Paul A Young Fine Chocolates

Wow. I’ve been lucky enough to taste a few of Paul’s limited edition chocolates before, as well as his hot chocolate that is currently being sold at the Ice Cream bar Freggo in Swallow Street. But I only visited the shop fairly recently. It is incredible. Enticing, decadent and filled with heavenly scents. The staff are friendly and helpful without being pushy. They seem to genuinely love the work they do and are just happy to be there, surrounded by World-class chocolate all day long (well, wouldn’t you be?). The central display is out of this world. I wanted to skip around it like a child and fill a basket with 10 of everything (except that would have quickly bankrupted me).

Instead, I was insanely lucky enough to walk away with the Signature Salted caramel Easter egg free of charge (I won the Qype eggy-pun competition). However, this is now what I’ll be requesting every Easter. It blows every other egg (or indeed chocolate) I’ve ever had out of the water. Rich, smooth, velvety and lingering. It’s sweet without being sickly, bitter without leaving an aftertaste and silky without being cloying. And don’t even get me started on the salted caramels that appear like jewels in the little golden drawer beneath the egg. Divine. I’ll be back on Wardour street again very soon to try some of the more adventurous blends from this chocolate master.

Nice little chocolate shop chain that I’ve been meaning to stop into for a long while. I finally went in today and there was so much around! Lovely. I have an obsession with sea salt in my chocolate so I bought a bit of their 64% with sea salt and that was really yummy :) The salt doesn’t hit you until halfway through chewing but it’s a lovely flavour. I also bought a salted caramel pecan brownie (I think), and I have yet to try that but if what all the other reviewers say about the brownies is right, I’m sure I’ll be blown away :)

It is quite expensive, not something I would get every day obviously. But for a nice treat after a long day, so far I would love to come back.

What can I say… tasting one of Paul’s A Young’s chocolates or one of his succulent brownies is an experience you will not forget!

The chocolates are unreal, to die for and that’s coming from a chocaholic! If you haven’t tried one, you haven’t lived!

The shops are beautiful and the team is amazing!

They’ve got it all! Thank you for existing!!

I was the grateful receipient of a complimentary box of choccies from Paul A Young and I remain an ardent fan of his work. A 30+ box of chocolates gives you such a wonderful selection, from the sea salted caramels (to die for) through some of the more eclectic tastes (such as a the marmite chocs mentioned above!).

Amazing

A flawless flagship store from a chocolatier that, in my book, stands heads and shoulders above his peers and rivals. While the chocolate world has become a touch close to appearing to concoct new flavours for the sheer indulgent hell of it, Mr. Young's chocs result from a period of much trial, error and passionate effort that is palpable in the subsequent ludicrously high standards that he seamlessly reaches.

You can't buy your mum a better present than a selection from this new central London location, or saying that either of his other two stores as well, the man is as affable as affable gets and the brownies are so immensely unrivalled that I'd happily have a Wardour Street car park straightener with anyone that disagrees.

Like some other lucky Qypers, I managed to snaffle an invite to the press launch too, and although previously a Paul A. Young virgin, I was soon totally besotted with the new Soho branch. Decked out in gorgeously decadent purple and gold, all the furniture, fixtures and fittings are recycled, reclaimed or sourced from local suppliers. With an altar as one of the centrepieces, it does look like a beautiful old apothecary, and the window displays were enticing enough to have several passersby drooling in envy while we inside savoured Paul's now classic sea salt caramel and Marmite truffles, as well as all sorts of innovative chocolate flavour combinations from the new summer collection.

Although it was the sea salt caramel that won my heart (what can I say, I'm a woman of simple tastes!), the quality of the ingredients and the care and passion that the chocolates have been prepared with is evident in all the concoctions on offer, even in some of the stranger inventions such as tomato, basil and olive oil. And I'll also say what a treat it was to meet the man himself in the flesh. Given his success and how much people evangelise about the crack-like qualities of his chocolates, I was expecting a mad scientist with all the charm and charisma of Dr. Evil, but not so. Warm, chatty and enthusiastic, knowing that these delicious creations are lovingly prepared by such a nice chap is all the excuse I need to go back time and time again.

Yep. LIke Judith mentioned in her lovely review I was also a lucky duck invitee to the press launch as well. Paul and co create and sell some of the best chocolate in London (and maybe the world) and opening up Soho flagship seems like a no brainer to me (from both the business and consumer's perspective).

Now drool:

Gorgeous sea salted caramels, love/hate Marmite truffles, a new seasonal range of truffles including tomato, basil and olive oil, orange and tarragon, wild strawberry, balsamic and black pepper and lots more chocolaty innovations await. But don’t worry, it’s not all about the weird and wonderful. You can still get a killer classic brownie (best in London I reckon) or simple bar of chocolate.

And even more drool-worthy:

Everything in shop is hand made with the vast majority of treats created in the shop’s downstairs kitchen, with Paul et al eschewing preservatives and additives in preference of fresh herbs and spices, organic pure distilled essential oils and fresh fruits.

The chocolates are fantastic but for me, he really does make the best brownies in the world! You will not be disappointed by anything you buy from Paul.

Wow: blown away by P.A.Young. I love the fact that the chocolates are laid out beautifully on a table in the middle of the shop - you really get to appreciate the aroma and gloss of them. Was lucky enough to get some free tasters, which was great as I now have some new favourite chocolates (sesame tahini YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM). Staff are amazingly friendly and helpful, whilst being sensitive enough to let you browse in peace if you know what you want. I love the fact that the decor references an old apothecary; makes me feel like I'm in a mad chocolate laboratory!

Genius are mad and brave...and it was brave and mad to mix goat cheese with lime to create the most subtle and delicious chocolate I have ever had. So, Paul is a genius.

I was extremely lucky enough to go to the press launch of this place. With the best brownies in the world (in my opinion), some of the best chocolate in the world and all on public display, Paul A Young Shops have always been a great place to visit but now... well...

The centre of the store houses a table upon which all the chocolates are laid out. I don’t know how they don’t worry about people sneezing on them or handling them but people seem really respectful. The shop is nicely proportioned with lovely purple walls and brownies in the window.

The chocolates here are to die for. They are really absolutely lovely and the staff are tops. Look for the blonde woman and she was really lovely when I was there!