Trying Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser Cafe - Review
Here’s everything you need to know about Hotel Chocolat’s delicious Velvetiser Cafe.
Nothing says autumn quite like a mug of hot chocolate, and so October felt like the perfect time to try the Hotel Chocolat cafe in Chichester.
Having moved into a new premises earlier in 2024, Hotel Chocolat’s new shop in East Street boasts a larger shop floor with its own cafe.
The space is small without feeling cramped, and furnished with plenty of seating for visitors to enjoy their drinks. Looking at the menu, I wasn’t surprised to see that everything revolved around chocolate in all varieties.
The Menu
All drinks on the main menu at the Velvetiser cafe are served in three forms: hot, iced, or as a choc shake. All you need to do is choose the flavour, any extras, and whether you’d like it to drink in or take away.
During my visit there were 18 standard flavours to choice from, ranging from 50% Milky to 100% Dark, Hazelnut Praline, Orange, Mint, and several Mocha Latte flavours. There were also a few autumn specials - Pumpkin Spice and Maple and Pecan - as well as regular teas and coffees. Toppings are also available for an additional fee, and these include cocoa whip, chocolates, chocolate batons, dunking biscuits and shortbread biscuits.
If you fancy something to eat, the cafe also sells ice cream that’s infused with cacao, as well as a limited range of baked goods.
Vegan options, including drinks made with plant milk, are also available.
My Review
As I visited on a sunny autumnal day, I decided to try a standard chocolate choc shake with a swirl of cocoa whip. After taking just a few minutes for the barista to prepare, our drinks were brought over to our table ready to try.
Overall I found that the shake tasted delicious. It was filled with thick chocolate which was much stronger than what you usually find in regular drinking chocolate or milkshakes. My only criticism is that the shake was very sweet, almost too sweet, meaning that I was unable to finish my regular sized drink. I definitely want to go back and try one of their hot drinks when the cold weather sets in!
Would I recommend the Velvetiser Cafe?
For me, as a chocolate lover, this is an easy yes. My drink was lovely and the cafe was very clean and modern. If you’re someone who likes to frequent Costa or Starbucks then I think you’ll enjoy the Velvetiser Cafe as it will give you lots of new drinks to try. You do need to be a big fan of chocolate, however, and you will find that your options are limited if it’s not something that you enjoy.
How to Find the Cafe
In Chichester, you’ll find the Velvetiser Cafe on East Street, at the very back of the new Hotel Chocolat shop. The full address for the cafe is:
67 East Street, Chichester, PO19 1HL
If you don’t live in or near Chichester, take a look at the branch finder on the Hotel Chocolat website here. Cafes are available throughout the UK, including lots of major cities such as London, Manchester and Oxford.
Places to Go Nearby
If you’re visiting Chichester for the first time, then you need to visit the cathedral, which was built in 1106. Entry is free, although a donation is suggested. As well as being a place of worship, the cathedral regularly hosts concerts and events, which includes classical music and immersive art installations.
There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants to visit in the city centre, and it’s easy to spend an entire afternoon browsing. You’ll find that the historic Chichester Cross, which was installed in 1503, marks the centre of town, with four streets (North, South East and West), leading outwards. It’s a good place to meet and orientate yourself while exploring the city.
Other notable locations to visit include the beautiful Bishop’s Palace Gardens - an extensive hidden garden based in the grounds of the cathedral. You can also follow the trail of Chichester’s original walls, visit the Chichester Festival Theatre, Pallant House Gallery, and the Novium Museum.
Have you visited Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser Cafe? What drink did you try? Leave a comment and let me know!
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