This article was originally written by Charlie Fenton for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
Calling all candy lovers: Have you ever tried pear drops or humbugs? The 1820s-era treats aren’t staples at the average U.S. candy store, but at The Oldest Sweet Shop in Pateley Bridge, England, they’ve been bestsellers for nearly 200 years.
Owner Ben Howie told SWNS that his top-selling confections prove Britain’s sweet tooth hasn’t changed much, with bonbons, kola cubes, and rhubarb and custards also still as popular as they were in the 1800s and 1900s.
“We have all different types from across different centuries but it’s the old ones people want. I guess you can’t escape the classics. They are still the favorites for a reason,” said Ben, 29, who took over the historic store in 2021 and runs it alongside his brother James Howie. However, Ben admitted that modern-day sweets like Haribo gummy bears fly off the shelves as well.
Founded in 1827 and located in a 400-year-old building, the establishment is the size of an average living room, Ben noted. In 2014, it was named the oldest candy store in the world by Guinness World Records, although in 2020 it was dethroned by Japan’s Ichimonjiya Wasuke, which dates back to about AD 1,000.
The shop has remained virtually unchanged since it first opened, boasting large glass jars on dark wooden shelves and the original cash register — which was rescued by the previous owner, Keith Tordof, after he recognized it in an antique store.
Around 20,000 people visit every year, some traveling as far as Australia or China. For many older customers, the shop is like a “blast from the past,” said James, 21, adding, “There is a lot of nostalgia in here. It isn’t uncommon for customers to come in and be ruing over which sweets they want, like fruit salads or wine gums. They can be inside making up their minds for 20 minutes, and even when they come to the till they aren’t sure.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the brothers were forced to increase the price of the iconic one-penny sweets to five pennies, which was a “huge shame,” James said. “It was a staple for a lot of people, but it just wasn’t sustainable to be able to pay for the cost of the product and bills. It would have been great to keep, but we couldn’t unfortunately.”
The duo has since built a website where customers can place orders, which they said has really helped grow the business. But their main goal is to keep this little piece of history alive for generations to come.
“Seeing the customers come in and be excited about the shop and the sweets is great, it really excites me,” said Ben. “Hopefully we can keep going for another 200 years.”
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