Food Feedback
Published: 01 December, 2010
Coverpoint’s Jonathan Doughty serves up his regular shopping centre foodservice review. This month he visits the new Cadbury Cocoa House at Bluewater
With winter just on the horizon, the sight of the newly opened Cadbury Cocoa House at Bluewater was too hard to resist in an attempt to evoke memories of warming hands on a cup of luxurious hot chocolate.
Our first hurdle was the queue that had formed at 12.15 on a busy Sunday lunchtime, but which was very well managed by the maître d’ and we were soon seated at a table within a few minutes.
First impressions of the design of the unit were ‘traditional with a contemporary twist’. Chocolate brown leather booth seating, chandeliers and waitresses in ‘tea room’ style tunics and bow tie headbands provided the nostalgia, offset by a neon-lit ice cream bar which drew lots of enquiring noses to the windows.
The standard of service, despite every table being occupied, was extremely friendly and efficient – it is always encouraging to see staff with smiles on their faces. Our order was taken after much deliberation over the menu – two classic hot chocolates (one milk and one dark version, both priced at £3.50), one welsh rarebit at £6.75 and one trio of baby cornish pasties with a branston pickle dip and a side of fries at £8.25. The order arrived promptly and was beautifully presented – the rarebit on a rustic wooden board and the pasties served on a grey slate with a ‘silver’ bucket of fries. Both orders were rapidly consumed, mainly due to the small portion sizes, which raised a doubt over value for money. The hot chocolates – creamy, velvety and every mouthful savoured – delicious.
With an unashamedly British focused menu (a mug of soup, hot buttered crumpets, prawn cocktails and afternoon tea), the brand is perfectly placed to capitalise on the current foodservice trend for ‘all things British’. Similarly, with the potential for a ‘double dip’ in the economy, Cadbury Cocoa House is also in a position to lift shopper spirits with a combination of chocolate and nostalgia.
With a proposed pipeline of 50 units in the next five years, this concept is in a much stronger position than the original store trialled in Bath in 2000. It reminds me of Betty’s and this brand will be seen outside Yorkshire!Coverpoint’s Jonathan Doughty serves up his regular shopping centre foodservice review. This month he visits the new Cadbury Cocoa House at Bluewater
