William Curley’s Chocolate Box pops up at St Martin’s Lane Hotel

Great British Chefs’s guest blogger Chris Osburn was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of chocolatier William Curley’s new pop up Chocolate Box shop in St Martin’s Lane Hotel just in time for Chocolate Week.  

All photography by Chris Osburn

Last night’s opening of William Curley’s Chocolate Box shop in the Front Room of St Martin’s Lane hotel brought the celebrated patisserier-chocolatier’s award winning fine chocolate to the heart of London … if only for a limited time. Although this pop up will only be around until the end of the year (New Year’s Eve will be the Box’s last day of operation), until that time a range of indulgent creations along with a calendar full of chocolate inspired events hosted by William and even a bespoke cocktail available exclusively at the hotel’s Light Bar promises to thrill connoisseurs and unassuming passers-by alike.

Curley, with shops in Richmond and Belgravia, is ‘hugely excited’ about partnering with the hip and designer boutique hotel. He said of the venture, ‘St Martins Lane is far from our usual haunts - we are looking forward to being accessible to a different audience…a young, more urban crowd’.

Indeed, as long as this little shop of yummies occupies such a central location, it should be the mandate of every chocolate loving Londoner and visitor to slide in to try one of William’s sea salt caramels. You’d be doing yourself a favour to devour his Muscovado caramels, his cakes or his different hot chocolates as well. The treats are gourmet expressions by a master of his craft and far and away a much different kettle of truffles than typical high street offering.

 A smart time to check out the shop and its bittersweet delicacies might be during one of the Chocolate Box’s events. From perfume and chocolate pairing evenings, speed tastings, master-classes and Halloween and Christmas themed, these happenings promise the opportunity to learn more about everybody’s favourite guilty pleasure and chat with one of Britain’s best chocolatier. And should you still find yourself craving for more William Curley fine chocolate, elbow up to the hotel’s swish lobby bar for its exclusive White Chocolate Martini created by the chocolatier himself.

The opening also served as the launch of William’s first book, Couture Chocolate, a coffee table book packed full of gorgeous photos by Jose Lasheras and lots of easy to follow recipes. Just in time for the festive season and not one to expose to any dieting friends, the book is available to purchase online at www.williamcurley.co.uk.

You can see more of Chris’s photography from opening here

Blog post for Great British Chefs by Chris Osburn