Hotel Chocolat forced to SHUT popular store as heatwave threatened to melt its stock

HOTEL Chocolat was forced to shut one of its popular stores last week during the latest heatwave to prevent its products from melting. The posh confectioner, which sells some boxes of chocolates for over £50, had to close its store in Marylebone, London, on what was the hottest day of the year. Temperatures in the capital hit over 38C last Thursday, during the UK’s fifth heatwave of 2026. The retailer said the shop was shut for three hours, and is now back open. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! It was also forced to bring in emergency air conditioning and fans, including at its London Bridge store, to prevent stock from melting in the heat. Hotel Chocolat says on its website that heat and humidity are “the two worst enemies” of its products, and recommends they are kept between 18C and 20C. The retailer confirmed that all of its chocolate in the store was preserved and none of its products melted in the heatwave. A spokesperson said: “All of our Hotel Chocolat stores are open, serving Ice Cream of the Gods and Iced Drinking Chocolate. “To ensure all our stores can operate as usual, we have put extra measures in place including bringing in additional air conditioning units and are monitoring temperatures throughout the day. “Our priority is to always do what’s right for our staff, products and customers.” Most read in Money Hotel Chocolat has over 160 stores across the UK, with an annual revenue of over £350million. It’s the latest of several retailers to be hit by the hot weather, after fridges and freezers in major supermarkets including M&S broke down earlier this year. Comment now