullet out and whipped up your favourite fruity treat. Check out the hearth-shaped white chocolate strawberry mousse too if fruit is your thing.

Love Potions – £15

Not only do the little chocolates taste amazing, they also come in a really cute little potion bottle, which can be re-used. There are six different flavours of chocolate, including You’re Berry Special, Hello Honey and Pistachi-oh! But my favourite actually surprised me as it was a dark chocolate Sour Cherry. It sounds like it could taste pretty bitter, but the white ganache filling resulted in a smooth, decadent treat.

A Dozen Chocolate Little Lovebirds – £8.50

If you don’t want to spend a fortune, but want something cute, these little lovebirds are super sweet in every way. They taste like raspberries and cream and didn’t last very long at home, as the kids took a shine to them. A little bit on the sweet side? Try A Dozen Dapper Dogs – made with 40 per cent milk chocolate – instead. If you like both of these but want something a little more grown-up, I recommend the Just to Say chocolate collection, which includes a variety of chocolate batons with similar flavours. The packaging on all the boxes is lovely by the way – with little heart shapes cut out of the cover, showcasing all the bright colours of the chocolates.

Classic Champagne Truffle Tin – £10

Champagne and Valentine’s Day go hand-in-hand and these super boozy delights come in a re-useable pretty silver tin. What I would say is that if you don’t like alcohol, these aren’t for you. Their strong flavour is a result of using a splash of real Mercier Champagne. Apparently other chocolatiers normally use Marc de Champagne – a fiery spirit made from grape skins and stalks. I’m obsessed with these beauties, but some might find the flavour quite overpowering. I personally love the boozy kick. They also aren’t badly priced at £10 and look more expensive than they are.

Harrogate shoppers donate chocolate to people in need at Xmas

Harrogate shoppers have responded generously to a plea to donate chocolate this Christmas for people struggling to make ends meet.

Commercial Street Retailers Group is working with Harrogate District Foodbank on the initiative, which runs until December 15.

People can drop-off chocolate at four shops on Commercial Street: Foxy Antiques and Interiors, the Harrogate Town shop, Lilly’s Bistro and Cafe and White Rose Sewing.

The food bank had said it was overwhelmed by demand for help this Christmas and although it had received many donations of staple products, such as tinned food, some chocolate would add a touch of luxury to seasonal food parcels.

Sue Kramer, of Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street and head of the retailers group, said a previous article on the Stray Ferret has generated a huge response.

“it’s going really well so far — Sue from Lilly’s has dropped off the first batch of chocolates and Harrogate Foodbank were both shocked and delighted with how much there was.

“It’s so heartwarming to know that even with everything everyone has been through with covid there is still genuine kindness and compassion in Harrogate for those less fortunate.

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Sneak Peek: Harrogate’s own chocolate factory

A new chocolate café will open on East Parade in Harrogate on Monday to help those with learning difficulties gain work experience.

Planning for the The Harrogate Chocolate Factory Café, which is run the by charity, Harrogate Skills 4 Learning Centre, has been underway since 2019 but opening was delayed due to covid.

The café has a barista bar and seating inside and outside. One of the first thing you’ll notice when entering the café is the colourful packaging design on the main pillar.

Fran Riley, the programme lead, told the Stray Ferret what the charity’s vision for the café is:

“The idea was that we would have a business where we could develop a process all of our young people could access. So making chocolate bars from bean to bar… while sourcing the beans as ethically as we could.”

The employees make a variety of handmade chocolate- all the chocolate is made with dairy alternatives so that “everyone can enjoy some”.

The chocolate is made from scratch in the charity’s main building nearby. It starts with roasting the cocoa beans in their kitchen and ends with pouring liquid chocolate in a moulding tray.

Kelsey Cuthbert, who works at the café, said it is a positive experience:

“I’ve grown from when I started trying to make coffees and stuff, and now I can do the job almost independently.”

A chocolate mixer in action at the café this week

The charity has described the café as a “social enterprise” giving its workers the skills for future employment.

Only 6% of people with learning disabilities have paid employment in the UK, according to the latest government figures.

 

The Harrogate Chocolate Factory Cafe also offers an outside seating area that is equipped to serve customers with disabilities.

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All details about the café’s opening can be found on their website here.

Harrogate set to get its own chocolate factory cafe

Harrogate is to get its own chocolate factory cafe this summer staffed by people promised to be more talented than Willy Wonka.

The Harrogate Chocolate Factory cafe is due to open at the end of May in the former Big Red Bike Company building, near the Odeon cinema.

Learning disability charity Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre (HS4LC), which is behind the initiative, has spent £100,000 renovating the building.

The charity, which was set up in 2010, helps adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Many of the people it supports have been unable to get work experience during the pandemic.

As a result, HS4LC set up its own business making chocolate in the kitchen of its offices on North Park Road, Harrogate.

Demand grew quickly and the charity sold 500 chocolate hampers before Christmas.

This encouraged it to set up a cafe as a social enterprise, selling chocolate made in the chocolate ‘factory’ beneath its offices.

Currently the Harrogate Chocolate Factory only sells a 70% dark chocolate bar made from Peruvian cocoa beans but a vegan milk chocolate bar is in the works.

Michael Horn, enterprise manager for the chocolate project, told the Stray Ferret:

“There are a few reasons why you can feel good if you buy this chocolate. It supports charity, it’s sustainable and it doesn’t have any nasty allergens.

“Coronavirus has made it a tough year for everyone. We are still here to help young adults with learning difficulties.

“Our charity is there to be like the final step to help our clients get into the world of work. It gives them another choice.”

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Hadyn Moorby-Davies, chief executive of HS4LC, said:

“It will be fantastic to see the cafe when it opens, I am really chuffed with how it has been working so far.

“The students are also really excited about it. The Harrogate Chocolate Factory has been in planning for a couple of years.

“We know that York has a strong connection to chocolate but why can’t Harrogate have that as well? Maybe this could be the start.”