Luxury chocolate brand plans to open a store in Stratford

Planning documents show the business is hoping to take the vacant unit next to Superdrug at the Maybird Centre on Birmingham Road, using it as a shop and a café.

However, before the retailer can move in there are a couple of planning issues standing in its way.

The unit comes with two conditions that were placed on the building with the aim of protecting the vitality of Stratford town centre. One restricts the use of the unit to a non-food business, the other provides a minimum size for the floorspace.

Hotel Chocolat is seeking changes that would allow it to sell its chocolate and drinks, as well as operate with a floorspace smaller than the minimum included in the conditions.

If it is successful, it is expected that the move would create around 20 full and part time jobs.

Planning documents submitted to Stratford District Council state: “Hotel Chocolat is keen to occupy the unit as soon as possible, and ideally would wish to open before Christmas 2023.”

The documents add that the Maybird Centre unit was chosen as “there are no sites within Stratford town centre that are suitable or available to accommodate the proposed development”.

Currently, the nearest Hotel Chocolat is in Leamington.