KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
News

Eleto Chocolate Cafe in Guildhall Street, Canterbury, to be replaced by King+Guild

By: Max Chesson mchesson@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:30, 26 June 2024

Updated: 15:34, 26 June 2024

A popular chocolate and drinks lounge slated for calling a cocktail "Get ya t**s out" appears to have shut suddenly.

Eleto Chocolate Cafe in Canterbury recently announced it would close temporarily for a revamp between May 28 and June 6.

The Eleto Chocolate Cafe in Canterbury has closed

But the Guildhall Street spot - once accused of sexism after coining the controversial cocktail name in 2022 - remained shut following its expected opening date.

Now, fresh signage reading King+Guild alongside olive green paintwork has recently appeared on the building, which is now expected to become a bar and cafe.

Its boss Kirtan Patel, joint-owner of Canterbury’s Sekkoya and Citi Terrace, told KentOnline the business could open as early as this week, although more likely in July.

mpu1

“We’re still waiting on a couple of things to be sorted before we can open up,” he said.

KentOnline has contacted Eleto via telephone and online numerous times this month but received no response.

The cafe specialised in hot chocolate, milkshakes and other chocolate-related goods, and news of the shock closure has sparked a mixed bag of reaction.

King+Guild is to take over the chocolate cafe

Hollie Parker said on social media the venue offered “the best hot chocolate” while Tracey Higgins says she will “always remember the chocolate-coated strawberries”.

Nick Barrow added: “Surprised it has gone! This was a very popular cafe, always seemed busy.”

However, not everyone was impressed with their experience with Martyn Playford remarking: “They clearly spent more time mastering hot chocolates than training staff, cleaning tables and serving customers.”

It comes just two months after the Folkestone branch of the cafe closed its doors for good for reasons unknown.

mpu2

Although popular with tourists, the specialist cafe has found itself in the limelight for the wrong reasons in recent years.

In December last year, the establishment came under fire after inspectors discovered “very poor” cleaning standards and staff failing to wash their hands.

Canterbury’s Eleto Chocolate Cafe was handed a two-star food hygiene rating

Handing bosses a two out of five star food hygiene rating – a score which remains – Canterbury City Council also found out-of-date food and allergy advice during the probe.

And in 2022, the late-night venue was accused of sexism after naming one of its cocktails "Get ya t**s out".

Bosses created the new drink ahead of thousands of new students arriving in the city for ‘Freshers’ week, but faced scathing criticism after promoting the beverage on Facebook.

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024