I visited Sussex's oldest chocolatier – you won't believe how many chocolates they produce

Full of tempting treats and chocolate selection boxes that look too good to eat.

It’s almost impossible not to be enticed through the front door, where you’re greeted with cabinets full of delectable handcrafted chocolates, seasonal assortments and stunning sweets.

As the oldest chocolatier in Sussex, with 77 years of experience under its belt, it’s no great surprise that Audrey’s does chocolate very well indeed.

But what was a bit of a revelation to me was how every chocolate is lovingly handmade in the central Hove townhouse where Audrey’s has been based since the 1970s.

I was invited along to Audrey’s, in Holland Road, by owners Alice and Will Crone. The married couple took on the business in June 2024, becoming the third successive married couple team to run the firm since it launched in 1948.

Having both held corporate roles in London previously – Alice as a confectionery buyer and sustainability lead at Fortnum & Mason, and Will with a background including finance and operations at Morgan Stanley, EY and Soho House Group – it is their first time running their own business, but it stemmed from a wish made long ago.

The couple visited the shop together on a trip to Brighton more than a decade ago, and Alice told Will she’d love to own it one day.

It was a forgotten desire until Alice heard about Audrey’s being up for sale, through her role at Fortnum & Mason for which Audrey’s is a major chocolate supplier, and it seemed like serendipity.

Entering the chocolate market has not been without its challenges. Just as Alice and Will were buying Audrey’s, the global price of cocoa tripled and hasn’t come down since. Then last year, the Government hiked employer National Insurance contributions.

But in spite of this, the couple say they remain happy they bought the business and are looking forward to growing it even further in the coming years.

Alice said: “It’s a family business and we want it to remain that way and we hope our two children will be involved some day.

"We want to be a destination for people to come to. We have multiple generations that buy from us and we want to be respectful to the heritage of Audrey’s while also moving the business forward.”

One of the first things Alice and Will did when they took over was change chocolate suppliers. They wanted to find a product that was of exceptional quality and taste, as well as having excellent sustainability credentials.

They now use Valrhona, the French premium chocolate manufacturer recognised globally for both its exceptional quality and deep-rooted commitment to ethical chocolate production. All Audrey’s creations are now crafted exclusively with Valrhona couverture, made from cocoa beans that are 100% traceable back to the farm.

Will said it’s taken them into the ultra-luxury chocolate market, providing a premium product containing the finest of ingredients.

They have also stopped using palm oil, have relaunched the Audrey’s website – resulting in a tripling of online sales, and unveiled a new branding for the business, in a single blue colour.

“Audrey’s isn’t changing,” said Will. “It’s evolving with care, intention, and a deep respect for everything that’s come before. We believe there’s a real space in the UK luxury food market for a chocolatier that is not only truly handcrafted but also proudly British-made”.

Audrey’s longest-serving staff member has worked for the business for 44 years, providing Alice and Will with a wealth of knowledge. They have also taken on four apprentices to ensure that the chocolate-making skills that have been used in the business for decades are not lost.

And they recently employed a production manager to keep operations running smoothly.

Alice added: “We have this vision that we wanted our products to be absolutely amazing, I really wanted people to understand when they order one of our chocolate boxes that it is a really special thing. It should be like a jewellery box of treasures. They’re not to gorge, but they’re an extraordinary gift to savour.”

I was given a tour of the Audrey’s factory, housed over several floors above the shop, where skilled staff members hand-make at least 10,000 chocolates per day.

They get through 20 tonnes of chocolate a year, and a total of 50 tonnes of ingredients. Audrey’s employs around 55 staff – half at the Holland Road building and the other half at its packing warehouse at Hove Technology Centre.

The process to create these glorious chocolate gems is painstaking and intricate. I saw staff using their fingers to carefully paint chocolate into the moulds for their Christmas whimsical figurines, sieving the cream centres for their flagship chocolates, and hand-dipping hazelnuts in chocolate warmed on a special marble table.

It’s what makes Audrey’s so special and is why customers keep coming back to the store, buying from Audrey’s stockists and online.

Alice: “Our customers have been amazing and since we started this journey we have found lots of new customers. We have the right product and we’re really proud to be a part of this county.”

I was kindly gifted a small box of the famous Audrey’s mixed selection to take home, and I can confirm it was a delight. The chocolate was smooth and delicious, and every filling packed real flavour.

Safe to say I had to fight my husband and kids to get my share!

For more information about Audrey’s, or to place an order, see https://audreyschocolates.co.uk/