{"id":623469,"date":"2026-06-05T23:02:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T23:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/623469\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T23:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T23:02:08","slug":"the-worlds-oldest-candy-shop-is-located-in-the-united-kingdom-its-bestselling-sweets-are-old-school-classics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/623469\/","title":{"rendered":"The world’s oldest candy shop is located in the United Kingdom. Its bestselling sweets are old-school classics."},"content":{"rendered":"

Candy<\/a> lovers are always looking for the next great sweet treat<\/a> to try and fall in love with. But one of the sweetest surprises is stumbling upon a nostalgic candy<\/a> they can still enjoy today, one that brings back childhood memories.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s exactly what is sold at the world\u2019s oldest candy shop, The Oldest Sweet Shop<\/a>. Located in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, the candy store opened in 1827 and has been continuously in business ever since.<\/p>\n

The building it\u2019s housed in was built in 1661. The candy store proudly boasts that it has kept its doors open through two world wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. Owner Ben Howie showed off<\/a> the shop\u2019s extensive candy collection, including its bestsellers.<\/p>\n

Highlights of the shop<\/p>\n

A friendly bell welcomes customers into the store, where the walls are lined with candy displayed in glass jars. <\/p>\n

\u201cComing into the shop is a bit of a time machine for people,\u201d Howie tells SWNS<\/a>. \u201cIt takes people straight back to their childhood, straight back to all the nostalgic sweets that they [knew] and loved as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n

The candy is also measured by weight in an old-school way, which Howie notes is \u201cin pounds and ounces and or by the quarter, which is as traditional as you get, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve still got the Avery Scales, which are so iconic and obviously still work and we use them everyday,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

The shop also uses a stunning antique cash register with a long history in the area. \u201cAnd then we\u2019ve got the till (a cash register) here which also still works. This has actually been in Pateley Bridge for over 200 years, I believe, in various different shops,\u201d says Howie.<\/p>\n

@yorkshirelist<\/a> <\/p>\n

YOU CAN VISIT THE OLDEST SWEET SHOP IN THE WORLD RIGHT HERE IN YORKSHIRE \ud83c\udf6c\ud83e\udd79 Nestled on the High Street of Pateley Bridge, you\u2019ll find a record-breaking store with bags of flavour. Inside, it\u2019s the epitome of Yorkshire quaintness, with rows upon rows of classic and colourful sweets to gawk at. It\u2019s literally like being a kid in a candy store! Click the link in our bio to read the full story \ud83d\udd17 \ud83d\udccdThe Oldest Sweet Shop in the World, 39 High Street, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 5JZ #harrogate<\/a> #northyorkshire<\/a> #pateleybridge<\/a> #exploreuk<\/a> \u266c Sunrise \u2013 Noctum47<\/a> <\/p>\n

Best-selling nostalgic candy<\/p>\n

Howie says that the shop\u2019s top sellers are \u201cany of the hard-boiled range,\u201d also known in the United States as hard candy. The candy is made locally in Yorkshire, and the shop\u2019s website notes that most are \u201cmade to the original recipes dating back to the 19th century (boiled in copper pans, the way sweets should be made).\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds that the shop\u2019s Rhubarb and Custard flavor is one of the most popular boiled candy flavors. Other bestsellers include chewier candies from a brand called Lion\u2019s, including licorice, Wine Gums (a chewy yet firm fruit candy), and Mini Gems (formerly called Midget Gems, hard gummies that are still soft enough to chew).<\/p>\n

Howie\u2019s personal favorites are the Raspberry Bon Bon and Dolly Mixture (a mix of fondant and sugar-coated jellies that he notes is a bit more traditional).<\/p>\n

Besides candy, the shop also sells chocolate, caramels, and fudge. And if you can\u2019t make it to The Oldest Sweet Shop in person, its sweet treats can also be purchased online<\/a>. Other bestsellers include Yorkshire Mixture, Sherbet Lemons, Pear Drops, Dusted Milk Bottles, Jelly Babies, Strawberry Bon Bons, Milk Chocolate Caramels, and Fresh Luxury Vanilla Fudge.<\/p>\n