The chocolate delivery you need when you can’t leave the house

5 Nov 2020

Chocolate Knowledge

Send a little bit of love to yourself or a friend with our chocolate delivery service.

Comforting, luxurious, and delicious: chocolate can be a wonderful pick-me-up, and it’s even more exciting when you can collect it from your front door in your pyjamas. With an option to suit any recipient or occasion, it’s now super easy to get a treat delivered straight to your home. It can’t be denied that this year has been a tricky one for many and, let’s be honest, we could all do with a bit of a boost!

Whether you’re sending a thoughtful gift to a loved one who may not be able to get out and about due to lockdown restrictions or getting a self-care selection to help you through your day working from home, a chocolate delivery can bring a spark of joy in these uncertain times.

The rise of online shopping

woman on laptop in cafe

There’s no denying that 2020 has seen a big change in the way we shop. The impact of store closures, as well as a rise in remote working, has led to an increase in online sales. With many people staying at home more throughout the day due to shielding or caring for loved ones, for some it simply isn’t possible or convenient to go out to the shops.

With lots of companies moving a majority of their sales online, there are more options at your fingertips than ever before. While sometimes it’s nice to browse the shelves in a shop and pick things up — hand sanitiser-dependent of course! — buying from an online chocolate shop also has a lot of benefits.

For a start, it’s easy and accessible. If you have an internet-enabled device, you’re good to go! You can shop at any time too. Unrestricted by a store’s opening hours, you can peruse to your heart’s content at breakfast, on your lunch break, or as you chill out in the evening.

Our online store

At Hotel Chocolat, we like to think our site is clear and simple to navigate and hope it brings a smile to our customers’ faces. If there are any problems, we’re always here to offer technical support. You can visit our FAQ page for answers to lots of queries, or give us a call. Our friendly customer service teams are here to help, and we offer a 100% Happiness Guarantee — we always strive to go the extra mile and put right any mistakes or issues as quickly as we can.

Another great feature of online shopping is getting the best price. Especially handy if you’re on a budget, you can conveniently filter what you’re browsing and get the best deals in the Sale and Special Offers sections.

What’s good about chocolate online delivery services?

As well as getting the best price, shopping for chocolate online gives you more variety. Rather than being limited to the options in the supermarket or nearest shop, you can search for exactly what you like. We believe there’s the perfect taste match for everyone and our range reflects that.

Far from generic, you can be more specific in your choices — whether you have a real hankering for a silky-smooth hot chocolate to cosy up with as winter draws in, or need a special gift for a vegan friend, you can narrow it down and make the perfect selection.

Perhaps you live rurally and have to travel into town to get to your nearest Hotel Chocolat shop, or you’re isolating and won’t get the chance to get a birthday gift in time for the special day. No problem! When buying online, you can select your options and get them delivered straight to your, or your recipient’s, door.

If you’re looking for something different, we love our ‘What’s New’ section. Filled with all the latest additions, you can stay up to date with exciting new products. Right now, with many people having to isolate for weeks at a time, getting a surprise through the door can make quarantine more bearable — especially when it’s a box of delicious chocolates they haven’t tried before.

How to choose the best chocolate gift

When it comes to birthdays and occasions, we all have that friend who we love but who’s a total nightmare to buy for… If you’re in a pickle trying to decide on a gift, our handy Gift Ideas tab can take the pressure off, offering inspiration to help you find the perfect present. Our blog also includes tips and tricks on how to personalise your chocolate gift.

With Hotel Chocolat, you’re not limited to regular boxes of chocolates and truffles — though personally, we think these are always a winner too — there’s so much more to explore! You can use our online categories to shop by occasion, recipient, or mood. From barista-grade coffee for the caffeine fiend to luxurious beauty products to imbue a romantic evening with some pampering – you’ll find the perfect gift.

Are you buying for a foodie friend who loves to cook? Perhaps they’d love something from our gourmet treats selection to help them get creative in the kitchen. With a focus on high cocoa content to bring out nuanced flavour notes, we believe our range of cuisine and cooking products highlights what a difference good quality ingredients make, and just how versatile chocolate can be — from cookies and cakes for dessert to savoury dips, sauces and dressings, and even cocoa pasta.

You can read more about our commitment to more cocoa and less sugar in our Cacao Manifesto.

Our site has all sorts of categories to save you from endless scrolling. By filtering the options, you can tailor your gift to suit the recipient perfectly, and we’re sure they’ll appreciate the extra care that’s gone into the selection. After all, it’s the thought that counts.

