If you’re based here in the UK, or you’re planning a visit we’ve got the perfect chocolate locations for you – take a look at our list below.
BARE BONES CHOCOLATE Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow is famous for whisky, industrial architecture and less commonly for having the first swimming club in the world. It is also home to one of the UK’s amazing craft chocolate makers; Bare Bones Chocolate
Bare Bones was established by Lara and Cameron, their mission to strip chocolate back to its bare bones. Their chocolates have as little ingredients as possible, focussing on the natural flavour notes of the beans themselves
To see behind the scenes and to learn more about the process of making craft chocolate, you can visit their workshop. Located in a beautifully converted train storage arch in the heart of Glasgow
Bare Bones Chocolate – More information
Location: Bare Bones Chocolate, 7 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QN
How to get there: There is parking outside the workshop (metered) and a large NCP car park at the top of the street. They are a 10 minute walk from Glasgow Central Station, and buses frequently pass down the street
Tour times: The factory shop is open Monday-Friday 10-4pm serving hot chocolate along with their full selection of chocolate. They have tasting nights every week (normally on a Thursday but can sometimes be a different day). These tickets are available on their website. They also have pop-up events at the weekends which they announce on instagram
Tour length: The tour starts at either 6pm or 8pm and lasts just over 1 hour
What’s included: The tasting starts with a mini tour of the factory with an in depth chat about the bean to bar process. Then there’s the chance to taste their full collection (with wine) and finish the evening with a hot chocolate
Cost: £15
How to book: Go to Bare Bones’ website to book. They also have “Golden Ticket” PDFS to gift a tasting to a friend
Age requirements: 18+
Special benefits: After the tour you get 10% off at their factory shop
DORMOUSE CHOCOLATES Manchester, England
Working our way down the country, we get to Manchester. Here you will find Isobel Carse, the brains behind Dormouse Chocolates. She runs a speciality chocolate shop, where she makes her chocolate on site – gorgeous aromas of melted chocolate fill the space.
Dormouse Chocolates – More information
Location: Unit O, Deansgate Mews, Manchester M3 4EN
Opening times: 12-2pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 12-4pm on Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturdays
What’s included: Lots of amazing craft chocolate, and the chance to meet Isobel, find out more about making chocolate and try some delicious chocolates
PUMP STREET CHOCOLATE Suffolk, England
Next, we journey to Suffolk to visit Pump Street Chocolate, where a top-notch bakery decided to produced their own equally fantastic chocolates. Here you can get a taste for some brilliant bean to bar chocolate, the must try is their sourdough bar – made using bread baked on site.
Pump Street – More Information
Location: 1 Pump St, Orford, Woodbridge IP12 2LZ
How to get there: The best way is to drive. But if you’re going by public transport, there is a bus (71) which runs from Melton station and drops you off just a 1 minute walk from the bakery. If you’re taking this route, get off at “Market Hill”.
Tour times: The bakery is closed on Mondays and Tuesday, every other day it opens 9am – 2:30pm, where on Sunday it opens an hour later, at 10am. The chocolate shop stays open a little later, you can still grab some delicious bars up until 4pm.
What’s included: Visit their café and sample an amazing menu of baked goods, using there own amazing chocolate.
Cost: Free to enter
How to book: No need to book, just turn up and enjoy a lovely day in the english countryside.
LUCOCOA London, England
Tucked into a Bermondsey railway arch, you’ll find Lucocoa. It’s not just the rumble of the trains passing by, more delightfully there is a soft aramoa of chocolate in the air. The amazing Amarachi has been perfecting her craft here in London for over 7 years! Trialled, tested and most definitely approved at Brick Lane market, her chocolate is one to get your hands on.
Lucocoa – More information
Location: Arch 3, Spa Business Park, Dockley Rd, London SE16 4EJ
How to get there: Cycle, drive or take public transport (Bermondsey Tube station is just a 5 minute walk away!)
Opening times: The shop and factory is open Mon-Fri 10 am – 2:30 pm and Saturday 9 am – 2:30 pm
What’s included: The chance to meet the wonderful chocolate maker, Amarachi! You’ll get to browse the wonderful selection of chocolates, all made without any refined sugar – just lucoma
and coconut blossom sugar for sweetening. You won’t want to miss their beautiful Gianduja filled bites – a delightfully nutty treat!
How to book: No need to book! Just turn up during opening hours!
Contact: Contact@lucocoachocolate.com
CHOCOLARDER Falmouth, England
Located in the south of England, in the beautiful seaside town of Falmouth, you’ll find Chocolarder – amazing chocolate makers with brilliant values – they source as much as they can from the local area, even going as far as picking their own gorse flowers to flavour their chocolates.
Chocolarder – more information
Location: Unit 1 Tregoniggie Ind Est, Falmouth TR11 4SN
How to get there:
Tour times:
What to expect:
Cost:
ITS NOT THE END OF THE JOURNEY
Explore more about craft chocolate in the UK with Andrew Baker’s ultimate chocolate lover’s guide to Britain. This book is the perfect company for your next chocolate road trip!
