Sweet success forthe ex-cop whoruns a choc shop

Mick Collins pictured at The Choclate LoungeMick Collins pictured at The Choclate Lounge
Mick Collins pictured at The Choclate Lounge
A FORMER top cop has opened up a new business, The Chocolate Lounge in Southsea.

Entrepreneur Mick Collins’ affinity for sweets began at a young age. He said: ‘I was so desperate to join the navy I forged my dad’s signature to sign up.

‘On ship I was surrounded by men covered in tattoos, chewing tobacco. I made some truffles using the famous Pusser’s Rum and they loved them! So it kept them sweet.’

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After leaving the navy, Mick worked for the CID on cases including the miners’ strikes and the London bombings. But in 2010, he decided he needed a change.

Mick said: ‘I moved to Cyprus to teach English, but making chocolates was always in the back of my mind, I decided to move to Portsmouth and turn something I love into a viable career.’

After completing training to become a master chocolatier, Mick opened a small cafe in Copnor. The chocolates flew off the shelves.

This year, he opened The Chocolate Lounge in Clarendon Road, an extension of his online store Chockablock Limited.

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Rolls-Royce then approached Mick and asked him to be its supplier. Mick said: ‘I’ve really tapped into a market.

‘In France, chocolatiers are 10 a penny.

‘But in the UK, it’s just not the same. I make 150 chocolates a day and start at 6am. It takes hours.’

Flavours range from dark chilli and ginger to lemon and lime.

Mick said: ‘It’s an exciting time to be in business in Portsmouth.’

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