Celebrating 150 Years
The Journey Begins
Paris to London, a delicious journey steeped in the art of fine chocolate.
It was 1875 when Madame Charbonnel departed Paris with Mrs. Walker to open the most beautiful chocolate shop in London.
Mrs. Walker, originally a hat box and jewellery box maker, had been introduced to Madame Charbonnel. Keen to learn the art of making fine chocolates, she moved to Paris to be trained by Madame Charbonnel and soak up the atmosphere of the Parisian chocolate houses of the late nineteenth century.
Travelling back and forth, both ladies had now returned to London with a simple premise: to make delicious chocolates presented in beautiful gift boxes.
Excited by the reputation that awaited them, for King Edward VII – then the Prince of Wales, an ardent admirer of their delicious chocolates had championed their arrival.
Their first store opened on 173 New Bond Street. Filled with the finest chocolate treats, all beautifully presented to exacting standards in hand-painted boxes, crystal vases and embroidered satin bags.
Charbonnel et Walker had arrived in Victorian London.
Celebrating 150 Years
The First Chocolates
The very first chocolate made was a Dark Chocolate Crown. In homage to The Prince of Wales, this sculpted creation with a beautifully layered Marzipan, Whisky and Hazelnut Praline centre was followed by sumptuous fondant creams with Rose and Violets covered in crisp Dark Chocolate with carefully placed crystalised Rose and Violet petals to the Butter Fourre, decadent Dark Chocolate with a smooth and creamy truffle centre.
Time spent in Paris informed their style of chocolate making, with an astonishing clientele who came from far and wide to purchase their decadent creations.
Bond Street had always been the place to shop and be seen. In the 1890’s, Oscar Wilde wrote, “The Maison Charbonnel is one of the oldest ministrants to the taste for sweets, and upon their counters will be found the latest dainties from Paris…”
Advert – The Bystander; December 17, 1913.
Celebrating 150 Years
Numbered Chocolates
In the 1920’s the company created Numbered Chocolates. With a menu denoting a number to each chocolate, customers could now order their favourites by these numbers. Soon to follow was the launch of The Chocolate Register. Gentlemen were encouraged to register their partners and friends favourites, with adverts captioned,
“If you knew for certain that the recipient of your box of chocolates loved every single one – would it not make you happier?” It was not long before 1200 ladies’ preferences were noted on the register. At this same time, the novelty of having your message spelt out in individual chocolate letters wrapped in gold and silver foils proved hugely popular.
Adverts – The Sphere; May 26, 1923; 93, 1218; British Periodicals and The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News from 1923.
Celebrating 150 Years
The Boites Blanche
From the 1880’s to the early 1900’s, the company was frequently mentioned in the press. The introduction of the Boites Blanches gift boxes, an elegant white box with an ingenious design that allowed beautiful satin ribbons to be tied around it, caused a sensation.
Featured in many adverts of the day, the Boite Blanche became the ‘must have’ chocolate gift box, so much so, by 1911, Charbonnel et Walker were appointed ‘Court Confectioners’ and moved to larger premises at 31 Old Bond Street. The timeless design of this pretty chocolate box ensured its longevity throughout the years.
We still make it today, a perennial favourite for special occasions, filled to the exacting choice of each customer or with classic chocolate and truffle selections of every kind.
Advert – The Bystander; December 14, 1910.
Celebrating 150 Years
Iconic Customers
With a magnificent patronage of colourful characters from Royalty, to screen legends, artists, writers, musicians, designers and actors, some of the many marvellous customers include Oscar Wilde, Wallis Simpson, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guinness, Lauren Bacall, Cary Grant, and Ian Fleming. Noel Coward, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant of the Bloomsbury Set to Taylor Swift, Gabriela Hearst, Elton John and Stella McCartney.
From 1970 – 2022, the company was awarded a Royal Warrant to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A truly special moment in the history of the company, and always cherished.
In 1970, Charbonnel et Walker moved just along Bond Street to One, The Royal Arcade, 28 Old Bond Street. Up until this time, Charbonnel et Walker made Dark Chocolates only. Tastes were changing, and demand was growing for more Milk Chocolate. New chocolates and classic flavours were now available in Milk Chocolate.
Chauffeur collects Charbonnel et Walker chocolates, 1960’s. Mary Evans Picture Library.
Celebrating 150 Years
Truffles
From 1990 onwards, Chocolate Truffles were added to the classic chocolate collections. The first one was Milk Marc de Champagne. Butter is folded into melted milk chocolate, and alcohol is added, such as decadent Marc de Champagne. The mixture is whisked to form a thick ganache, and the truffles are then coated in fine chocolate and lightly dusted with icing sugar. Not long after, the Pink Marc de Champagne truffle launched to unprecedented success. Housed in a pretty, pastel pink gift box with gold edges, this particular flavour and the addition of Chocolate Truffles to the Charbonnel collections were set to make a lasting impression.
Today, a kaleidoscope of colourful boxes are available with a wide variety of decadent flavours to choose from, with Milk Sea Salt Caramel to Dark Chocolate with edible Gold Leaf.
