Manchester just got a whole lot sweeter. Luxury chocolatier and cacao grower Hotel Chocolat has unveiled a brand-new concept store right in the heart of the city on Cross Street - and it’s not just about picking up a slab or two. This is an experience.
Spread across two beautifully designed floors, the store blends café culture with immersive storytelling and a dash of cacao education, all rooted in Hotel Chocolat’s ethical farming philosophy. Think molten chocolate on tap, curated flights of hot chocolate, and even a cacao cam that beams you straight into the brand’s Saint Lucian estate - complete with island soundscapes.
And yes, there’s plenty to taste along the way.
What’s inside?
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Cacao Cam: Peer through a telescope to see (and hear) life on Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Estate in Saint Lucia — tree frogs, parrots, crickets and all.
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Agroforestry Wall: A living illustration of how cacao thrives when grown in harmony with nature, just behind the café.
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Velvetiser – Create Your Own Box: Build a bespoke selection of drinking chocolate flavours — the only place in the UK you can do it.
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The Social Table: A sculptural centrepiece designed for sharing, tasting, and chatting chocolate.
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Wall of Chocolate: Over 100 recipes to explore, plus digital touchscreens and the Love Match quiz to guide you to your perfect flavour.
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Exhibition Space: A flexible events-and-relaxation hub downstairs with soundscapes, cacao pods, and interactive screens.
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Velvetiser Café & Chocolate Tap: Exclusive drinks, decadent bakes, and chocolate served hot, molten, or poured over ice cream. Try the Tasting Trio, the Sip & Savour pairing, or go all in with a molten Chocolate Shot.
And because this is Manchester, there’s also an artistic twist: students from MMU’s Design & Illustration course have contributed original artworks interpreting the cacao journey - a neat link between Saint Lucia sunshine and the city’s creative spirit.
Ethical chocolate at its core
Beyond the indulgence, Hotel Chocolat keeps its pioneering approach to ethical cacao front and centre. Guests can learn about the regenerative farming methods developed on the company’s Saint Lucian estate, designed to protect biodiversity while supporting farming communities.
When to go
The store is now open to the public with regular trading hours, and members of Hotel Chocolat’s free VIP.ME club can enjoy 20% off in the Velvetiser Café.
This is more than just a shop - it’s chocolate reimagined, Manchester-style.
Find out more here.