A director from a popular shopping centre has said she is "delighted" to welcome a luxury chocolatier and café to the building.

Mia Gordon told the Echo that she is excited for Hotel Chocolat to bring its range of exotic chocolates and open a new shop and café at Whiteley Shopping Centre.

No opening date has been confirmed yet, but a social media post from the centre confirmed it would have its own "Velvetiser Cafe", which will offer the brand's specialist hot chocolate drink alongside other treats and bakes.

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Mia Gordon, centre director at Whiteley, said: "We’re delighted to welcome Hotel Chocolat to the centre. Combining luxury gifting with a space to unwind in the Velvetiser Café, the new store is a fantastic addition to our diverse shopping and leisure offering.

"This opening marks our continued commitment to providing a high-quality, varied experiences for all visitors and we’re excited to see Hotel Chocolat open its doors to our visitors.”