Speaking of local gems in Brighton: today, I’d like to share my best discovery yet, the most treasured shop with a heart you’re likely to come across in the city, if not the world, called Audrey’s. The scene is set for this marvellous time-capsule chocolate shop with its roots in the 1920s in a charming, yet ordinary Georgian townhouse tucked down a Hove side street.
Outside, the façade is humble and inside it looks exactly as it did when the shop opened in 1961 by Mr William Pain – all paneled in oak, carpeted in red, with old 1960s glass cabinets full of handmade chocolates. It’s also home to a mind-blowing surprise; the stuff childhood dreams are made of which I soon discover – more on this later.
The story behind the shop is heartwarming. Mr Pain trained in chocolate making at Fortnum and Mason in London, opening a chocolate factory on its 6th floor in 1928. The operation later moved to another factory run by a Mr Floris, who together with Pain, ended up launching their own company in 1948 making chocolates for Fortnums. When Pain retired, he and his wife, Clarice, opened Audrey’s in Hove to sell their unique chocolates at the seaside. They also carried on supplying Fortnums.
Today, Audrey’s Chocolates has new owners – David and the lovely Keeley who greets me with a warm smile and firm handshake. The sweets are still made using Mr Pain’s original moulds and recipes from the 1920s, give or take a little tweaking to accommodate today’s better quality ingredients. Oh, and did I mention that as well as all these sweets you see in the shop, they still supply Fortnums with FIVE THOUSAND boxes of chocolates a week? Not to mention Easter eggs, Valentine’s Day gifts, Christmas treats…
Inside the big shiny cabinets, there are caramels, nuts, marzipan, fondants, nougats, dried fruit, ginger, orange, you name it – all hand dipped in milk or dark chocolate. The smell of chocolate filling the air…
Then there are all the jars of sweets, candied fruits, bars of chocolate, chocolate with raisins, colourful candies, and there isn’t an artificial colour or flavouring in sight, naturally.
You can curate a box of your favourites, buy an Audrey’s selection, or simply choose one chocolate for your walk home! Whatever you like.
The bestsellers? Their rose and violet creams (which I didn’t take a photo of!) handmade in small batches and decorated with tiny little delicate crystallised petals all the way from Toulouse.
The griottes are a favourite too – indulgent alcoholic cherry liqueurs made with fruits from Kent, soaked in brandy for five years, five years, 24 hours after being picked and stoned, then hand-dipped in dark chocolate. They’re only available at Christmas but voila! Keeley magics one out of a box for me to try – it really is heaven in one alcoholic drizzly bite. I’m not surprised there’s a waiting list.
As if this wasn’t impressive, you know those 5000 boxes of chocolates, not to mention the 2000-odd Easter Eggs and Valentine’s Day Gift boxes, bound for Fortnums? Well, they’re all handmade, boxed and shipped out from this little unassuming townhouse in Hove. I know! The best bit: Keeley surprises me with a behind-the-scenes tour. I’m speechless as I watch the focused chocolatiers at work and ponder the sheer size of this hive of industry, all hidden inside this modest little Hove townhouse.
My visit to Audrey’s Chocolates in Hove was such a treat and this lovely shop has made it to the top of my list of secret Brighton gems.
Follow me for a backstage tour of Brighton’s secret chocolate factory here.
Find Audrey’s Chocolates at 28 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JJ or if you simply can’t wait, you could always treat yourself to a little something from their online shop, here.
11 Comments
Worthy entry. What a great story and I love their connection to Fortnum & Mason's. What's not to love! This is somewhere I've known about for years and never been in. My only excuse is I live the other end of town. However, I'm def going to go there now and pick up an Easter treat 🙂
This place is extraordinary and Keeley is lovely. The rose and violet creams were my Dad's all time favourite which is fortunate as having to choose in there is soooo hard! Great blog post!
This is amazing!
Rose and violet creams are my absolute favourite! X
Ah thanks Miss Mole! Yes it's so hard to choose in there! I got in a tis…
That was my excuse too! It's so hard to choose what you want – everything looks amazing.
I had no idea how popular they are!
This brought back memories! Haven't been in to Audrey's for ages but it was the go-to place for a selection box for my grandma. Nobody makes those classic fruit fondants quite like 'Audrey' and the violet creams are a blast from the past too. Lovely
Audrey's is the name for top quality, classic chocs – and they make them look so beautiful:)
It's still going strong! Sounds like you're due a visit soon Rosemary! Thanks for reading.
Oh wow – definitely going to seek this one out!
You won't be disappointed!