Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

After my Joe Browns photoshoot (post here) I almost opted to go straight home and curl up on the sofa. It had already been a hectic week. A tempting invite to attend the opening of the new Hotel Chocolat Café (yes I said Chocolate Café!) in Cambridge’s Lion Yard Shopping Centre, however, was simply too good to resist.
Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

I met Pippa in Cambridge’s Grand Arcade and we caught up over a smoothie. In fact we were so engrossed in our conversation that it took us a while to notice that the staff were politely stacking the chairs and tables around us. We quickly hurried out so that they could go home, the poor things!
Hotel Chocolat Cafe Cambridge

The relocation of Hotel Chocolat’s Cambridge store to Lion Yard signifies the start of a brand new chapter.  Not only does this newer, larger space offer the usual shop where you can buy all of the luxury chocolate delights that they’re famous for, but it also features their first boutique Chocolate Café, a spacious seating area and even a School of Chocolate. Now have you ever heard of anything that sounded more heavenly?

Once inside we spotted Emma and together we began to explore all the goodies on display.
Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

Trays of chocolate brownies, hazelnut blondies and even cocoa infused beef were continuously passed under our noses. Having not had any dinner that evening I was more than happy to oblige.
Hotel Chocolat Cafe Cambridge

Who am I kidding? It was chocolate – it wouldn’t matter if I’d eaten a three course meal I’d still have been sampling those bad boys!

Hotel Chocolat Cafe Cambridge
My favourite was the salted caramel brownie which was wickedly decadent, although the Supermilk chocolate was also gorgeously smooth.

Hotel Chocolat Cafe Cambridge
Having eaten our share of chocolate, we decided it was time to drink some instead and headed to the cafe area! It offers all the usual coffees that you’d expect, but naturally it was the drinking chocolates that I wanted to try.
Hotel Chocolat Cafe Cambridge

I was immediately sold when I spotted the salted caramel drinking chocolate. It was fun watching the drinks being put together, although Pippa and I had to resist the urge to stick our faces fingers into the vat of swirling liquid chocolate and caramel.

Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

I loved the Whip Bar at the end of the counter, where you can customise your drink with your choice of toppings at no extra cost.

 Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge
Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge
It was my first hot chocolate of the season and it was delicious. The salted caramel flavours were just the right level of rich indulgence whilst being light enough that I could drink it all.
We got to try a spoonful of the liquid chocolate too. It was soooo good!

 
Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge
As we supped on our hot drinks Angus Thirwell, the Co-founder & Chief Exec of Hotel Chocolat made a heartwarming speech to thank everyone for coming. He explained that for a long time they had denied the need to serve coffee but had finally embraced the idea… with chocolate still being the star of the show of course!

Finally we visited the School of Chocolate, an area tucked away in a private corner where you can learn all about how chocolate is made bean-to-bar. It’s an interactive experience and we set about decorating a bar of chocolate. Let’s just say that any creativity I may have wasn’t present that night and I could think to do was spell out my name! (At least that way there would be no confusing my chocolate with anyone else’s though – ha tactics!)
Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

 

Hotel Chocolat Cafe | Cambridge

I thoroughly enjoyed checking out the new store and can’t wait to go back with N to introduce him to the wonders of Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Thanks Hotel Chocolat for inviting me… and for bestowing all manner of delicious treats on me whilst there!

Lifestyle & vegan food blogger
Peterborough | UK
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