A 23-year-old entrepreneur has fulfilled a childhood dream by purchasing the world's oldest sweet shop in Pateley Bridge. Ben Howie is now the custodian of the Guinness World Record-holding store, which has been selling sweets since 1827.
Mr Howie, who grew up in nearby Knaresborough, was a regular visitor to the shop as a young boy. He said the business had always fascinated him due to its rich history and heritage. 'Everything from the floorboards upwards has history to it,' he remarked.
Despite the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Howie expressed confidence in the shop's continued success. He stated that the business's prior prosperity outweighed the potential risks. The former owner, Keith Tordoff, sold the shop after 25 years to pursue a role as North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Mr Tordoff noted that the sale attracted interest from Australia, the US and South Korea, but he believed Mr Howie was the right person for the job. Reflecting on the change, he admitted feeling withdrawal symptoms from not eating as many sweets, calling it 'a fantastic chapter' in their lives.
