Sweet success forthe ex-cop whoruns a choc shop
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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Hide AdAfter 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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Hide AdRolls-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.’