Shopkins Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen Review

Shopkins Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen Review

Shopkins Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen Review serves up a slice of festive fun from the Top 10 Christmas Toys 2016 list. Developed by Moose Toys, this colourful kitchen playset brings the collectible world of Shopkins to life in one compact, interactive bundle. With exclusive figures, clever culinary features, and endless scope for imaginative roleplay, it’s no surprise this tiny kitchen was a big Christmas hit. In this review, we’ll whisk through the highlights, child development benefits, and why it continues to be one of the most charming toys of the season.

Want to know what’s trending this year? Pop over to our picks for the best Christmas toys 2025 and check out where to buy them online before the shelves are bare.

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What’s in the Box?

• Kitchen Playset: A pastel-toned mini kitchen with working parts including a spinning microwave, opening oven, pop-up breadboard, and shelving.
• 2 Exclusive Shopkins: Chocolate Cake Jake and Valentina Vanilla Cake—only found in this set, both scannable in the official app.
• 2 Recipe Books: Tiny props with pretend recipes for added story depth.
• Instruction Manual: A simple guide for parents and kids to assemble the playset and use the app features.
• Festive Packaging: Bright, bakery-style Shopkins artwork perfect for holiday gifting. Includes app download info right on the box.

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How It Works

The Hot Spot Kitchen delivers hands-on pretend play with just the right amount of interactivity. The spinning microwave is operated manually, while the oven door opens and the rack inside moves for realistic cooking drama.

A breadboard pops up for surprise play, and the shelves hold other Shopkins or recipe books. Everything is scaled to fit Shoppies dolls and standard Shopkins figures, making it ideal for collectors or new fans alike.

The exclusive characters can be scanned into the Shopkins Chef Club app, unlocking digital recipe play for a mix of real-world and screen-based fun. Best of all? No batteries required—just open it up and start cooking!

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Shopkins History & Kitchen Legacy

Shopkins exploded onto the toy scene in 2014, bringing squishy-eyed, collectible charm to supermarket shelves and playrooms everywhere. By 2016, Season 6 had arrived with a twist—Chef Club, where each Shopkin was part of a recipe.

The Hot Spot Kitchen playset became the standout centrepiece of that season. With interactive details and app integration, it was a best-seller for Christmas 2016 and frequently featured in toy roundups across the UK.

Though retired by 2018, the set lives on through collector listings and nostalgic fans. Its legacy inspired future themed sets like the Nice ‘N’ Icy Fridge and the Cupcake Queen Café.

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Why It’s Great for Kids

• Motor Skill Mastery: Opening doors, turning knobs, and placing figures improves fine motor control.
• Imaginative Roleplay: Pretending to bake, host, or serve food inspires creative storytelling.
• Emotional Skills: Playing chef promotes caring roles and a sense of responsibility.
• Social Learning: Sharing play with friends or siblings helps build communication and cooperation.
• Cognitive Development: Following app-based recipes introduces basic sequencing and logic.
• Sensory Play: Tactile interaction through dials, breadboards, and props supports sensory engagement.

Compact, engaging, and screen-optional—it’s a brilliant balance between tactile and tech-driven play.

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Festive Play Ideas

• North Pole Bake-Off: Pretend the Shopkins are making Christmas biscuits for Santa’s sleigh ride.
• Holiday Recipe Contest: Kids “invent” silly Shopkins dishes and present them as TV chefs.
• ❄️ Winter Café: Set up a mini restaurant serving snowflake cupcakes and warm cocoa treats.
• ️ Cooking Show Challenge: Create a YouTube-style cooking competition featuring Shoppies as judges.
• Christmas Market Stall: Use wrapping paper as a backdrop and pretend to sell festive cakes at a holiday stall.

These activities help build seasonal excitement and keep little ones entertained between family events and Christmas movies.

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What Parents Say

“My daughter hasn’t stopped using the microwave spinner since Christmas Day!”

“The exclusive Shopkins are adorable—she was thrilled they were only available in this set.”

“It’s held up surprisingly well considering how rough my kids can be with it.”

“Only minor issue is that the oven door can be a little stiff, but nothing major.”

“We linked it with the Fridge set and now she has a full kitchen setup. Brilliant value.”

Overall, feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Durability, creativity, and compatibility top the list, while minor gripes with doors or small size are seen as trade-offs for its charm and affordability.

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Meet the Maker: Moose Toys

Moose Toys, headquartered in Australia, has built a global following thanks to hits like Shopkins, Bluey, and Little Live Pets. Known for innovation and cuteness overload, their designs often combine collectibles with playsets in creative ways.

The Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen continues this legacy, offering a compact, quality toy that mixes hands-on fun with digital interaction.

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Why It Made the 2016 List

In a crowded toy landscape, this set stood out for being affordable, app-connected, and full of charm. It offered great value at just £19.99–£29.99 and delivered strong replay value thanks to the app and figure integration.

Combined with its connection to the Chef Club season and recognisable branding, it ticked every box for holiday success.

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Ideal for Ages 5+

The Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen is perfect for:

• Kids aged 5+ who love pretend play and collectable toys
• Younger siblings (3–4) with supervision due to small parts
• Children who enjoy app-integrated toys but don’t require a screen to play

Shoppies dolls fit the set perfectly but are sold separately. It’s small enough to fit on a shelf, big enough to be a festive favourite.

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Setup Tips for Parents

• ⏱️ Assembly Time: Takes 10–15 minutes. No tools or batteries needed.
• App Instructions: Scan Shopkins into the Chef Club app for digital recipes and games.
• Cleaning: Wipe surfaces with a damp cloth. Avoid immersing figures.
• Sticky Parts: If doors feel stiff, apply a gentle open-close action to loosen over time.
• Storage Tip: Store in original box or a labelled container to keep figures from getting lost.

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Where to Buy in 2025

This set is now discontinued, but second-hand options are still available. Check UK resale platforms like eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace. Prices range from £10–£25 depending on condition and whether the exclusive Shopkins are included.

Ask for photos of the figures and door mechanisms before buying. Boxed versions may carry a small premium.

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Final Verdict

The Shopkins Chef Club Hot Spot Kitchen deserves its spot on the Top Toys 2016 list. With interactive play, exclusive characters, app compatibility, and heaps of charm, it’s an easy win for any Shopkins fan. It holds up surprisingly well, making it one of those rare collectible sets that’s both cute and durable.

For more Christmas winners, check out our roundup of the most popular Christmas toys or discover what toys every kid wants in 2025.

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