HOT CHOCOLATE

JUST WHEN WE’VE PACKED AWAY OUR EASTER EGGS AND TOLD OURSELVES THAT WE DON’T NEED TO SEE ANOTHER CHOCOLATE SHAPED TREAT FOR AT LEAST A MONTH, WE ARRIVE IN SUNNY BOURNEMOUTH…AT NONE OTHER THAN THE DELECTABLE, THE DELICIOUS, CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE HOTEL. AND IT’S CLEAR THAT ABSTINENCE OF ANY KIND IS SIMPLY OUT OF THE QUESTION. THIS IS A PLACE OF TRUE INDULGENCE, AND I CAME PREPARED – AN OPEN MIND, A SENSE OF HUMOUR AND A VERY EMPTY STOMACH.

It turns out that these three key properties are all that is required when staying at the world’s only chocolate-themed hotel, for everything is as unusual as it is tasty but all of it is just right. Parking up on this sunny April Friday, at the Grade II listed Victorian building striped with a signature chocolate-brown band, I almost skipped to the front door, asking myself how much chocolate can one eat in a night? The answer, after being greeted by a giant chocolate fountain – used at Peter and Jordan’s infamous wedding – and an oversized martini glass loaded with white, milk and dark chocolate chips, is a lot.

Being a chocolate lover, this wasn’t exactly a problem and peering through our chocolate-bar designed door to see the cappuccino, truffle and mocha decorated room, I could already spot some more delicious treats. It isn’t just the home-made melt-in-your-mouth chocolate handed out at every opportunity that makes The Chocolate Boutique Hotel as special as it is. It is the detail and quality of each of its 13 chocolate-named rooms that protects it from being kitsch or cheesy. Chocolate here remains seductive, elegant and divine and so too, does the hotel.

The flawless design of its textured café au lait wallpapers against its fluffy milk chocolate carpets and clean, sharp dark chocolate furniture creates an ambiance that indulges even the most sophisticated of clientele. And whilst falling back on the king sized beds might feel like you’ve collapsed onto a whipped-cream cloud, everything is so clean, simple and stylish, you never feel trapped in a Nestle advert. Far from it. In fact, even if you didn’t like chocolate before you came, you suddenly feel mesmerised and coaxed into this dreamy world of creamy molten chocolate and the seductive scent of the purest cacao. The huge canvasses of chocolate delights are enough to make even the strongest give into temptation. But then, when in Rome…

Opened in 2007 by chocolate entrepreneur, Gerry Wilton and his wife, Roo, this family-run hotel exceeds all imagination. The concept is almost so natural and familiar; it’s a surprise to hear that it hasn’t been done before. But as we sit here on mocha-coloured stools and sip from an array of chocolate cocktails, we learn that this is an experience that can’t be recreated in any other ‘ordinary’ hotel in the world.

And all in the little town of Bournemouth. Having only visited when I was a child, my memories of this coastal town were of ice cream and windy beaches, but as we walked along the famous seven miles of golden sands beside a promenade of trendy restaurants and bars, I realised that things have changed a lot since then. The short ten minute stroll from the hotel to the beach meanders through the lovely Lower Gardens, from where you can even try out the Bournemouth Balloon – a perfectly spherical hot air balloon that gives passengers a 20-mile view of Dorset. Set back from the bustling town centre where you can find any shop you desire, is this beautiful little patch with mini golf, picnic areas and, as my memories confirmed, plenty of ice cream stalls.

The Lower Gardens leads onto the standard seaside fairground, including carousel rides and caricature stalls, as well as a Helter Skelter at the end of the landmark pier.

The beach itself was filled with sunbathers, windsurfers, children playing games and pensioners reclining in striped deckchairs outside multi-coloured seaside huts. It was a perfect summer’s day beach scene that you sometimes forget can be achieved in this country, let alone in April. But the beautiful sights of the sun setting over the beautiful English coast couldn’t distract me from my task at hand. I came to eat chocolate and that’s what I intended to do.

After a quick stop at one of the many fancy fish (or fish and chip, depending on your tastes) restaurants beside the sea, we returned to the hotel for those much-anticipated cocktails. I sipped and slurped my Chocky Wocky Minty (£6) as it if were milkshake, which with its ingredients of Crème de Menthe, Crème de Cacao and of course, more cream, it nearly was. As diet-unfriendly as it appeared, there were even more calorie-laden choices, including The Chocmeister, crammed with chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream in addition to the creamy alcohol. But then, if you’re on a diet, this really isn’t the place to go!

