When did the first chocolate shop open in London?

The first shop in London where solid chocolate for making a beverage could be purchased was opened by a Frenchman in 1657. At that time, the high cost of the product meant it was primarily accessible to the wealthy.1

Following this introduction, fashionable chocolate houses became popular meeting places in London, often serving as venues for political discussions and high-stakes gambling. Notable examples include White’s, which was opened by Francis White in 1693, and the Cocoa-Tree Chocolate-House, which opened in 1698.1