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
Order online only.
Check out the latest Cacoa Elora news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Chocolarder
Falmouth, Cornwall, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Chocolarder news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Chocolat Madagascar°
Bilsborrow, Lancashire, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Chocolat Madagascar news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Chocolate Tree
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Chocolate Tree news and reviews
Personalised Chocolate Gifts at Getting Personal°
Getting Personal is the home of personalised gifts, and their range of chocolate gifts are ideal for all events and occasions. Find a range of bespoke chocolate gifts that create more impact than your average box of chocs.
Bean-to-Bar
Dormouse Chocolates
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Dormouse Chocolates news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Duffy's
Humberston, Lincolnshire, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Duffy's news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Firetree Chocolate
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Firetree Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Frankly Delicious
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Frankly Delicious news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Gemini Chocolate
Norwood, Greater London, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Gemini Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Heist Chocolate
Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales
Order online only.
Check out the latest Heist Chocolate news and reviews
A Sweet Break For Two at The Chocolate Boutique Hotel°
Enjoy a romantic night for two in Bournemouth's The Chocolate Boutique Hotel, which is a perfect base for exploring the trendy Soho Quarter. Savour delicious Belgian chocolates upon your arrival and spend the night in a chocolate-hued superior double room. There's also a tasty breakfast at the hotel included the following morning.
Bean-to-Bar
J. Cocoa
Hassocks, West Sussex, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest J. Cocoa news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
London Chocolate
Canary Wharf, Greater London, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest London Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Luisa's Vegan Chocolates
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Luisa's Vegan Chocolates news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate
Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
Order online only.
Check out the latest NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Pacari
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Order online only.
Check out the latest Pacari news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Pump Street Chocolate
Orford, Suffolk, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Pump Street Chocolate news and reviews
Jaw-Dropping Gift Boxes at Hotel Chocolat°
When you need a gift that blows all others out of the water, look no further than the huge gift boxes at Hotel Chocolat. The Large Chocolatier's Table, for instance, contains 1.5kg of quality chocolates made with more cocoa and less sugar. The Signature Chocolate Cabinet is another fabulous gift, boasting over 100 filled chocolates and Nano Slabs.
Bean-to-Bar
Seed Chocolate
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Seed Chocolate news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Solkiki Chocolatemaker
Sherbourne, Dorset, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Solkiki Chocolatemaker news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Tempt
York, North Yorkshire, England
Order online or shop in-store.
Check out the latest Tempt news and reviews
Bean-to-Bar
Willie's Cacao°
Uffculme, Devon, England
Order online only.
Check out the latest Willie's Cacao news and reviews
Charming and Delightful Letterbox Gifts°
Letterbox Gifts sends out a different hand-wrapped letterbox-sized gift box each month for 3 or 6 months. They fill their luxurious gift boxes with a variety of treats including chocolates, smellies and homewares.
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.