How you can get our chocolate delivered

delivery person with boxes

Once you’ve perused our luscious lists and made your choice, your item can be on its way in just the click of a button.

Whether you’re buying something for yourself or someone else, you can get your chocolate delivered directly, with the option of nominated or next day delivery available. Delivery is free on orders over £30.

When you place your order, you can provide us with any specific delivery instructions — if you want the item left with a neighbour, for example, or if you’re isolating and need contactless delivery.

For that extra special touch, you can get your items gift wrapped so your recipient gets a real surprise. All products come with the option of a complimentary message card to personalise your order. Find out more about gift bags, sleeves, and hampers on our Gift Wrapping and Delivery page.

Not only do we take extra care to ensure your order arrives promptly, safely, and in perfect condition, but we’re also always striving to minimise our environmental impact. As part of our Planet Pledge, we’re taking steps to reach our 2022 goal of having 100% recyclable or reusable packaging. As part of this, our delivery packaging utilises Ecoflo, a material that can be reused, composted or recycled.

It’s easy to track the progress of your order so you can be confident it will arrive when and where you need it to. To take a look, you can visit your Order History under My Account, and we’ll always keep you updated on any changes or important delivery details affecting your order.

Sending our chocolate abroad

European town street

As well as getting UK deliveries, you can send a gift to a loved one far away. International delivery is available to Ireland currently and we are working to open up this service to more countries.

For more details on delivery speeds and prices in the UK, as well as internationally, take a look at our delivery page.

Send a loved one an instant chocolate delivery gift by text

Woman on phone receiving chocolate delivery text

WHOOSH Instant Gifts are a fun and easy way to send a surprise to a friend or loved one. Give them an unexpected delight as their phone buzzes with a special message.

Sending a chocolate gift by text is just as easy as selecting regular delivery, and the flexibility leaves your recipient in control. They can either redeem their gift online or go into one of our stores to pick it up.

You can buy a WHOOSH Instant Gift using any mobile device or desktop and can decide whether you want the text to be sent immediately, or at a later date.

Once your gift has been ordered, the recipient will receive 2 text messages. The first gives them a picture of the gift, along with a personalised message from you. There will also be a link that takes them to a personalised landing page on our website. The second message provides them with a unique gift card number and PIN that they can use in-store or at the checkout stage online.

The online delivery chocolate gift that keeps on giving

Imagine the look on your loved one’s face as they get a fabulous delivery of chocolate. What about the look on your loved one’s face when they get that fabulous delivery on an ongoing basis?! If you’re searching for something extra special, our Tasting Club Subscriptions will have your recipient smiling for days.

Or why not get one for yourself? Our subscriptions mean your chocolate supplies will never run low! No more knowing that the cupboard is empty of treats, but opening and closing it again repeatedly throughout the day just in case.

Our subscriptions

If you have a particular chocolate type or flavour in mind, our Monthly Curated subscriptions bring you a hand-picked selection of chocolates curated according to your chosen genre — from the High Cocoa collection, made up of mostly dark chocolate, to the Tipsy collection if you fancy some liqueur chocolates and maybe even a little tipple from our alcohol range.

hot chocolate and velvetiser
Silky-smooth hot chocolate made in our Velvetiser

With winter coming, the Velvetiser refill subscription offers single-serve hot chocolates to keep you feeling warm and fuzzy as the weather gets colder. You can sit back, relax, and savour each mouthful knowing another delivery will be on its way soon.

If you like to keep ahead of the chocolate game, The Inventing Room could be the perfect chocolate subscription for you. With an added element of mystery and intrigue, each box will be full of surprises.

Every month, you’ll get a sneak preview of what’s to come with an exciting selection of our experimental chocolates, drinks, biscuits, and more.

You’ll also have the chance to be a part of the process, accessing members-only digital Inventing Room events and offering feedback, shaping the future of the Hotel Chocolat and our luxury chocolate range.

As an added bonus, ongoing subscriptions get free UK delivery.

Together, apart

chocolate delivery box through front door

A chocolate delivery can be a wonderful way to bring you and your loved ones closer together. Celebrate a special occasion with a loved one far away, or post a cheer-up gift to somebody stuck at home. Whatever the reason, it’s sure to bring a smile to their face.

With a variety of chocolate choices across the Hotel Chocolat range and convenient postage options to suit your needs, it’s never been easier to get delicious, high-quality and ethical chocolate sent straight to your door.

Take a look at our Delivery page for more details.