Wee Birdy

What to take home Wednesday: Prestat chocolates

It’s hard not to be impressed by an English product bearing a gold-stamped Royal Warrant. Especially one that’s packaged in the most delightful bright yellow box with swirly gold designs and crammed with white chocolate truffles oozing with the softest, creamiest caramel and banana centres.

I’m talking, of course, about Prestat’s luscious Banoffee Truffles, £10, one of the more adventurous options from this traditional London chocolatier.

Established in 1902, Prestat has been a royal favourite since 1975, and the tiny old-fashioned shop on Piccadilly’s Princes Arcade was apparently a favourite pitstop for author Roald Dahl.

And with flavours such as Organic Milk Choc Wafers with Ground Cinnamon and Organic Milk Choc Wafers Infused with Earl Grey, is it little wonder that Dahl was inspired to create Willy Wonka’s weird and wonderful business?

For a unique taste of England, try Prestat’s Violet and Rose truffles, £13.50. The sugar-crème fondants are infused with rose and violet oils and covered in dark chocolate. With the royal nod of approval, you really can’t go wrong.

Prestat
www.prestat.co.uk

14 Princes Arcade,
Piccadilly,
London SW1

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 9.30am-6pm
Saturday 10am-5pm

Nearest tube: Piccadilly or Green Park

London shopping: Mrs Kibble’s Olde Sweet Shoppe

If you’ve ever read a Harry Potter book (you have? smart bird!), you’ll be familiar with Honeydukes, the ever-popular sweet shop in Hogsmeade that sells everything from Acid Pops and Cockroach Clusters to Whizzing Fizzbees.

Now while Mrs Kibble’s Olde Sweet Shoppe in Soho doesn’t sell sweets that make you levitate or (thankfully) burn a hole through your tongue, it does capture the magic of an old-fashioned store packed with curios and unusual sweets.

Dozens of glass jars line the windows and walls, and you can pick and mix from an impressive line-up of sweets such as sherbet lemons (95p/100g), clove rock (£1.55/100g), watermelon sticks (50p), liquorice root (50p) and Pontefract cakes (95p/100g). There is also a range of ultra-versatile coloured sherbet crystals, which you can sprinkle on ice-cream, rim cocktail glasses, or dip with a lollipop.

A cabinet of truffles and ganaches also entices, with delectable fillings like William pear ganache, rose creams and violet creams (£3.75/100g). And the chocolate heels (£4.99) make a nice gift for your favourite sartorially-minded friend.

But the best gift award has to go to the very handsome Nostalgic Sweet Jar, which for £15.99 makes a wonderful treat for those with a sweet tooth and a fondness for retro. It’s packed with the goodies you gobbled throughout your childhood, like Flying Saucers, Parma Violets and Anglo Bubbly. For an extra service fee, you can also have the label personalised with a message to your friend. Sweet.

Mrs Kibble’s Olde Sweet Shoppe
57a Brewer Street
London W1F9UL
Tel: 020 7734 6633
Email: mrskibblesoldesweetshoppe@hotmail.co.uk

Opening hours:
Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday-Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 11am-7pm
Sunday 12noon-4pm

Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Look out for the new shop opening in St Christopher’s Place in a couple of months.

Edit: The new St Christopher's Place address is:

4 St Christopher's Place
London W1U

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For more shops in W1, click here.