Sweet treats served traditional style

From sherbet pips and fizzy fish to cinder toffee and white chocolate mice, a new sweet shop is proving popular with its old-style confectionery.

Former bingo caller Mr Dave Edwards has realised his childhood dream of running a business selling traditional sweets.

Over-25s in particular are taking the chance to recapture flavours of the past at Edwards Emporium, in Queen’s Head Court, Newark.

The traditional-style store has 351 jars of tempting treats — the most popular of which are the liquorice flavour Kopp Kops made by Taverner’s of Blackpool.

“Most of my customers are adults over 25. Normally they know what they want, but then they see something else. You get a lot of repeat business,” he said.

Mr Edwards (39) took voluntary redundancy after a heart attack three years ago and put the money towards starting his own business.

The Newark shop is his second. The first, in his home town of Boston, Lincolnshire, opened in February, and is also called Edwards Emporium.

Mr Edwards, who managed various bingo halls, said: “I have always wanted to do this ever since I was little.

As well as the floor-to-ceiling rows of sweets, the Newark shop is also decorated with old-fashioned sweets adverts for that added touch of nostalgia.

He even offers gift boxes filled with sweets from a customer’s chosen decade.

The oldest brand stocked is Stockley’s, of Accrington, Lancashire, founded in 1918.

Mr Edwards said: “A lot of manufacturers only make a batch of sweets if there’s a big enough order.

“You have to wait for other traditional sweet shops to put in their orders, so I often place mine three months in advance.”

Mr Edwards, who has just taken on two part-time staff, said he was impressed with Newark when he visited looking for a second location.

He said: “The town’s well kept and the shop’s in a good location, just off the Market Place.”

He said he would not say no to opening a third shop.