If you are looking for the most flavourful and purest chocolate Britain has to offer, it's the bean-to-bar makers that you need to look at next. The UK has a small but growing group of avid chocolate enthusiasts who pride themselves of crafting exceptional tasting chocolate from scratch.
These chocolate champions do everything in-house from start to finish. They ethically sourcing sustainable cocoa beans, then roast, winnow, and conch the beans into smooth molten chocolate liquor. They temper the chocolate and mould it into bars before sealing them up in their individual packaging. In their spare time, you'll often find these chocolate wizards exhibiting at local food shows around the country.
It's a labour-intensive process but all that love, care, and attention comes out in the incredible flavours these artisan chocolate makers coax out of the beans. If you've never tried craft chocolate, you'll find my latest bean-to-bar chocolate reviews here to help you find the best bar to awaken your senses to how real chocolate ought to taste.
Britain’s Best Bean-To-Bar Chocolate Makers
This list is sorted alphabetically. To find your nearest chocolate shops and brands, click here.
Bean-to-Bar
Akesson's Organic
Notting Hill, Greater London, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Akesson's Organic news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Anisa & Chocolate
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Anisa & Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Bean Craft Chocolate
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England
Contact them to place an order.
Bean-to-Bar
Bullion Chocolate
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Bullion Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Cacoa Elora
Alfreton, Derbyshire, England
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Check out the latest Cacoa Elora news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Chocolarder
Falmouth, Cornwall, England
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Check out the latest Chocolarder news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Chocolat Madagascar°
Bilsborrow, Lancashire, England
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Check out the latest Chocolat Madagascar news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Chocolate Tree
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
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Check out the latest Chocolate Tree news and reviews
Swiss Chocolates From Betty's°
Fritz Bützer, who changed his name to Frederick Belmont when he settled in Harrogate, learned to become a confectioner and chocolatier while travelling through Switzerland and France. In 1919, he opened Betty's Tea Room in the Yorkshire town which has since become an institution. The company still makes and sells a wide range of chocolates using the finest Swiss Grand Cru.
Bean-to-Bar
Dormouse Chocolates
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
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Check out the latest Dormouse Chocolates news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Duffy's
Humberston, Lincolnshire, England
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Check out the latest Duffy's news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Firetree Chocolate
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England
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Check out the latest Firetree Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Frankly Delicious
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
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Check out the latest Frankly Delicious news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Gemini Chocolate
Norwood, Greater London, England
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Check out the latest Gemini Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Heist Chocolate
Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales
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Check out the latest Heist Chocolate news and reviews
Lindor Pick & Mix at Lindt°
Who doesn't love indulging in balls of creamy Swiss chocolate? Now you can unleash your nostalgic childhood memories and create your own Pick & Mix box of Lindt Lindor truffles online. Stick to the flavours you love, or treat yourself to some of the more difficult to find varieties. Let your imagination run wild and create a gift box either for you or for a loved one (or even both!).
Bean-to-Bar
J. Cocoa
Hassocks, West Sussex, England
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Check out the latest J. Cocoa news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
London Chocolate
Canary Wharf, Greater London, England
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Check out the latest London Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Luisa's Vegan Chocolates
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
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Check out the latest Luisa's Vegan Chocolates news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate
Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
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Check out the latest NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Pacari
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
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Check out the latest Pacari news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Pump Street Chocolate
Orford, Suffolk, England
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Check out the latest Pump Street Chocolate news and reviews
Learn the Art of Chocolate Making From the Legendary Paul A. Young°
This interactive at-home course spans four parts and along with up to 20 virtual classmates, you'll learn how to temper chocolate like a pro chocolatier as well as plenty of secret chocolate making hacks and techniques for sublime results.
Bean-to-Bar
Seed Chocolate
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
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Check out the latest Seed Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Solkiki Chocolatemaker
Sherbourne, Dorset, England
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Check out the latest Solkiki Chocolatemaker news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Tempt
York, North Yorkshire, England
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Check out the latest Tempt news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Willie's Cacao
Uffculme, Devon, England
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Check out the latest Willie's Cacao news and reviews
Chocolate Gifts From Green & Black's°
Green & Black's started on London's Portobello Road back in 1991 and has since grown into a giant that's now part of Mondelēz International. The core products are created with organic and Fairtrade cocoa. Besides producing a range of chocolate bars, Green & Black's also stocks a range of gifting products, including chocolate hampers.
Bean-to-Bar
York Cocoa Works
York, North Yorkshire, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest York Cocoa Works news and reviews
I've excluded supermarkets and franchise stores from this list. I urge you to support your local chocolate makers as many of them are crafting superb quality chocolate treats and gifts. I've listed bean to bar chocolate makers seperately. If you are a real chocolate fan, try a chocolate bar from your local craft chocolate maker and you'll be blown away by how different it tastes compared to mass-produced chocolate. I've also listed national chocolate chains seperately, and have defined a chain as a business that has at least two stores.
Disclaimer: Distances in this calculator are approximate and are listed as the crow flies (you know, the fastest way to get to chocolate). Online shops are normally open to place orders 24/7, subject to availability. For physical shops, check store opening hours before travelling to avoid disappointment.