Ackermans Chocolates shop on Goldhurst Terrace closed after 50 years
The former Golders Green confectionery, founded by refugee couple Werner and Lotte Ackerman, held a Royal Warrant and hosted a future king before disappearing in the early 2000s.
Trust 58Craft 69Hype 30How this was reported ▾
Trust score reflects named source Nicholas Rose and cited book, but only one independent outlet and limited figures.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Critic score gains from clear quotes and specifics, but lacks explanation of relevance and mixes opinion with fact.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Hype moderate; headline matches story, language vivid but not overly sensational.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
3 sources assessed · methodology
The former chocolate shop at 9 Goldhurst Terrace, off Finchley Road in Golders Green, is no longer open, leaving a gap in the local retail landscape. Residents who once queued for handmade sweets now find only a residential building where the shop once stood, as reported by the Times Series.
Founding by refugee entrepreneurs
Golders Green church conservation project underway
Historic wall paintings at St Jude-on-the-Hill are being restored, with public talks planned for Heritage Open Day.
Werner Ackerman, a German lawyer, and his wife Lotte, a trained pianist, fled Nazi Germany in the mid‑1930s. After a year of training in a Berlin restaurant owned by the Kempinski family, they arrived in London and began making chocolate in a Hampstead flat. Their first dedicated shop opened on Kensington Church Street in 1952, and a second outlet was established on Goldhurst Terrace in 1956, according to the Ham & High.
Royal patronage and public profile
Princess Alexandra first introduced the brand to the royal household, followed by Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, who became regular customers. The Ackermans were granted a Royal Warrant in 1968, permitting the use of the royal crest on packaging, as noted by the Harrow Times.
Shire Golf Club Closes Footpath Access After E-bike Vandalism
Teenagers on e-bikes damaged greens, prompting Shire London to block public access points from Byng Road playing fields.
“"Chocolate assortments would be hand‑delivered to both Kensington Palace and Clarence House on request and as a result, the Ackermans were awarded the Royal Warrant in 1968."”
Nicholas Rose, grandson
Later years, a royal visit and closure
In the 1990s the business changed hands, first to Swiss patissier Werner Krattiger and later to Charbonnel et Walker, which kept the Ackermans name for a period. The future King Charles visited the Selfridges Food Hall concession in 1996, after which the company secured a contract to supply his Duchy Originals mint thins, according to the Times Series. Following the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, the Royal Warrant was withdrawn and the Goldhurst Terrace shop eventually disappeared, with the sign rescued by the founder’s grandson and now displayed in a private kitchen.
No formal plan exists to revive the Ackermans brand in Golders Green. The family’s descendants keep the memory alive through personal memorabilia, while the former shop site remains a residential property. Residents interested in the legacy can view the salvaged sign at the Rose family kitchen.
Questions this report answers
+When did Ackermans Chocolates receive its Royal Warrant?
The shop was granted a Royal Warrant by the Queen Mother in 1968, allowing it to display the royal crest on its packaging. This official recognition marked the brand as a supplier to the royal household.
+Who founded Ackermans Chocolates?
The business was founded by Werner Ackerman, a former lawyer, and his wife Lotte Ackerman, a trained pianist, after they escaped Nazi Germany and settled in London in the mid‑1930s.
+What happened to the shop after the Queen Mother died?
Following the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, the Royal Warrant was withdrawn. The Goldhurst Terrace premises were later refurbished and the shop ceased trading, leaving only a residential building at the address.
+When did the future King Charles visit the Ackermans concession?
The future King Charles visited the Ackermans concession in the Selfridges Food Hall in 1996. The visit led to a contract for the brand to supply mint thins for his Duchy Originals range.
Barnet Press News Desk
This article was written at the Barnet Press news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs Barnet PressCorrections
Barnet conditions
Loading live conditions…
More Coverage in Culture & Arts
Golders Green church conservation project underway
Shire Golf Club Closes Footpath Access After E-bike Vandalism
New Hampstead Cafe Gracie's Draws Crowds with Aussie-Inspired Menu
