Hotel Chocolat opens in Stamford High Street

Sweet-toothed Stamford residents are in for a real treat following the opening of a new chocolate shop in the town.

Hotel Chocolat opened its doors on Sunday (November 11) with "hundreds" of customers visiting the High Street store on its first day of trading.

Store manager Abbie Pautard said at one stage things had become so busy that they had to stop handing out discount vouchers.

"We were outside the store handing out vouchers offering 10 per cent off but had to stop because it got so full inside," she said.

"You couldn't move with all the people in the store.

"We opened at 11.15 and closed at 4pm and it went really well.

"Trade was above expectations for our opening day."

The first Hotel Chocolat opened in North London in 2004 and today the chain has more than 100 around the country.

"Before we opened in Stamford the closest one was in Peterborough," said Abbie.

"Customers have been asking for a store in the town so the feedback we received on the opening day was really positive and everyone is happy that we are finally here.

"I think the store fits in really well with the Stamford market."

Abbie said that in addition to the variety of tasty chocolates on sale, the company also boasted good business ethics.

"It not only looks after its staff, but the treatment of the farmers where it gets the cocoa beans from is really good too," she said, adding the company owned a cocoa plantation in Saint Lucia but also got beans from Ghana, Equador, Honduras and Columbia.

"We buy the beans wet instead of dry which is better for the farmers and dry them ourselves which locks in the flavour."

The chocolate is then made locally into a range that includes everything from vegan and organic chocolate to low sugar chocolate and chocolate without dairy or alcohol.

"We have a massive variety that caters to the different profiles of our customers," said Abbie.

"We also regularly bring out different flavours which keeps people coming back for more.

"So we'd like to invite you to our store as you're sure to find something you'll like."