THE world’s oldest sweet shop has seen sales soaring during the pandemic as people flock to the historic venue for sugary treats.

The building, in Nidderdale, Yorkshire, England, dates back to the 1600s and has been home to a confectionary shop since 1827.

Outside its door hangs a sign that says: “The Oldest Sweet Shop in England” but the Guinness Book of Records lists it as the oldest continually trading sweet shop anywhere in the world.

Keith Tordoff, who has been the proprietor for nearly a quarter of a century, said: “It’s extremely busy, phenomenal — it’s a reassurance, perhaps. I don’t know anybody who can walk into a sweet shop without a smile on their face.”

The store serves traditional sweets including liquorice and lime sweets, sour sherbert dips in paper bags, humbugs in glass jars, white mice, rhubarb and custard sweets and bon bons.

Tordoff is a retired West Yorkshire police officer who was previously awarded an MBE for his public service.

He took over the sweet shop with his wife 25 years ago and he thinks people are turning to it because they want something to brighten up their lives during difficult times.

He said: “At a time of any recession, or depression, what brightens people’s lives is memories.”

“This is somewhere grandparents or even great-grandparents bring the children. I’ve been here for nearly a quarter of a century, but I still get that sense of excitement. It’s not changed, the history of it. And the one thing that people always turn to is sweets. It does bring back a nostalgic feel of more happy times.

And most folks have a bit of spare change in their pocket, to buy themselves a bag of comfort.”

The shop featured in Robbie Coltrane’s ITV series exploring some of the U.K.’s most undiscovered places. More recently it has been visited by big names including chef and television presenter Paul Hollywood, food writer, broadcaster and presenter Nigel Slater and BBC presenter Clare Balding. Tordoff said: “It’s a place that speaks to generations of families, with grandparents bringing the children to experience how it used to be at the corner shop on virtually every street in the country. It’s a magical place. I think that every time I open the door, when the little bell dings and you can smell the sugar in the air. It’s all about being happy.”

(SD-Agencies)