Today is National Chocolate Day and if there’s one thing we can unite and all get behind, it’s a love of chocolate, right?
We really hope you said yes to that.
National Chocolate Day couldn’t be a more perfect excuse to properly treat yourself, so if you’re looking to mark this indulgent day in style this year, then there’s plenty of ways to get involved here in Manchester, or right from the comfort of your own home.
Here’s a few of the best products, workshops, courses and hampers that we’ve found online.
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Chocolate Making Workshop
Manchester
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Fancy feeling like a master chocolatier with this incredible chocolate workshop for two?
Right from a central Manchester location, you can be tutored by professionals in the delicate art of piping, cutting, dipping and decorating chocolate. The day will start with a fascinating history lesson, before you taste a wonderful selection of hand-crafted chocolates and then have a go at creating your own personalised giant chocolate button and scrumptious fresh-cream truffles that you can take home as a fabulous memento of the day.
There’s currently a special offer running on this workshop, meaning it’s available to book for just £70 (for two people) on BuyAGift.co.uk, and if you’re looking for something extra special, you can upgrade to a ‘Luxury Workshop’ for a further £20 too, so it’s definitely worth taking advantage of whilst you can.
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Any bookings will be valid for 10 months.
You can find out more and book on to the Chocolate Making Workshop – Manchesterhere.
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Online Chocolate Making Course
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If you were intrigued by the above workshop, but would much prefer to become a master chocolatier from the comfort of your own home, then this engaging course will teach you how to make your own delicious chocolates online instead.
You will get to delve into the fascinating history of this indulgent sweet treat, as well as learn to make and decorate your own chocolate truffles. This online experience will also teach you the art of tempering chocolate, the secrets to perfecting and layering caramel, how to mould chocolate, make elegant chocolate bars and more.
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If you want top tips and advice for making chocolate to a professional standard in your own kitchen, then this is the course for you.
This virtual one-to-one course is now available to book via BuyAGift.co.uk for £25.
You can find out more and book on to the Online Chocolate Making Coursehere.
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Make Your Own Chocolate Pizza
PrezzyBox
Sure, the smooth, creamy loveliness of chocolate isn’t really the first thing that comes to mind when you think about pizza.
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But who says that combining two great foods doesn’t create perfection?
This Make Your Own Chocolate Pizza kit comes with everything you need to create your very own chocolatey masterpiece. All you’ll need to do is melt the delicious chocolate buttons and pour the molten goodness into the base mould, then sprinkle it with some creamy white chocolate ‘cheese’, add chocolate beans, jelly beans or anything else you might have onto your pizza base to create a heavenly treat made to order.
It’s retailing at £12.99 + delivery on PrezzyBox and you can get your hands on it here.
Prefer to treat yourself to a slice without all the hassle of making it yourself first? Don’t worry, there’s also a pre-made 10″ Chocolate Pizza on PrezzyBox too that looks just as indulgent.
PrezzyBox
This Chocolate Pizza is perfect for anyone who’s partial to a few chocolates every now again, or for someone who’s a full blown chocoholic. The ‘pizza’ base is made from the finest Belgium chocolate, topped with all sorts of delicious treats from vanilla fudge and white chocolate curls, to jelly beans, raspberry pieces and chocolate orange slices.
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Basically, you can’t really go wrong with it.
It’s retailing at just £15.99+ delivery and you can get your hands on it from PrezzyBox here.
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Chocolate Letterbox Hamper
Prezzybox
There’s only one thing better than a chocolate bar – a hamper that’s ‘chocked’ full of it, and if there’s only one thing better than a hamper full of chocolate, it’s a hamper full of chocolate that can be delivered right to your front door.
The ultimate indulgence.
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This Chocolate Lover Letterbox Hamper features a selection of artisan chocolate treats that are perfect for any sweet-tooth, including x1 Willie’s Cacao Milk Of The Gods Rio Caribe Chocolate Bar, x2 Monty Bo Jangles Nutty Truffles, x1 Brodericks Nutty Crunchie Caramel Munchie, x1 Gnaw Fudge Crunch Chocolate Bar, x1 Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Chocolate Coffee, x1 Great British Biscotti Chunky Belgian Choc and x1 Hiederegger Marzipan Stick ‘N’ Go.
It’s retailing at £17.99+ delivery and you can get your hands on it from PrezzyBox here.
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Personalised Cadbury Hamper
Prezzybox
There really isn’t a more appropriate way to mark National Chocolate Day than with a hamper full of Cadbury’s chocolate, right?
Even better – a personalised Cadbury Chocolate Hamper.
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The hamper contains x5 Dairy Milk bars, x1 Wispa bar, x1 Twirl, x1 Crunchie, x1 Dairy Milk Caramel bar, x1 Double Decker bar, x1 carton of Cadbury Heroes, x1 box of Milk Tray, x1 pack of Oreo biscuits, x1 pack of Golden Oreo biscuits and x1 Toblerone.
Praise the chocolate Gods.
It’ll set you back £29.99+ delivery and you can get your hands this Personalised Cadbury Hamper from PrezzyBox here.
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The free stuff your mum can get in Manchester for Mother’s Day
Danny Jones
If there’s one thing we know for sure it’s that none of us would be lucky enough to be on this planet were it not for our mums, and we think the least they deserve is for things to be made easy, comfortable and, ideally, free wherever possible when it comes to Mother’s Dayherein Manchester.
Now, we don’t live in a perfect so unfortunately not everyone Manc mum is going to be able swan into their favourite place and expect a complimentary this and a gratis that.
However, there are guite a few places in Manchester city centre doing the right things and giving away some free stuff for Mother’s Day 2025, so we thought we’d round them up for you and, more importantly, the person who helped bring you into the world.
Let’s get into, shall we?
