Here are our top picks of where to go, what to see and most importantly what to eat…
Monday marks the start of Chocolate Week, an annual celebration of the UK’s impressive chocolate scene – and an excuse to indulge in cocoa for seven solid days.
Nowadays there’s a designated week for everything, but unsurprisingly Chocolate Week has been dubbed the nation’s favourite, returning this month for its 12th consecutive year.
Promising hundreds of cool events, mouthwatering treats and exciting new product launches, the festivities will run from 10-16 October, finishing with The Chocolate Show at London Olympia.
Get ready for a cocoa overload, with talks, demonstrations and first class samplings from top chocolatiers across the UK. With the overwhelming choice of events and the eye-watering amount of sugar on offer, we have picked out a few of our top favourites.
Here’s a roundup of six different ways to celebrate the occasion this week...
1. To go out... A Toblerone Cocktail at London Steakhouse Company In a nod to the week’s festivities, two of London’s finest steak restaurants (London Steakhouse Company and the City branch) have launched a Toblerone cocktail. The ‘Chocoholic’s dream’ is limited edition, available for Chocolate week only, mixing Divine’s Milk Chocolate Toffee & Sea Salt with Milk Chocolate & Whole Almond, served as either a martini-style cocktail or a shake. Where? London Steakhouse Company 109-117 Middlesex St, London, E1 7JF How much? £8
2. To drink... Hot chocolates at Choccywoccydoodah Treat yourself to the most decadent hot chocolate imaginable at Choccywoccydoodah, based in Soho and Brighton. Made from your choice of either milk, white or dark pure molten chocolate, and mixed with fudge and whipped cream, the winter drink is topped off with two chocolate straws and served with Plumpies and chocolate dipped fudge. Heaven. Where? Choccywoccydoodah 30-32 Foubert’s Pl, London. W1F 7PS How much? £7.45
3. To eat... Chocolate dessert and cocktail pairing at Pollen Street Social’s dessert bar Jason Atherton’s flagship restaurant, Pollen Street Social, will be opening its dessert bar to honour National Chocolate Week, offering guests a specially designed cocktail and dessert pairing. Their cocktail ‘Tall and Stout’ is a chocolately twist on a Black Velvet, combining Guinness and Tonka beans with champagne, paired with their dessert of choice: bitter chocolate pave served with an olive biscuit, olive oil conserve and homemade chocolate ice-cream. Where? 8-10 Pollen St, London W1S 1NQ How much? Upwards of £25
4. To relax... Chocolate spa treatments at K West Hotel K West Hotel & Spa has partnered with Divine, creating a luxurious cocoa-inspired treatment (coming with a chocolate-laced cocktail), available for Chocolate Week only. The ‘Good enough to eat’ 50 minute treatment includes a sweet almond oil massage, Mediterranean orange exfoliation and a hydrating chocolate back mask. Then comes the Chocolate Hopper Cocktail: a mint liqueur and Divine chocolate concoction – complete with a Divine dark chocolate rim, white chocolate powder and mint leaves. Where? K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London W14 0AX How much? £90 per person
5. To shop and get free tasters The Chocolate Show The annual Chocolate Show runs from 14-16 October, marking the end of Chocolate week. Bringing together world-renowned chocolatiers and brands from all over the world, the show is the go-to spot for tastings, workshops and shopping. Expect stunning stalls, celebrity chefs, delicious freebies, and if last year is anything to go by: an actual chocolate fashion show. Where? Olympia. National Hall, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX How much? £15 on the door, £12.50 in advance – book here.
6. To buy... Chocolate, of course. It is time to make the most of the limited edition products available for chocolate week only. Renowned chocolate companies are getting in on the action, with Lindor launching a new line of hazelnut Lindor truffles and Hotel Chocolat offering bespoke bars made with some of the world's most sought-after cocoa. Alternatively, for the non foodies who still want to celebrate, indulge in a limited edition chocolate beauty product. Nail varnish brand Ciaté is honouring the occasion with its Choc Pots: a collection of chocolate scented express nail varnish removers, coming in four chocolatey scents: orange chocolate, mint chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate.
