Edinburgh locals queue up for new chocolate shop and cafe in trendy neighbourhood

Edinburgh Live

6 days ago

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Edinburgh locals have been lining up outside a new chocolate shop and cafe in an upmarket neighbourhood.
Nama welcomed customers in at the start of the month at North West Circus Place in Stockbridge.
Opened by Hamilton Harman, it's the entrepreneurs second hospitality business in the city, after opening Matcha Sando in Bruntsfield.
The 27-year-old has been a matcha fan for 10 years, but said opening a chocolate shop was his 'dream'.
On the day of opening a huge queue stretched down the street as eager foodies waited to be among the first inside. The team were giving away 100 free Isle of Skye hot chocolates to the first people through the door.
A message on Instagram reads: "Wow what a lovely opening day turnout despite all the setbacks (behind the scenes our plumber finished working an hour before opening and our supplier delivered late leaving us just 30 minutes to sort stock.
"Apologies for the limited menu and retail items while we sort and smooth things out. Thank you so much.
"See you all soon and hope you enjoyed - Hamilton, owner and master chocolatier."
Speaking to Edinburgh Live ahead of opening, Hamilton added: "Everything is coming together now and I am starting to feel confident. We had to unpack so much stuff including all of the equipment and things but once everything cleared, you started to see the light again.
"It's a cocoa, matcha and coffee bar and we are focusing on those three. We actually have our own secret recipe for our hot chocolate and I had been developing it for five years.
"I always wanted something to call my own - especially the chocolate shop because it was my 10-year dream.
"I have been drinking matcha for 10 years and it really puts a smile on my face when the customers are just as passionate as me. They also love the way we innovate things."
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Hamilton explained it was 'by chance' he was able to open up two businesses in the capital, and said he only ever set out to have one.
He added "You can't pick and choose with leases in Edinburgh but I only wanted to open one cafe.
"I got the one for Stockbridge but in case it fell through, I applied for the one in Bruntsfield. I have applied to about 30 over three years.
"It was all by chance that I ended up with two."
You can find out more on their Instagram page here.