Six freebies mums can score in Manchester this Mother’s Day
Albert’s Schloss – Deansgate
What better to begin than with a top-notch breakfast spot? Albert’s Schloss on Peter St is not only one of the best places to start or end a day out but they also do brilliant early morning offerings. Plus, this Mother’s Day, you can wash down your Bavarian brekkie with a free spritz, because why the hell not?
And since you’ve started as you mean to go on, we’d say the only thing better than an early drink (and a free one at that) is a second one, so it’s a good job one of the newest additions to Manchester, The Trading Route, is offering a free cocktail to mums this Mother’s Day.
Best of all, the new S. John’s beer and food hall is located just down the road from the main Deansgate strip and is just next to Spinningfields, so it’s a short walk from Schloss. You can book HERE.
Speaking of which, if your and/or your mum resisted the urge to grab another bite at Trading Route (we wouldn’t blame them if they did), you could then head from St. John’s to Spinningfields and grab some a sophisticated bit of brunch as you grab your next freebie.
Habibi on Hardman Boulevard is giving away a complimentary luxury gift from home, body and beauty brand, Rituals, to those who book ahead. Consider that killing two gift-shaped birds with one stone.
Now, we’re not necessarily expecting you stop at every single place on this list – unless your feeling extravagant or your mum really is that mega that she deserves all of this and more – but you’d be a fool not to grab yourself a margarita on the house from any Nell’s location.
Besides, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to grab a slice to further line your stomach.
However, if mum hasn’t had a nibble in a hot minute then why not take her back in the direction you came from to beloved Polish restaurant, Platzki, who as well as serving an incredible main menu are also offering a free cheesecake or apple pie to all maternal diners this Mother’s Day.
Open for walk-ins as always, of course, but you can reserve your table HERE.
Credit: The Manc Group
House of Fu – Central
And last but not least, what harm would another free marg do? That’s what on the cards over at House of Fu, which just so happens to be up there with some the best ramen in Manchester if there’s still any room in that well-treated tummy.
Located on Portland Street, it’s also not too far from Picadilly, the bus station or St Peter’s Square tram stop when you and your mum are ready to call a day on this freebie parade… Or, you could always tie off the night with some karaoke downstairs. Now that’s how you put an end to a party.
We’d like to think that half a dozen options should just about do you and your mums in central Manchester, though we’re sure there’s plenty more free things to snap up this Mother’s Day.
The cynics might want you to believe that this date is just another annual observance created, or at least perpetuated by companies to sell cards, flowers, chocolate and son, but the truth is a special day that deserves to be celebrated properly.
In fact, the truth is that Mothering Sunday started nearly 120 years ago over in Philadelphia, when a woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to honour her mother who spent her life gathering groups to promote female friendship and health during a memorial service at her late mother’s church.
We think that’s wonderful and whatever your relationship with the mother figure in your life, we reckon it’s a sentiment and motivation worth sustaining much more than just once a year.
Much love to all our mums from The Manc, and sorry if we were ever a pain – hopefully a few drinks makes up for it.
The Lottery Winners champion the ‘working class’ after notching their second number one album
Danny Jones
Another UK Official Charts gold trophy is heading Wigan Way as Leigh’s very own The Lottery Winners have notched another number one album,and you can rest assured these lot will never forget where they came from.
Being awarded the accolade for the second time in the space of just four LPs, the much-loved Greater Manchester band emerged as increasing favourites in the race for the top spot this past week, but nothing is ever certain until the race is run – and thankfully, they crossed the finish line on Friday evening.
Having previously claimed an inaugural number one for their third outing, ART (Anxiety Replacement Therapy), back in April 2023, their presence on the British indie and pop scene has only continued to grow, and they’ve been fittingly rewarded for their efforts.
Not only one of the most popular artists coming out of the region right now but prolific creators and performers, we couldn’t be happier for them. Here’s what happened when they heard the news:
Nevertheless, and annoying nose rings aside, their latest record KOKO (Keep On Keeping On), which dropped on 21 March, not only showcases some of The Lottery Winners‘ best material to date but it’s gone straight to number one.
Including another stunning lineup of special guests including Reverend and The Makers’ Jon McClure, Shed Seven, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Frank Turner for the third time as a featured artist, the album has gone down an instant hit with their fan base and plenty of new listeners too.
Speaking on the massive achievement, bassist Katie Lloyd said: “I hope that people from a background that we’re from can look at what we’ve managed to achieve, with two of these now, and see that you can do it if you work hard and put everything into your dreams.”
Echoing her sentiment, frontman Thom Rylance went on to add: “This is for grassroots music, this is for the working class; this is for Leigh, this is for anybody who has a dream – go out there and get it.
“Make it happen.” Well said, lad.
“Sometimes the path to something like this can seem impossible, but hopefully we’re proof you can do it!” ✊#TheLotteryWinners (@LotteryWinners) have some inspiring words as they celebrate their second Official Number 1 album #KOKO 🏆🌼 pic.twitter.com/HhMi2XEOXb
Even Mayor Andy Burham chipped in, telling the Official Charts Company: “I’ve been a big fan of The Lottery Winners since they started out playing pubs and clubs around Leigh, and I know the whole town will be proud of them today.
“Landing a first Number 1 album was brilliant, but to do it again is something properly special. They’re one of the hardest working bands in the business and they deserve every bit of this success.”
Congratulations again to The Lottery Winners on KOKO and a second UK number one. We’re sure they’ll keep flying the flag for Greater Manchester and Northern music as a whole.
As well as headline dates to come, not to mention supporting the one and only Robbie Williams later this year, they’ve got a big festival season ahead as they’re set to return to the likes of Neighbourhood Weekender, Kendal Calling and more.
Roll on the summer and in the meantime, Keep On Keeping On.