The Story


How it all began...
A lifelong chocoholic, as a child Zara eagerly shared her passion with her chocolate-loving grandmother. Growing up, Zara's favourite treat was the chocolate cake - think light vanilla sponge topped with a thick layer of milk chocolate - made by her grandmother. Simple, but always comforting.
Chocolate proved an enduring passion in Zara’s life; evidenced when her school friends, with great foresight, voted her 'Most likely to become Willy Wonka' and 'Most likely to take over Cadbury World'. After school, Zara set out to learn more about fine chocolate and the process of making her own.
After completing the École Chocolat Professional Chocolatier Programme and equipped with a broad knowledge of the history of chocolate and the means by which to create her own, Zara began experimenting in her home kitchen. Fusing different flavours and finding unique pairings to combine with high quality chocolate cemented Zara’s passion for this path and she resolved to continue learning and improving. Her closest friends and family didn’t feel too hard done by in their role as official tasters either!
After selling her chocolates at markets around Bristol, Zara sought out a more permanent base for her business and, after teaming up with Ivory Flowers, opened a shop on North Street, Southville on 30th November 2013. 228 North Street – half chocolate shop, half florist – is a beautiful addition to the thriving independent community, here you could see Zara and fellow chocolatier, Helen, hand-crafting truffles and a whole range of tempting treats. The combination of Zara’s Chocolates and Ivory Flowers under one roof creates a wonderfully visual and fragrant sensation - what could be more indulgent or express more love than chocolates and flowers?
In 2014, Zara's Chocolates was nominated for a Bristol Good Food Award, this came as a complete surprise to Zara, as it was the lovely people of Bristol who had submitted the nomination. Zara was further taken aback to actually win the award in 2014, 2015, 2016, and again for 2018. Such wonderful plaudits brought with them the opportunity to work with the late Sir Terry Wogan in 2015. Terry filmed a portion of his BBC show, Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip, at the shop and helped Zara to construct a chocolate SS Great Britain ahead of Bristol’s Taste Chocolate Festival.
Keeping production on a small scale and making everything by hand, in-store in an open kitchen, are central values for Zara's Chocolates. Whether you pick up an enticing Black Pepper and Strawberry white chocolate bar or a selection of seasonal, fresh truffles, each and every item has been made with passion and skill.
All of the flourishes and decoration are created by hand and Zara’s Chocolates has become renowned for producing consistently excellent chocolate and innovative flavour combinations.



Feedback & Press

Hi Zara,
We just wanted to say thank you so much for doing our wedding favours. Everyone absolutely loved them and said they tasted delicious. From the very beginning, you've been great at keeping us updated and responding quickly to emails, so thank you.
Emma & Joe, April 2017
Bristol Post, February 2017

Bristol Post, March 2016

Saw the lovely Zara at our WI meeting this evening at Brislington WI. Her chocolate is fantastic. The flavour combinations are incredible. I have just tried some Mint Chilli Crisp Bites, Lavender & Mint and Haiti & Sour Cherry which were all amazing. Definitely chocolate to be savoured rather than scoffed! Thank you Zara
Angela Fittall, April 2017
About our chocolate workshops:
Wow.... thank you for a wonderful experience! It was absolutely great fun and highly recommended!
June Griffiths, Feb 2016
Hi there,
We just received some of your chocolates as a gift from our friends at WorkBrands – the salted caramels are AMAZING!
Thank you – just wanted to let you know.
All the best,
Kim, 2016
Hi Zara,
Just a quick email to say thank you so much for the chocolate making workshop on Saturday. Everyone really enjoyed it and Sara thought it was brilliant. I've been to a couple of chocolate making sessions before and yours was by far the most fun...and the chocolates we made looked fantastic. I would definitely recommend you.
Greta, Hen party June 2014
The Bristol Magazine, February 2015

The following is a list of all the awesome people who backed our crowdfunding project on Kickstarter.
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This project ran throughout June and July of 2018 and the generosity of the folk below enabled us to move to a new shop, kit out a fantastic (much larger!) kitchen and bring our Hot Chocolate Bar
dreams to life!
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Thank you - we wouldn't be here without you x
Sian Narracott
Robert Narracott
Competitive Socialising Ltd
Julie and Bob
Lee & Emma Griffin
Nick Minifie
Xanthe Ivory-Lawrence
Abi Best
Anne L. Le Maistre
Claire W
Jag and Alexandra Notay
Sandra Cartwright
Finn Henderson
Mary Davis
Carla Shepherd
Ema & Patrick
Hugh Young
Alice Forrest
Elaine Carr
Eleanor
Eleanor Cox
The Shard Family
Karina Mackay
Sarah O'Connor
Fiona Coleman (@love_wine_wine_not)
Amelia Norris
PotterMoo Studios
Sarah Langford Fitness
Laura Cuthbert
Shonette
Lucy Silverthorne
Samuel Paul
Nicola Dellard-Lyle
Dom
Tony Smith
Amber Kingston
Lloyd Fletcher
Craig Andrews
Jo Bailey-Watson
Claire & Tom Maddalena
Mark Scanlon
Pete and Lucy Croft
Laura Leigh Chapman
Stephen Smith
Lesley Bovington
Hilary & Mark
Ken & Joanna Booth
Adam, Jess and Eric!
Chantelle Powell
Catherine Allen
Vincent Hughes
Emma
Helen & Paul Jones
Kyle Graham
Lisa
Rachel Scott
Charlotte Pitts
Hazel Levett
Katherine Parker
Mr Avradeep Chakrabarti
Claire Nunan
The Freemans
Fiona Feane
Pamela S Connor
Vicky Davies
Hannah Holdaway
Tanya
Jeanette Volintine
Pres. F. Von Clownstick
Charlotte Wrigglesworth
Sophie Thomson
The Little Selfs
Tom Leahy
Matt and Heléna
Vicky McDonald
Yvonne Wyatt
Matthew & Diana
Meg Lovell
Tak Leung Hung
Greg Nunan
A chocolate lover
Lily Bollinger
Jan Beardkins
Jo & Joe
Hart's Bakery
Ellie Gray
Catherine Walker
Eddy Gammon
Tom Summerbee
Andy Cockerill
Katie McQuin-Roberts
Rosie
Tom Metcalfe
Susie Holt
Adam Francies
Vincent Hughes
Hugh Evans... one of the Chocolate Dinosaurs
Nicci Bailey
Reach Brands
Tieg Zaharia
Sam Booth
Amanda Gardham
Alison Kingston
Lindsay M
Evie, at Bristol Pilates Studio
Jeff Stratford

Award winning chocolate in the heart of South Bristol