Sipping my liquid dreamy mint aero, my eyes caught upon the flashing lights of Gerry’s much-loved automated cocktail machine. One of only two in the world (both of which, Gerry owns), this machine has the creative engineering reminiscent of a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang invention, with the retro design and bright ‘80s lights that would’ve belonged easily in Cocktail.

This machine, along with Tom ‘Gerry’ Cruise, made The Chocolate Bar come to life, far beyond creamy chocolate liqueurs. Serving colourful drinks, whilst chatting to the other guests in this cosy lounge room was something I’d never experienced in another three star hotel. Together with the spilling chocolate fountain and squidgy marshmallows that were just an arm’s reach away it was like being at your family’s for Christmas – without all the fights, tears and turkeys.

Waking up in the chocolate paradise, I was greeted with one of the most delicious of breakfasts – a crisp folded pancake oozing with pure melted chocolate complete with personalised ‘Good Morning Natasha’ message from Gerry, neatly scribed onto the plate. Tucking into this molten chocolate delight, sipping on my ‘Mighty Leaf Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea’, instantly brought a smile to my face beyond the effects of the superfluous chocolate endorphins that must have been racing through my body by now. For those who were sick of chocolate (though I didn’t meet anyone like this), there were plenty of other choices including a Full English. It is this amount of choice that makes The Chocolate Boutique Hotel perfect for everyone; guests can either totally indulge in all the complementary chocolate treats, or have other options instead. But quite frankly, I was here for one reason. The rest was just a bonus.

I truly learnt that extent of the public’s obsession with chocolate, when at 11 a.m. we were joined by 10 other people in the hotel’s famous Chocolate Workshops. Now operating in seven different cities with up to 30 people on each workshop, this short-course is the latest craze to sweep Red Letter Day gifts. And I can see why it’d be the perfect present. Mums, dads, children, grannies, everyone loves these workshops, where you are taught by a trained chocolatier how to make, design, and package delicious truffles yourself. In just over two hours, you’ll have created around 40 of the tastiest truffles you’ve ever had and the best part is you can take them home for yourself (or of course, put in neat ribbon packages as gifts for others, if you’re less greedy than I am.)

The whole Chocolate Hotel experience is a totally unparalleled holiday, but to really get an appreciation of what chocolate is about, where it is from, how it is made and how long it takes to craft one handmade truffle, you will need to experience a chocolate workshop.

A stay at The Chocolate Boutique Hotel was everything that I hoped it would be: gorgeous interior that brought back the seductiveness, richness and sensuality of chocolate, without the cheap gimmicky stuff, truly delicious home-made chocolate in endless supply, and one of the most enjoyable hotel atmospheres I’ve ever experienced.

The only chocolate hotel in the world, it has the potential to take the world by storm, but nowhere will quite be able to replicate the humorous, homeliness and hospitality of Gerry and Roo’s family-run hotel hidden on our beautiful English coast.

For more information or to book a room or workshop visit www.chocolateboutiquehotel.co.uk or call 01202 556857.

The Chocolate Boutique Hotel
5 Durley Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH2 5JQ

Enjoy a stay at three star The Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth, where you will be greeted by all the chocolate you can dream of. Singles (The Cocoa Bean room) start at £65, doubles (Theobroma Room) at £120 and the deluxe suite, The Chocolate Truffle Suite at £160prpn.

Chocolate Workshop

Two and a half hours of Belgian truffle making, including lessons about the history of chocolate and the art of making delicious truffles, as well as coming home with plenty of tasty masterpieces of your own. Costs £59pp. See website for more details or to book a private lesson for two.

Try a Chocolate Weekend at The Chocolate Boutique Hotel

A two-night stay with two chocolate workshops and a chocolate party will set you back £259pp but for chocolate-lovers, it’s totally worth it.

Things to Do

Visit www.bournemouth.co.uk for more information on things to do in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Balloon – Adults £12.50, Children (up to 14 years) £7.50

Land Train – Take the land train from Bournemouth Pier to Alum Chime for a scenic ride along the beach. £1.90 for adults, £1.20 for children for a single ticket.

Entrance onto Pier 60p

Words Natasha Al-Atassi

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